Today in History for 5th May 2026

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Historical Events

1494 - On his second voyage to the New World, Christopher Columbus sights Jamaica and lands at Discovery Bay
1864 - Battle of Wilderness, Virginia (Germanna Ford, Wilderness Tavern)
1938 - MLB Philadelphia Phillies Harold Kelleher pitcher faces 16 batters in 6th, as Cubs score 12 runs, both marks are NL records off one hurler in a single inning
1990 - 35th Eurovision Song Contest: Toto Cutugno for Italy wins singing "Insieme: 1992" in Zagreb
1991 - A riot breaks out in the Mt. Pleasant section of Washington, D.C. after Salvadoran man is shot by police

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Famous Birthdays

1883 - Charles "Chief" Bender, American Baseball HOF pitcher (only indigenous American in BHOF; World Series 1910, 11, 13; no-hitter 1910; Philadelphia A's), born in Crow Wing County, Minnesota (d. 1954)
1915 - Richard Rovere, American political journalist (Goldwater Caper), born in Jersey City, New Jersey (d. 1979)
1924 - Leopoldo Torre Nilsson, Argentine film director (Monday's Child), born in Buenos Aires, Argentina (d. 1978)
1950 - Googoosh [Faegheh Atashin (فائقه آتشین)], Persian singer and actress, born in Sarcheshmeh Street, Tehran, Iran
1982 - Jay Bothroyd, English footballer (striker for J1 League club Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo), born in London

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Famous Deaths

1945 - Peter Van Pels, Jewish Refugee (b. 1926)
1964 - Howard Zahniser, American environmental activist (father of Wilderness Act), dies of heart failure at 58
1995 - Anthony Wagner, English Officer of Arms at the College of Arms and author on heraldry, dies at 86
2000 - Gino Bartali, Italian cyclist (Tour de France 1938, 48; Giro d'Italia 1936-7, 46), dies of a heart attack at 85
2012 - Raman Surendranath, Indian cricket fast bowler (11 Tests, 26 wickets), dies at 75

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