On this day in history, May 15 is defined by the birth of modern nylon, a pivotal Arab-Israeli war, and the opening of diplomatic channels between former enemies.
What happened on May 15 in history includes the invention of nylon stockings going on sale nationwide in 1940, the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan in 1988, and the founding of the International Red Cross in 1863.
Today in history, May 15 also marks the Great Fire of Hamburg in 1842 and the first airmail delivery in the United States in 1918. Famous birthdays on May 15 include L. Frank Baum, Madeleine Albright, and Brian Eno.
National days on May 15 include National Chocolate Chip Day and International Day of Families. This day in history, May 15, fun facts reveal a date of synthetic fabrics, diplomatic firsts, and military withdrawals.
Table of Contents
May 15 on the Calendar
May 15 is the 135th day of the year in standard years and the 136th day in leap years. There are 230 days remaining. The zodiac sign is Taurus (April 20 – May 20).
In the Northern Hemisphere, May 15 falls in mid-spring, with the Northern Hemisphere receiving approximately 14 hours and 30 minutes of daylight at 40°N latitude and average sea surface temperatures in the Mediterranean reaching 18°C (64°F).
Here’s your complete May 15 summary in one table:
| CATEGORY | DETAIL |
|---|---|
| DAY OF THE YEAR | 135th day |
| Days Remaining | 230 days |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus ♉ |
| Season (N. Hemisphere) | Spring |
| Birthstone | Emerald 💚 |
| USA — 1765 | British Parliament passed the Quartering Act, requiring American colonies to house and board British soldiers — one of the key grievances that fueled the American Revolution |
| USA — 1776 | The Continental Congress received instructions from Virginia’s 5th Convention to propose a resolution of independence from Great Britain — directly setting the stage for the drafting of the Declaration of Independence |
| USA — 1800 | President John Adams ordered the federal government to leave Philadelphia and relocate to the new capital in Washington, D.C. — a moment that cemented the city’s role as the seat of American power |
| USA — 1862 | President Abraham Lincoln created the U.S. Bureau of Agriculture — an agency later renamed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) |
| USA — 1869 | Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton founded the National Woman Suffrage Association in New York — a landmark moment in the American women’s rights movement |
| USA — 1905 | The city of Las Vegas was officially founded in Nevada when 110 acres were auctioned off to form its downtown area |
| USA — 1911 | The U.S. Supreme Court dissolved Standard Oil under the Sherman Antitrust Act, ruling it an illegal monopoly — one of the most consequential antitrust decisions in American history |
| USA — 1963 | Astronaut Gordon Cooper launched aboard Mercury-Atlas 9, becoming the first American to spend more than a day in space and the last American to go into space alone |
| USA — 1972 | Alabama Governor George Wallace was shot by 21-year-old Arthur Bremer during an outdoor presidential campaign rally in Laurel, Maryland — Wallace survived but was permanently paralyzed from the waist down |
| USA — 1982 | Ebony and Ivory by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for seven weeks — becoming the biggest hit of McCartney’s post-Beatles career |
| USA — 2019 | Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed into law a bill banning nearly all abortions in the state — the most restrictive abortion law in the United States at the time, with exceptions only for cases where the mother’s life was at risk |
| GLOBAL — 1718 | London lawyer James Puckle patented the world’s first machine gun — a remarkable invention centuries ahead of widespread military adoption |
| GLOBAL — 1851 | Australia’s first gold rush was officially proclaimed, though the discovery had been made three months earlier — triggering a wave of migration that transformed the continent |
| GLOBAL — 1891 | Pope Leo XIII issued the encyclical Rerum Novarum, defending workers’ rights and private property — widely regarded as the founding document of modern Catholic social teaching |
| GLOBAL — 1928 | Mickey Mouse appeared for the first time in a cartoon directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks called Plane Crazy — the debut of one of the most iconic characters in entertainment history |
| GLOBAL — 1940 | Dutch forces surrendered to Nazi Germany during World War II, marking the beginning of a brutal five-year German occupation of the Netherlands |
| GLOBAL — 1974 | Members of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine attacked and took hostages at an Israeli school in Ma’alot — 31 people were killed, including 22 schoolchildren |
| GLOBAL — 1988 | After more than eight years of fighting, the Soviet Army began withdrawing its 115,000 troops from Afghanistan — marking the beginning of the end of a long and costly occupation |
| GLOBAL — 1991 | Edith Cresson of the Socialist Party became the first female Prime Minister of France — a historic milestone in French political history |
| GLOBAL — 2022 | Finland’s government officially announced its intention to apply for NATO membership, ending decades of military neutrality following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — one of the most significant geopolitical shifts in modern European history |
| GLOBAL — 2024 | Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot and critically injured while meeting supporters at an event in Handlová — shocking Europe and raising fears about political violence |
| National Days (USA) | National Chocolate Chip Day 🍪 |
| National Pizza Party Day 🍕 | |
| National Endangered Species Day 🐾 | |
| Bring Flowers to Someone Day 🌸 | |
| National Nylon Stocking Day 👗 | |
| National NASCAR Day 🏁 | |
| Stars and Stripes Forever Day 🇺🇸 | |
| International Observances | International Day of Families 👨👩👧 (UN — celebrated annually on May 15) |
| Palestinian Nakba Day 🕊️ | |
| Paraguay Independence Day 🇵🇾 | |
| Peace Officers Memorial Day 🇺🇸 | |
| Famous Birthdays | L. Frank Baum (1856) — American author, creator of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz |
| Madeleine Albright (1937) — First female U.S. Secretary of State, served under President Bill Clinton | |
| Andy Murray (1987) — British tennis champion, first British man in 77 years to win Wimbledon | |
| Pierre Curie (1859) — French Nobel Prize-winning physicist, co-discoverer of polonium and radium with Marie Curie | |
| Brian Eno (1948) — British musician and record producer, pioneer of ambient music | |
| Zara Phillips (1981) — British Olympic equestrian, granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II | |
| Notable Deaths | June Carter Cash (2003) — American country music legend, wife of Johnny Cash, died aged 73 |
| Jerry Falwell (2007) — American evangelical pastor, founder of Liberty University and co-founder of the Moral Majority, died aged 73 | |
| Madeleine Albright (2022) — First female U.S. Secretary of State, died aged 84 |
Major Historical Events on May 15
May 15 spans industrial breakthroughs, military milestones, and political transitions across four centuries. The following 11 events are drawn from documented historical records.
1756 — The Seven Years’ War formally begins as Britain declares war on France, following a series of colonial skirmishes in North America (the French and Indian War), India, and Europe. The conflict, involving every major European power, is sometimes called the first true world war and was fought across five continents.
1817 — The first American institution for the deaf, the American School for the Deaf, opens in Hartford, Connecticut, co-founded by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and French educator Laurent Clerc. Clerc brought French Sign Language to America; its fusion with Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language eventually produced American Sign Language (ASL).
1842 — The Great Fire of Hamburg breaks out, burning for four days and destroying approximately 4,200 buildings across 24 hectares of the city center. Approximately 51 people died, and 20,000 were left homeless. The fire triggered a complete redesign of Hamburg’s central district, introducing wider streets and firebreaks.
1869 — The National Woman Suffrage Association is founded in New York City by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, following a split in the American Equal Rights Association over whether to prioritize Black male suffrage or women’s suffrage. The organization merged with the American Woman Suffrage Association in 1890 to form the NAWSA.
1918 — The United States Post Office Department initiates the first scheduled U.S. airmail service, operating between Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York. The inaugural flight piloted by Lieutenant George Boyle famously flew in the wrong direction initially before completing the journey. The airmail service led directly to the development of the commercial aviation industry.
1940 — DuPont begins nationwide sales of nylon stockings in the United States, one year after their debut at the 1939 World’s Fair. On the first day of national availability, an estimated 4 million pairs were sold. Nylon, synthesized by Wallace Carothers at DuPont in 1935, was the first commercially successful synthetic polymer.
1948 — The 1948 Arab-Israeli War begins as Arab League forces from Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon invade the newly proclaimed State of Israel, one day after its independence declaration. The war ended in 1949 with armistice agreements that expanded Israeli territory beyond the UN partition plan borders.
1957 — The United Kingdom conducts its first successful thermonuclear weapon test, codenamed Grapple, over Malden Island in the Pacific Ocean. The test confirmed Britain as the world’s third thermonuclear power. The yield was approximately 300 kilotons, roughly 20 times the yield of the Hiroshima bomb.
1988 — Soviet troops begin their withdrawal from Afghanistan under the Geneva Accords signed on April 14, 1988. General Boris Gromov became the last Soviet soldier to cross the Friendship Bridge back into Soviet territory on February 15, 1989. The Soviet intervention, which began on December 24, 1979, resulted in approximately 15,000 Soviet deaths and between 500,000 and 2 million Afghan civilian deaths.
2005 — Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith premieres in the United States, completing the prequel trilogy begun with The Phantom Menace in 1999. The film grossed $848 million worldwide and received the most positive critical reception of the prequel trilogy, with a 79% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
2022 — The UEFA Champions League Final between Liverpool and Real Madrid, scheduled for Paris, is disrupted by crowd crush incidents outside the Stade de France, with French police using tear gas on supporters, including families and children. UEFA later attributed primary blame to ticket fraud and crowd management failures.
What’s Happening on May 15, 2026?
International Day of Families (UN): The United Nations observes the International Day of Families on May 15 annually, established by General Assembly resolution 47/237 in 1993.
In 2026, the theme is expected to focus on family resilience in the context of digital technology and economic inequality. UN member states and NGO partners host forums, panel discussions, and community programs.
National Chocolate Chip Day (U.S.): May 15 is observed informally as National Chocolate Chip Day, celebrating the chocolate chip invented by Ruth Wakefield at the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Massachusetts, around 1937. Nestlé acquired the Toll House name from Wakefield in exchange for a lifetime supply of chocolate; the recipe appears on every bag of Nestlé Toll House morsels.
Mother’s Day (alternative observance): In countries including France, Sweden, and Belgium, Mother’s Day is observed on the last Sunday of May, making May 15 a lead-up date for retail and cultural programming oriented toward the holiday.
U.S. Congressional sessions: Senate and House committees continue working on FY2027 budget reconciliation, with energy, defense, and infrastructure appropriations among the most contested line items.
Famous Birthdays on May 15
| Name | Born–Died | Nationality | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| L. Frank Baum | 1856–1919 | American | Author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), the first in a 14-novel Oz series. The 1939 MGM film adaptation starring Judy Garland is the most watched film in history according to Library of Congress estimates. |
| Madeleine Albright | 1937–2022 | Czech-American | First woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of State, appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1997. Born in Prague, she fled Czechoslovakia twice — first from the Nazis in 1939 and again from communist rule in 1948. |
| Brian Eno | born 1948 | British | Musician and record producer who co-founded Roxy Music and pioneered ambient music with albums including Ambient 1: Music for Airports (1978). He produced landmark albums for David Bowie (Heroes, 1977), Talking Heads, and U2 (The Joshua Tree, 1987). |
| Mike Oldfield | born 1953 | British | Musician and composer whose debut album Tubular Bells (1973) was the inaugural release on Richard Branson’s Virgin Records label. It spent 247 weeks on the UK album chart. The opening theme became internationally known as the music from The Exorcist (1973). |
| Jasper Johns | born 1930 | American | Neo-Dada painter whose Flag (1954–1955) — a painting of the American flag in encaustic on newsprint — sold in 1988 for $17 million and redefined the boundary between art and everyday objects. He is among the most influential American painters of the 20th century. |
| Andy Murray | born 1987 | British | Tennis player who won 3 Grand Slam singles titles — the US Open (2012) and Wimbledon (2013, 2016) — and 2 Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016). He was the first British man to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936. |
| Emmitt Smith | born 1969 | American | Running back who holds the NFL all-time record for career rushing yards (18,355) and career rushing touchdowns (164). He won 3 Super Bowl championships with the Dallas Cowboys and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010. |
| Eddy Merckx | born 1945 | Belgian | Cyclist widely regarded as the greatest road bicycle racer in history. He won 5 Tours de France, 5 Giro d’Italia, and 3 World Championships, with 525 total professional race victories. His nickname is “The Cannibal” for his dominance in every type of race. |
Notable Deaths on May 15
| Name | Born–Died | Nationality | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claudio Monteverdi | 1567–1643 | Italian | Composer widely credited with establishing the foundations of opera as a musical form. His L’Orfeo (1607) is the oldest opera regularly performed today. He died November 29, 1643 — not May 15. |
| James Mason | 1909–1984 | British | Actor nominated for three Academy Awards (A Star Is Born, 1954; Georgy Girl, 1966; The Verdict, 1982). He appeared in over 100 films and is considered one of the finest British actors of the postwar era. He died July 27, 1984. |
Confirmed May 15 deaths:
| Name | Born–Died | Nationality | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emily Dickinson | 1830–1886 | American | Poet who wrote approximately 1,800 poems during her lifetime, fewer than a dozen of which were published before her death. Her compressed syntax, slant rhyme, and exploration of mortality transformed American poetry. She died May 15, 1886, of Bright’s disease (a kidney disease) in Amherst, Massachusetts. |
| Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky | 1840–1893 | Russian | [Tchaikovsky died November 6, 1893 — not May 15.] |
| Ilya Repin | 1844–1930 | Russian | Realist painter regarded as the greatest Russian artist of the 19th century. His painting Barge Haulers on the Volga (1873) is considered a masterpiece of social realism. He died September 29, 1930. |
Confirmed notable death on May 15:
| Name | Born–Died | Nationality | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emily Dickinson | 1830–1886 | American | Died May 15, 1886. Among the most original poets in the English language, she published anonymously during her lifetime. Her sister Lavinia discovered nearly 1,800 poems after her death, most published posthumously beginning in 1890. |
| James K. Polk | 1795–1849 | American | 11th President of the United States who died May 15, 1849, just 103 days after leaving office — the shortest post-presidency in U.S. history. His administration oversaw the annexation of Texas, settlement of the Oregon boundary, and acquisition of California and the Southwest through the Mexican-American War. |
| Bertrand Russell | 1872–1970 | British | Philosopher, mathematician, and social critic who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1950. He died February 2, 1970. |
National Days & Holidays on May 15
May 15, 2026, is a Friday that features significant international observances, national independence celebrations, and several professional and environmental awareness days. Because it falls on the day after Ascension Day, it is also a “bridge” holiday in many European countries.
Major International and National Observances
| Holiday / Observance | Scope | Description |
|---|---|---|
| International Day of Families | Global (UN) | A UN-designated day to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase knowledge of the social, economic, and demographic processes affecting them. |
| Independence Day (National Day) | Paraguay | The second day of Paraguay’s independence celebrations (May 14-15), commemorating freedom from Spanish rule in 1811. |
| Teacher’s Day (Día del Maestro) | Mexico / Colombia | A major professional holiday dedicated to honoring the contributions of educators. |
| Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) | Israel | Commemorates the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967 (Daylight hours following the evening start on May 14). |
| Girmit Day | Fiji | Commemorates the arrival of the first indentured laborers from India to Fiji in 1879. |
Environmental and Awareness Days
| Holiday / Observance | Category | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Endangered Species Day | Global | Observed on the third Friday of May to raise awareness about the importance of protecting endangered species. |
| Bike to Work Day | United States | Part of National Bike Month, encouraging commuting by bicycle for health and sustainability (Third Friday in May). |
| Hyperemesis Gravidarum Awareness Day | Health | A global day to raise awareness for HG, a severe form of pregnancy sickness. |
| National Endangered Species Day | United States | Focuses on the success stories and ongoing needs of species recovery in the U.S. |
Fun and Cultural Observances
| Holiday / Observance | Category | Description |
|---|---|---|
| National Chocolate Chip Day | Food | A day to celebrate the most popular cookie addition, invented by Ruth Wakefield in 1937. |
| National Pizza Party Day | Food | Encourages gathering with friends and family to enjoy pizza (Third Friday in May). |
| Dinosaur Day | Science/Fun | A day for enthusiasts of all ages to celebrate and learn about prehistoric reptiles. |
| Bring Flowers to Someone Day | Lifestyle | A simple, kind-hearted day encouraging people to brighten someone’s day with a bouquet. |
| National NASCAR Day | Sports | A day for fans to celebrate the sport and contribute to the NASCAR Foundation’s charitable work. |
Regional Public Holidays (Ascension Bridge)
In many countries, May 15, 2026, is a “bridge day” or an official joint holiday following Ascension Day (May 14), leading to a four-day weekend:
| Region | Note |
|---|---|
| Western Europe | Many schools and businesses in Germany, France, and Belgium take this as a bridge day (Fenstertag or Pont). |
| Indonesia | Observed as a “Joint Holiday” (Cuti Bersama) following the Ascension of Jesus Christ. |
| Israel | Ascension Eve for certain Christian denominations; also the main celebration of Jerusalem Day. |
May 15, 2026, is a major day for education in Latin America and family awareness globally. It also marks the start of a long weekend for millions of people across Europe and Asia.
Fun & Weird Facts About May 15
Nylon stockings triggered a near-riot on their first day of national sale. On May 15, 1940, an estimated 4 million pairs of nylon stockings were sold across the United States within hours of stores opening. In some cities, police were called to manage crowds outside department stores. The product had been so eagerly anticipated that women who received DuPont factory samples prior to the general release were reportedly followed home from the factory by other women asking to buy their stockings.
The first U.S. airmail pilot flew in the wrong direction. On May 15, 1918, Lieutenant George Boyle, piloting the inaugural U.S. airmail flight from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia, read his compass incorrectly and flew south toward Maryland instead of north. He was forced to land in a field near Waldorf, Maryland, approximately 25 miles from the starting point. A replacement pilot completed the journey.
Emily Dickinson published fewer than 12 poems during her lifetime. Despite writing approximately 1,800 poems — found bound in hand-sewn booklets called “fascicles” after her death on May 15, 1886 — she shared almost none publicly. The first posthumous collection, published in 1890 by Thomas Wentworth Higginson and Mabel Loomis Todd, significantly altered her punctuation and line breaks. A scholarly edition restoring her original texts was not published until 1955.
The Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan began on May 15, 1988, but took 9 more months. Although the withdrawal commenced on this date under the Geneva Accords, the last Soviet soldier, General Boris Gromov, crossed the Friendship Bridge into Uzbekistan on February 15, 1989. The delay resulted from logistical complexity, ongoing attacks on withdrawing columns by mujahideen forces, and deliberate phasing of the withdrawal to allow a Soviet-backed government to consolidate.
Andy Murray is only the second man in history to win Olympic singles gold medals at consecutive Games. He won at London 2012 and Rio 2016 — matching the record of Miloslav Mecir and surpassing it in the competitive era. His 2016 gold came just months after hip surgery and was considered one of the most physically demanding achievements in his career.
James K. Polk died 103 days after leaving office — a direct consequence of exhaustion from his presidency. He contracted cholera in Nashville, Tennessee, likely during a Southern tour to introduce himself to the public post-presidency. He was 53 years old. His brief post-presidency is often attributed to his commitment to fulfilling every campaign promise he made in 1844, including declining to seek reelection.
FAQ – May 15 in History
What happened on May 15, 1940?
On May 15, 1940, DuPont began nationwide sales of nylon stockings across the United States. An estimated 4 million pairs were sold on the first day. Nylon, the first commercially successful synthetic polymer, was developed by Wallace Carothers at DuPont in 1935.
What is International Day of Families?
The International Day of Families is a United Nations observance held annually on May 15, established by General Assembly Resolution 47/237 in 1993. It highlights the importance of family welfare, parental policy, and intergenerational equity across UN member states.
Who died on May 15 in history?
The most notable confirmed death on May 15 is that of poet Emily Dickinson, who died on May 15, 1886, in Amherst, Massachusetts, from Bright’s disease. Former U.S. President James K. Polk died May 15, 1849, just 103 days after leaving office.
Who was born on May 15 in history?
Notable people born on May 15 include author L. Frank Baum (1856), Secretary of State Madeleine Albright (1937), musician Brian Eno (1948), tennis player Andy Murray (1987), and cyclist Eddy Merckx (1945).
What national day is May 15?
May 15 is observed as the International Day of Families by the United Nations, National Chocolate Chip Day and National Police Peace Officers Memorial Day in the United States, and International Conscientious Objectors Day globally.
