May 6, 1840
The
Penny Black postage stamp becomes valid for use in the United Kingdom.
1861
Arkansas secedes from the Union.
1877
Oglala Lakota chief
Crazy Horse surrenders to U.S. troops.
1889
The Eiffel Tower is officially opened to the public.
1910
George V becomes King of the United Kingdom upon the death of
Edward VII.
1915
Babe Ruth hits first major league home run.
1935
Works Progress Administration is created.
First flight of the
Curtiss P-36 Hawk.
1937
The
Hindenburg catches fire at Lakehurst, New Jersey and is destroyed in less than 60 seconds. 36 people die.
1940
John Steinbeck's
"The Grapes of Wrath" wins the Pultizer Prize.
1941
Bob Hope performs his first
USO show.
1945
Axis Sally delivers her last broadcast.
1954
Roger Bannister runs the mile in
under four minutes.
1989
Magnum XL-200, the first roller coaster to break the 200 ft height barrier, opens, igniting the coaster wars.
1994
The
Channel Tunnel opens.
Paula Jones files a sexual harassment lawsuit against President
Bill Clinton.
After missing for 8 days, former CIA director
William Colby's body is found.
2013
Three women missing for more than a decade are found alive in the U.S. city of Cleveland, Ohio. Their captor is taken into custody.
Births
1856 – Sigmund Freud, Robert Peary; 1895 – Rudolph Valentino; 1903 – Toots Shor; 1913 – Stewart Granger; 1915 – Orson Welles; 1931 – Willie Mays; 1945 – Bob Seger; 1950 – Jeffery Deaver, Robbie McIntosh; 1953 – Tony Blair; 1960 – Roma Downey; 1961 – George Clooney
Deaths
1862 – Henry David Thoreau; 1902 – Bret Harte; 1910 – Edward VII; 1919 – L. Frank Baum; 1952 – Maria Montessori; 1983 – Kai Winding; 1987 – William J. Casey; 2004 – Barney Kessel