22 May

Discover the events, people, discoveries and turning points connected to this date in history.

7 events found for 22 May

Events are ordered by year, starting with the earliest recorded item for this date.

1455
Late Medieval Britain (1307–1485)

First Battle of St Albans

On 22 May 1455 , the First Battle of St Albans marked the opening military engagement of the Wars of the Roses . This violent confrontation saw the forces of the Yorkist faction, led by Richard, Duke of York , clash with the Lancastrian army loyal to King Henry VI . The battle took place within the streets of the town of St Albans , resulting in a decisive victory for the Yorkists and the capture...

Read more
1813
ComposersGermany

Wagner

The Life and Legacy of Richard Wagner Born in Germany on 22 May 1813, Richard Wagner emerged as one of the most transformative figures in the history of Western music. His career spanned the majority of the nineteenth century, a period defined by profound social shifts and the crystallisation of national identities across Europe. By the time of his death on 13 February 1883, he had fundamentally a...

Read more
1923
UK Prime MinistersUnited Kingdom

Stanley Baldwin

The appointment of Stanley Baldwin as Prime Minister in May 1923 represented a pivotal shift in the leadership of the Conservative Party and the governance of the United Kingdom. Stepping into the role following the sudden resignation of Andrew Bonar Law due to ill health, Baldwin was a relatively fresh face in the upper echelons of government. His ascension to the highest office occurred during a...

Read more
1923
Interwar Britain (1918–1939)

Stanley Baldwin becomes prime minister for the first time

On 22 May 1923, Stanley Baldwin assumed the office of Prime Minister for the first time. His appointment followed the sudden resignation of his predecessor, Bonar Law , who stepped down from the premiership due to failing health after serving for only seven months. Baldwin, who had been serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer, was selected to lead the Conservative government during a period of sign...

Read more
1947
Photography

Magna Photos founded

On 22 May 1947 , a group of visionary photographers established Magnum Photos , a cooperative agency that would fundamentally alter the landscape of professional photography. By choosing to organise as a collective rather than a traditional commercial firm, these founders sought to retain control over their own negatives and copyrights, ensuring that their artistic integrity remained protected. Th...

Read more
1969
Moon Missions

Apollo 10 lunar module descends close to Moon surface

On 22 May 1969, the Apollo 10 mission reached a critical milestone in the preparations for the first crewed lunar landing. During this flight, the Lunar Module, nicknamed Snoopy, successfully descended to a low altitude above the lunar surface to conduct a comprehensive rehearsal of the approach, navigation, and communication procedures that would later be utilised by the Apollo 11 mission. This e...

Read more
1987
Sport

Rugby World Cup begins

The inaugural Rugby World Cup commenced on 22 May 1987, signalling a transformative shift in the landscape of international rugby union. Hosted across New Zealand and Australia, the tournament brought together sixteen nations for a series of matches that would ultimately define the future trajectory of the sport. Before this competition, international rugby was primarily defined by traditional tou...

Read more
An unhandled error has occurred. Reload 🗙

Rejoining the server...

Rejoin failed... trying again in seconds.

Failed to rejoin.
Please retry or reload the page.

The session has been paused by the server.

Failed to resume the session.
Please retry or reload the page.