What Happened on May 3

Christopher Columbus Sights Jamaica

On May 3, 1494, Christopher Columbus sighted the island of Jamaica. Spanish colonists settled the island fifteen years later, and it fell into... Read more

National And Kapodistrian University Of Athens Is Established

Ranked 200th in the world, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greek: Εθνικόν και Καποδιστριακόν Πανεπιστήμιον Αθηνών), usually... Read more

The Siege Of Fort Texas Begins

The Siege of Fort Texas began on May 3. Mexican artillery at Matamoros opened fire on Fort Texas, which replied with its own guns. The bombardment... Read more

Battle of Chancellorsville (May 3)

On May 3, Maj. Gen. A. P. Hill, who had taken command of the Second Corps following Jackson's injuries, was incapacitated. Hill consulted with... Read more

Battle of Salem Church - Lee Defeats Sedgwick

Description: After occupying Marye’s Heights on May 3, Sedgwick’s VI Corps marched out on the Plank Road with the objective of reaching Hooker’s... Read more

Second Battle of Fredericksburg

Description: On May 1, Gen. Robert E. Lee left Maj. Gen. Jubal A. Early’s division to hold Fredericksburg, while marching with the rest of the army... Read more

Nanaimo Mine Explosion

The Nanaimo mine explosion on May 3, 1887, in Nanaimo, British Columbia killed 150 miners. Only seven miners survived and the mine burned for one... Read more

William M. Inge Is Born

Playwright William M. Inge was born in Independence, Kansas on May 3, 1913. Inge wrote several hit plays including Come Back, Little Sheba, Bus... Read more

James Brown is Born

James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006), originally James Joseph Brown, Jr., also known as "The Godfather of Soul", was an American... Read more

"Going My Way" Is Released

Going My Way, a 1944 film directed by Leo McCarey. It is a light-hearted musical comedy/drama about a new young priest (Bing Crosby) taking over a... Read more

Sinking of the Cap Arcona

The Cap Arcona was a large German luxury ocean liner, formerly of the Hamburg-South America line. While heavily-laden with prisoners from Nazi... Read more

Anne Frank House Opens on the Prinsengracht in Amsterdam

The Anne Frank House on the Prinsengracht in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is a museum dedicated to Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank, who hid from... Read more

Violence Erupts as Civil Rights Protesters Clash with Police in Birmingham, AL

The Birmingham campaign was a strategic movement organized by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) to bring attention to the unequal... Read more

Aerosmith releases Rocks

Rocks is the fourth album by American hard rock band Aerosmith, released in 1976. Allmusic described Rocks as having "captured Aerosmith at their... Read more

Margaret Thatcher Becomes the First Female Prime Minister in Great Britain

Margaret Thatcher arrived at her North London constituency early, in good time for glad-handing and a last bit of publicity. But it was well into... Read more

"Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch" by Frank Zappa Is Released

Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch is an album by Frank Zappa, released in May 1982 and digitally remastered in 1991. It features five... Read more

Living Colour release Vivid

Vivid is Living Colour's debut album, which was released on May 3, 1988. The band was discovered by Mick Jagger while playing a show at punk club... Read more

Queensrÿche release Operation: Mindcrime

Operation: Mindcrime is a concept album by American progressive metal band Queensrÿche. Released on May 3, 1988, it is the band's third full-length... Read more

Rascal Flatts Wins ACM Top New Vocal Duo or Group Award

Rascal Flatts Wins its first award at the ACM awards ceremony in 2000. This new group wins the Top New Vocal Duo or Group Award. This is the first... Read more

Spider-Man (film) released

Spider-Man is a 2002 American superhero film based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. The first installment in the Spider-Man... Read more

Keane releases "Everybody's Changing" single

The 2004 version of "Everybody's Changing", re-recorded during the Heliocentric sessions of winter 2003, is Keane's second major-label release... Read more

Kevin Garnett Wins 2004 NBA MVP Award

May 3, 2004 — Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett has been named the winner of the Maurice Podoloff Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player, the... Read more

Candlemass release Candlemass

Candlemass is the eighth studio album by Swedish doom metal band Candlemass released in 2005. This was the first (and only) album to feature... Read more

Limp Bizkit release The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1)

The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1) is an EP by Limp Bizkit, released on May 2, 2005 internationally and a day later in North America. It has sold... Read more

Nine Inch Nails releases With Teeth

With Teeth (stylized as [WITH_TEETH]) is the fourth studio album by American industrial rock act Nine Inch Nails, released on May 3, 2005, by... Read more