May 5 - This Day in History

May 5 : General Interest 1961: The first American in space From Cape Canaveral, Florida, Navy Commander Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr. is launched into space aboard the Freedom 7 space capsule, becoming the first American astronaut to travel into space... read more American Revolution 1776 : Clinton excludes Howe and Harnett from amnesty offer http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/clinton-excludes-howe-and-harnett-from-amnesty-offer Automotive 1944 : Driving pioneer Bertha Benz dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/driving-pioneer-bertha-benz-dies Civil War 1864 : Grant and Lee clash in the Wilderness forest http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/grant-and-lee-clash-in-the-wilderness-forest Cold War 1955 : Allies end occupation of West Germany http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/allies-end-occupation-of-west-germany Crime 2004 : Human remains found in suitcase near Virginia Beach http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/human-remains-found-in-suitcase-near-virginia-beach Disaster 1995 : Hail storm surprises Dallas residents http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hail-storm-surprises-dallas-residents General Interest 1821 : Napoleon dies in exile http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/napoleon-dies-in-exile 1862 : Cinco de Mayo http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cinco-de-mayo 1945 : Six killed in Oregon by Japanese bomb http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/six-killed-in-oregon-by-japanese-bomb 1981 : IRA militant Bobby Sands dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ira-militant-bobby-sands-dies Hollywood 2002 : Spider-Man is first movie to top $100 million in opening weekend http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/spider-man-is-first-movie-to-top-100-million-in-opening-weekend Literary 1816 : The Examiner publishes John Keats' first poem http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-examiner-publishes-john-keats--first-poem Music 1979 : Peaches and Herb top the pop charts with "Reunited" http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/peaches-and-herb-top-the-pop-charts-with-quotreunitedquot Old West 1877 : Sitting Bull leads his people into Canada http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sitting-bull-leads-his-people-into-canada Presidential 1985 : Reagan visits concentration camp and war cemetery http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/reagan-visits-concentration-camp-and-war-cemetery Sports 1904 : Cy Young throws perfect game http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cy-young-throws-perfect-game Vietnam War 1970 : U.S. forces capture Snoul, Cambodia http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-forces-capture-snoul-cambodia 1972 : North Vietnamese turn back South Vietnamese relief column http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/north-vietnamese-turn-back-south-vietnamese-relief-column World War I 1919 : Italian delegates return to Paris peace conference http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/italian-delegates-return-to-paris-peace-conference World War II 1941 : Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie returns to his capital http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ethiopian-emperor-haile-selassie-returns-to-his-capital