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Born on

May

Who was born on May 1

160 notable people were born on May 1. If it is your birthday too, you are in good company.

Best known

Best known

Andreas Laskaratos — Greek satirical poet and writer, born on May 1 1811.

Alexander William Williamson — English chemist, born on May 1 1824.

Johann Jakob Balmer — Swiss mathematician, born on May 1 1825.

Jules Breton — French painter, born on May 1 1827.

José de Alencar — Brazilian writer, lawyer, and politician, born on May 1 1829.

Frederick Sandys — English Pre-Raphaelite painter, born on May 1 1829.

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Frequently asked questions

Who was born on May 1?

160 people with a Wikipedia article were born on May 1, including Andreas Laskaratos, Alexander William Williamson, Johann Jakob Balmer. The list spans every era and every field — art, science, politics, sport, entertainment — ordered by year of birth, from the earliest to the most recent. The six featured people are those most has been written about: the ordering uses the length of their Wikipedia article as an indicator of prominence. For each one you find their occupation, year of birth and a link to the full biography.

What happened on May 1?

45 documented historical events happened on May 1, from antiquity to the present day. The best known is this: Diocletian and Maximian retired as co-rulers of the Roman Empire, being succeeded by Galerius and Constantius Chlorus. On the same day, in another year: The Nea Ekklesia church in Constantinople, on which many later cross-in-square Eastern Orthodox churches were based, was consecrated. On Almanaccolo every event is listed in chronological order, grouped by century, and links to the Wikipedia article it comes from, so you can always read further or check the source. Alongside the events you find who was born and who died on this date, and which observances are celebrated around the world.

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