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May 25, 1911
On this date the dictator Porfirio Díaz, President of Mexico, presented his resignation to the legislature. With that, his reign of 31 years ended.
May 24, 1939
On this date the pilot Francisco Sarabia broke the record for flying non-stop between Mexico City and New York, a flight that took 10 hours, 47 minutes and five seconds. Sababia was born on July 3, 1900 in Lerdo, Durango and died June 7, 1939 during a flight to the United States. His plane crashed into the waters of the Potomac River.
May 23, 1890
On this date Rafael Buelna was born in Mocorito, Sinaloa. Buelna distinguished himself as a revolutionary when he fought Huerta in Sinaloa, Sonora and Baja California, becoming a general as a result. He died in Morelia, Michoacán on January 23, 1924.
May 22, 1960
On this date in Valdivia, Chile, the strongest earthquake ever recorded with a magnitude of 9.5 on the Richter scale occurred, leaving 2,000 dead, 3,000 injured and two million homeless. The powerful tsunami that resulted caused enormous damage and 200 deaths thousands of kilometers away in Hawaii, Japan and the west coast of the United States.
May 21, 1932
On this date the American pilot Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo over the Atlantic Ocean, a feat accomplished by Charles Lindbergh on the same day in 1927.
May 20, 1493
On this date Christopher Columbus was appointed captain of the armada he was to lead on his second voyage to America. And exactly 13 years later on this same date he died in Valladolid.
May 18, 1920
On this date in Poland was born Karol Wojtila who became Pope John Paul II.
May 17, 1973
On this date began the Watergate investigation in the United States Senate.
May 15, 1918
On this date the writer Juan Rulfo was born in Sayula, Jalisco.
May 15, 1847
On this date American forces under the command of General Williams Jenkins Worth overtook the city of Puebla on their way to Mexico City.
May 13, 1981
On this date an assassination attempt was made on Pope John Paul II.
May 9, 1967
On this date the American boxer Cassius Clay was stripped of his license to box after refusing to take part in military service.
May 7, 1945
On this date Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, ending the war in Europe.
May 4, 1493
On this date Pope Alejandro VI divided the Atlantic Ocean between Spain and Portugal.
May 3, 1518
On this date the Isla de Cozumel was discovered by Captain Juan de Grijalva.