Famous people born on May 5 — and what else happened that day
If your birthday is May 5, you share it with Nellie Bly, James Beard, Adele — and you were born under Taurus, the sign of the steady, loyal, and a lover of life’s comforts.
Birthday basics for May 5
Taurus ♉
Zodiac sign
Emerald
Birthstone
Lily of the Valley
Birth flower
125th
Day of the year
May 5 is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years), with 240 days still to come.
Famous people born on May 5
Nellie Bly — Pioneering American journalist who raced around the world in 72 days (born 1864).
James Beard — American chef and food writer whose name graces cooking's top awards (born 1903).
Adele — English singer-songwriter with multiple Grammy-winning albums (born 1988).
Also sharing the day:
Søren Kierkegaard (b. 1813) — Danish philosopher often called the father of existentialism.
Tammy Wynette (b. 1942) — the "First Lady of Country Music", famed for "Stand by Your Man".
Henry Cavill (b. 1983) — English actor known for playing Superman and Geralt in The Witcher.
May 5 in history
1862 — Mexican troops defeated a French invasion force at the Battle of Puebla, the event celebrated as Cinco de Mayo.
1891 — Carnegie Hall (then called the Music Hall) held its grand opening concert in New York City.
1961 — Alan Shepard became the first American in space aboard the Freedom 7 capsule.
1809 — Mary Kies became the first woman to receive a U.S. patent, for a method of weaving straw with silk.
1904 — Cy Young of the Boston Americans pitched the first perfect game of baseball's modern era.
1955 — West Germany regained full sovereignty as the postwar occupation formally ended.
May 5 birthday questions
What zodiac sign is May 5?
Anyone born on May 5 is a Taurus — steady, loyal, and a lover of life’s comforts.
What is the birthstone for May 5?
The birthstone for a May 5 birthday is Emerald, and the birth flower is the Lily of the Valley.
Who is the most famous person born on May 5?
Nellie Bly is among the best known — Pioneering American journalist who raced around the world in 72 days (born 1864).
What happened on May 5?
In 1862, Mexican troops defeated a French invasion force at the Battle of Puebla, the event celebrated as Cinco de Mayo.
What day of the year is May 5?
May 5 is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years), with 240 days still to come.
Make their day unforgettable
Know someone born on May 5? See the full story of their exact birthday — the headlines, the #1 song, what things cost — and turn it into a personalized front-page newspaper they can keep.