ON THIS DAY THE 1ST OF MAY IN THE PAST

1931 - The Empire State Building

The Empire State Building in New York Officially opens. 

2013 - Flash floods across Saudi Arabia

Flash floods across Saudi Arabia left at least thirteen people dead. Heavy rainfall flooded plains and valleys in the desert country and the rains were reported to be the heaviest to hit Saudi Arabia in over twenty-five years. 

2008 - Australia Ongoing Drought

Australia's drought continues and is presently in the grip of what the locals call the "Big Dry" the worst period of drought in a century. The effects of this ongoing drought range from up to 10% of farmers giving up to wheat production going from a high of 25m tonnes of wheat each year to wheat crops below 10m tonnes per year a decrease of more than 50%. 

1967 -  Elvis Presley Marries

Elvis Presley, married his longtime girlfriend, Priscilla Ann Beaulieu, 21, at a at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. 

1707 UK and Great Britain is formed

Acts of Union comes into force, uniting England and Scotland to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain

1841 First emigrant wagon train

First emigrant wagon train leaves Independence, Missouri, for California

1006 Supernova observed by Chinese and Egyptians

Supernova observed by Chinese and Egyptians in constellation Lupus

1751 1st American cricket match is played

1st American cricket match is played

1489 Christopher Columbus 

Christopher Columbus proposes his plan to search for a western route to India in an audience with Spanish monarch, Isabella I. Full support is granted 3 years later, in 1492

1786 Mozart's 

Mozart's opera "Marriage of Figaro" premieres in Wien (Vienna)

1840 "Penny Black", the world's first adhesive postage stamp 

 "Penny Black", the world's first adhesive postage stamp issued by Great Britain

1937 US President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Neutrality Act

US President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Neutrality Act, banning travel on belligerent ships and imposes an arms embargo on warring nations

1959 Floyd Patterson KOs Brian London 

Floyd Patterson KOs Brian London in 11 for heavyweight boxing title

Continues below

1960 Russia shoots down Francis Gary Powers' U-2 spy plane 

Russia shoots down Francis Gary Powers' U-2 spy plane over Sverdlovsk

1961 1st US airplane hijacked to Cuba

1st US airplane hijacked to Cuba

1978 Jackie Chan's breakthrough film

Jackie Chan's breakthrough film "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow" directed by Yuen Woo-ping, is released in Hong Kong

1979 Elton John becomes 1st pop star to perform in Israel

Elton John becomes 1st pop star to perform in Israel

1997 Tony Blair elected Prime Minister

Tony Blair elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

1994 Tornado & hail storms hit Jiangxi China

Tornado & hail storms hit Jiangxi China, 95 killed

1988 Two IRA attacks in and near Roermond, Netherlands.

Two IRA attacks in and near Roermond, Netherlands, kills 3 British servicemen and wounds 3 more