Home   On This Day   On this day in history - May 3

On this day in history - May 3

What Happened On This Day – May 3

  • 1999 A tornado produces the highest wind speeds ever recorded

    The F5 tornado hitting parts of Oklahoma City caused the record wind speed of about 301 mph (484 km/h). 45 people were killed, 665 injured.

  • 1979 Margaret Thatcher is elected British Prime Minister

    The conservative politician was the first female head of state in Europe. During her 11-year reign, her sweeping economic reforms polarized the British public and her toughness earning her the nickname The Iron Lady.

  • 1978 The Digital Equipment Corporation sends the world's first spam email

    A representative sent out 600 emails and sold computers for $12 million. Unsolicited bulk emails have since become a scourge of the digital age as spammers attempt to achieve a similar success.

  • 1958 Truman Capote's book Breakfast at Tiffany's is published

    The novella is one of the U.S. author's most popular works. The 1961 film of the same name starring Audrey Hepburn is classic in its genre.

  • 1913 The first Indian full-length feature film is premiered

    The release of Raja Harishchandra marked the birth of the Indian film industry, the world's largest in terms of films produced and ticket sales.

Illustration of stork, signifying birth

Births On This Day,
May 3

  • 1933 James Brown

    American singer-songwriter, producer, actor

  • 1921 Sugar Ray Robinson

    American boxer

  • 1919 Pete Seeger

    American singer-songwriter, guitarist

  • 1898 Golda Meir

    Israeli educator, politician, 4th Prime Minister of Israel

  • 1469 Niccolò Machiavelli

    Italian historian, philosopher

Illustration of tombstone, signifying death

Deaths On This Day,
May 3

  • 2014 Jim Oberstar

    American politician

  • 1999 Godfrey Evans

    English cricketer

  • 1987 Dalida

    Egyptian/French singer, actress

  • 1916 Patrick Pearse

    Irish activist

  • 1481 Mehmed the Conqueror

    Ottoman sultan