^B{^#!16!18 May^N! Feast day of St Elgiva, St John I, pope, St Eric, king of Sweden, St Felix of Cantalicio, St Potamon, and Saints Theodotus and Thecusa.
^B{1302^B} A French garrison was massacred in the 'Matins of Bruges', when the Flemings revolted against the French occupation. ^B{1764^B} The British Parliament amended the Sugar Act from a commercial to a fiscal measure, to tax American colonists. ^B{1878^B} Colombia granted a French company a nine-year concession to build the Panama Canal. ^B{1900^B} Tonga became a British protectorate. ^B{1936^B} An army revolt under Emilio Mola and Francisco Franco began the Spanish Civil War. ^B{1940^B} At Japan's request Britain prohibited the passage of war materials for China passing through Burma. ^B{1944^B} Monte Cassino, Italy, was taken by Allied forces. ^B{1980^B} Mount St Helens, US, erupted for the first time since 1857, devastating an area of 600 sq km/230 sq mi.
^B{^I{^#!14!Born ^N}Pieter Breughel, Flemish painter, ^B{1525^B}; George Gascoigne, English poet and playwright, ^B{1525^B}; Charles, Cardinal of Lorraine, ^B{1525^B}; John Stow, English historian, ^B{1525^B}; Joseph Butler, English philosopher, ^B{1692^B}; Bertrand Russell, English philosopher, ^B{1872^B}; Walter Gropius, US architect, ^B{1883^B}; Pierre Balmain, French fashion designer, ^B{1914^B}.
^B{^I{^#!14!Died ^N}Elias Ashmole, English antiquarian, ^B{1692^B}; Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, French playwright, ^B{1799^B}; Johann Gottfried von Herder, German critic and poet, ^B{1803^B}; George Meredith, English novelist, ^B{1909^B}; Gustav Mahler, Austrian composer, ^B{1911^B}; Paul Dukas, French composer, ^B{1935^B}; Werner Sombart, German economist, ^B{1941^B}.
