May 6: Facts & Historical Events On This Day

2019 The UN reported that one million plant and animal species were at risk of extinction.

The rate at which plant and animal life are declining is at a level never before seen in human history, and we're almost entirely to blame. The UN claims that it's not too late to change this, but action needs to be taken at every level of society to make enough of a difference.

2004 The final episode of “Friends” aired.

The 10th season of "Friends" was it's last. The final episode, "The One Where They Say Goodbye," had 52.5 million viewers. It was the 5th most-watched TV finale in the history of the US and the most-watched episode of any TV series in the 2000s.

2002 Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, more commonly known as SpaceX, was founded by Elon Musk.

1997 Both Michael Jackson and the Bee Gees were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

1994 Bobcat Goldthwait was charged with two misdemeanors after setting a chair on fire during his appearance on “The Tonight Show.”

1960 United States President Eisenhower signed the Civil Rights Act of 1960.

This Act incurred punishment for anyone who tried to stop anyone else's attempt to register to vote. It was written in order to handle the discriminatory laws and practices in the South, especially to protect African-American and Mexican voters.

1954 British man, Roger Bannister, became the first athlete to run one mile in less than four minutes.

1941 Bob Hope performed his first United Service Organization show at California’s March Field for service members and their families.

1937 The Hindenburg zeppelin caught fire and was destroyed while attempting to dock in New Jersey.

To this day, we still don't know exactly how the zeppelin caught fire, although there are many hypotheses. The catastrophe was highly publicized, which abruptly halted the airship industry.

1840 The world’s first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, was used in a public postal system in the United Kingdom.

1835 The first issue of the New York Herald was published by James Gordon Bennett, costing 1 cent per issue.

1682 King Louis XIV made Versailles the de-facto capital of France when he moved his courts to the Versailles Palace.

While Paris remained the official capital, the relocation of the king's government essentially made Versailles the heart of France until 1789. During these hundred or so years, Versailles was constantly improved upon by the monarchy.

1527 The Sack of Rome occurred.

14,000 German troops and 6,000 Spanish troops attacked Rome in a manner resembling the barbarian pillages about 1,000 years prior. There were only 5,000 militiamen protecting the city. The Sack of Rome is regarded as the end of the Italian High Renaissance.