Did you know
Joseph Goebbels was one of Adolf Hitler's closest and most devoted followers and was known for his skills in public speaking and his extreme antisemitism which was evident in his publicly voiced views.
Notable Deaths on May 1
1945 — Joseph Goebbels
German lawyer and politician, Chancellor of Germany (born 1897)
May 1 has 79 recorded notable deaths across history, from 408 to 2023. This focused page highlights 20 people with the strongest available profile context.
By thisDay.info Editorial Team · — Wikipedia
Notable Deaths
79 source records
408 – 2023
Today in history
Major events on May 1
See what else happened on this day in history.
- 1807 The Slave Trade Act 1807 takes effect, abolishing the slave trade within the British Empire. Source
- 1891 On Labor Day in Catania, Sicily, workers establish the first successful Fascio Siciliano, launching a movement of peasants and laborers protesting poverty, landlordism, taxation, and economic hardship across Sicily. Source
- 1863 American Civil War: During the Vicksburg campaign, Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant win the Battle of Port Gibson and establish a firm presence on the east side of the Mississippi River. Source
- 1997 The Labour Party wins the 1997 General Election and Tony Blair is elected as Prime Minister. Source
Did you know
Widely considered one of Canada's greatest songwriters, he had numerous gold and platinum albums, and his songs have been covered by many of the world's most renowned musical artists.
Did you know
As a result, he became one of the most popular British heroes of the late 19th-century Victorian era.
Did you know
Antonín Dvořák frequently employed rhythms and other aspects of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia, following the Romantic era nationalist example of his predecessor Bedřich Smetana.
Did you know
Elizabeth Ann Hulette, best known in professional wrestling as Miss Elizabeth, was an American professional wrestling manager, occasional professional wrestler, and professional wrestling TV announcer.
More major people who died on May 1
Notable people are ranked by substantive profile depth and public notability.
2023
Gordon Lightfoot
Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1938)
Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr. was a Canadian singer-songwriter who achieved worldwide success and helped define the singer-songwriter era of the 1970s.
1873
David Livingstone
Scottish-English missionary and explorer (born 1813)
David Livingstone was a Scottish doctor, Congregationalist, pioneer Christian missionary with the London Missionary Society, and an explorer in Africa.
1904
Antonín Dvořák
Czech composer (born 1841)
Antonín Leopold Dvořák was a Czech composer. He frequently employed rhythms and other aspects of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia, following the Romantic era nationalist example of his predecessor…
2003
Miss Elizabeth
American wrestler and manager (born 1960)
Elizabeth Ann Hulette, best known in professional wrestling as Miss Elizabeth, was an American professional wrestling manager, occasional professional wrestler, and professional wrestling TV announcer.
2000
Steve Reeves
American bodybuilder and actor (born 1926)
Stephen Lester Reeves was an American professional bodybuilder and actor.
1998
Eldridge Cleaver
American author and activist (born 1935)
Leroy Eldridge Cleaver was an African American writer and political activist, fashion designer, convicted rapist and an early leader of the Black Panther Party serving as Minister of Information, and while in exile,…
1965
Spike Jones
American singer and bandleader (born 1911)
Lindley Armstrong "Spike" Jones was an American musician, bandleader and conductor specializing in spoof arrangements and satire of popular songs and classical music.
1278
William II of Villehardouin
Prince of Achaea from 1246 to 1278
William of Villehardouin was the fourth prince of Achaea in Frankish Greece, from 1246 to 1278.
1976
Alexandros Panagoulis
Greek poet and politician (born 1939)
Alexandros Panagoulis was a Greek politician and poet. He took an active role in the fight against the Regime of the Colonels (1967–1974) in Greece.
1255
Walter de Gray
English prelate and statesman
Walter de Gray was an English prelate and statesman who was Archbishop of York from 1215 to 1255 and Lord Chancellor from 1205 to 1214.
1985
Denise Robins
English journalist and author (born 1897)
Denise Robins was a prolific English romantic novelist and the first President of the Romantic Novelists' Association (1960–1966).
408
Arcadius
Byzantine emperor from 383 to 408 (born 377)
Arcadius was Roman emperor from 383 to his death in 408. He was the eldest son of the Augustus Theodosius I and his first wife Aelia Flaccilla, and the brother of Honorius.
1968
Jack Adams
Canadian-American ice hockey player, coach, and manager (born 1895)
John James "Jolly Jack" Adams was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, coach, and general manager in the National Hockey League and Pacific Coast Hockey Association.
1935
Henri Pélissier
French cyclist (born 1889)
Henri Pélissier was a French racing cyclist from Paris and champion of the 1923 Tour de France.
2013
Chris Kelly
American rapper (born 1978)
Kris Kross was an American hip hop duo composed of rappers Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly and Chris "Daddy Mac" Smith and formed by record producer Jermaine Dupri.
1539
Isabella of Portugal (born 1503)
Isabella of Portugal was the empress consort of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Spain, Archduke of Austria, and Duke of Burgundy.
2011
Henry Cooper
English boxer (born 1934)
Sir Henry Cooper was a British professional boxer. He was undefeated in British and Commonwealth heavyweight championship contests for twelve years and held the European heavyweight title for three years.
2021
Olympia Dukakis
American actress (born 1931)
Olympia Dukakis was an American actress. She performed in more than 130 stage productions, in some 60 films, and in approximately 50 television series. Best known as a screen actress, she started her career in theater.
1308
Albert I of Germany (born 1255)
Albert I of Habsburg was a Duke of Austria and Styria from 1282 and King of Germany from 1298 until his assassination. He was the eldest son of King Rudolf I of Germany and his first wife Gertrude of Hohenberg.