This Day In History : May 15

1862 United States

US Department of Agriculture created

The U.S. Bureau of Agriculture is created by President Abraham Lincoln. It was later renamed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Also on This Day in History May 15

Discover what happened on May 15 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, May 15
  • 1895 Prescott Bush

    American banker and politician

  • 1967 Madhuri Dixit

    Indian actress

  • 1957 Kevin Von Erich

    American professional wrestler

  • 1945 Duarte Pio

    Duke of Braganza, heir to the Portuguese crown

  • 1931 F Korthals Altes

    Dutch minister of Justice (VVD)

Deaths on This Day, May 15
  • 2007 Jerry Falwell

    American evangelist, founded Liberty University and co-founder of Moral Majority

  • 1932 Inukai Tsuyoshi

    Japanese politician (Prime Minister of Japan 1931-32)

  • 1978 Robert Menzies

    12th Prime Minister of Australia (United Australia Party: 1939-41, Liberal: 1949-66) and its longest-serving

  • 1991 Andreas Floer

    German mathematician

  • 1976 Samuel Eliot Morison

    American historian

1940

McDonald's opens its first restaurant in San Bernardino, CA

The McDonald's brothers opened their first McDonald's restaurant on May 15, 1940 in San Bernardino, California.
1869

The National Woman Suffrage Association is formed by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton

The NWSA emerged after the women’s rights movement split over the proposed Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which would extend voting rights to black men.
1905

Las Vegas founded in Nevada

Las Vegas was founded in Nevada on May 15, 1905. On this date, 110 acres of land was auctioned off, marking the establishment of what would become the city of Las Vegas.
1928

Mickey Mouse makes his 1st appearance

Walt Disney's character Mickey Mouse made his first appearance in the cartoon "Plane Crazy" on May 15, 1928.
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