This Day in History is DUE’s daily dose of trivia for all the history buffs out there. So sit back and take a ride of all the fascinating things that happened on 22nd May!
People are trapped in history and history is trapped in people, and hence, every day has been a significant one in the foibles of history. Now, let’s take a tour of “This Day in History – 22nd May”.
1885: Victor Hugo dies
Victor-Marie Hugo was a French poet, novelist, and dramatist. He is considered one of France’s greatest poets. Worldwide he is famous for his novels such as Notre-Dame de Paris and Les Misérables. On this day in 1885, he died due to pneumonia at the age of 83 in Paris.
1939: The pact of steel signed
The Pact of Steel was a military and political alliance between fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. It was signed by Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini on 22nd May 1939. The pact formalized the 1936 Rome-Berlin Axis agreement and tied the two countries politically and militarily.
1970: Naomi Campbell is born
Naomi Elaine Campbell is a British supermodel, actress, and businesswoman. She was the most recognizable and in-demand model of the 90s. She was born on this day in 1970 in Streatham, South London.
2000: International Day for Biological Diversity
Every year, 22nd May is acknowledged as International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB). The United Nations proclaimed the day as IDB to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. Originally in 1993, 29 December was chosen as IDB. However, later in the year 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted 22 May as IDB.
2010: Air India Express Flight 812 crashes
On this day in 2010, a Boeing 737-800 passenger jet operating Air India Express Flight 812 crashed on landing. The flight was travelling from Dubai to Mangalore, India. The flight overshot the runway, fell down a hillside, and burst into flames. Out of the 160 passengers and six crew members on board, only 8 passengers survived.
