May 22nd

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Royal Thai Armed Forces, led by General Prayut Chan-o-cha stage a coup in Thailand, suspending the kingdom's constitution and taking control of the government, the 12th since the country's first coup in 1932.

Tokyo Skytree, which at 634 meters high is the tallest tower in the world, opened to the public.

At least 140 people are killed and hundreds more injured as a three-quarter-mile-wide tornado hits Joplin, Missouri. The tornado is among the deadliest in the nation's history, destroying nearly a third of the city and damaging about 2,000 buildings, including water treatment and sewage plants.

The worst air crash involving a Boeing 737 kills 158. Air India Express Flight 812 overshot the runway on landing at Mangalore International Airport. It fell over a cliff and burst into flames. The 737 is the world's most widely flown aircraft.

The UN Security Council approved a resolution lifting the economic sanctions against Iraq and supporting the U.S.-led administration in Iraq.

Johnny Carson hosted the last episode of his Tonight Show.

North Yemen and South Yemen merged to form the Republic of Yemen.

The arcade game Pac-Man is released. The game featuring a dot-munching round yellow figure moving through a maze has become one of the best-known video games in history. It was produced by Namco.

Richard Nixon arrived in Moscow, becoming the first U.S. president to visit the Soviet Union.

The most violent earthquake in recorded history hits Chile. The Great Chilean Earthquake rated 9.5 on the moment magnitude scale. According to estimates, between 2230 and 6000 people were killed.

Harry S. Truman's Doctrine brought aid to Greece and Turkey to combat the spread of Communism.

First US rocket (WAC Corporal) to reach edge of space fired from White Sands Missile Range New Mexico.

Adolf Hitler & Benito Mussolini sign "Pact of Steel".

An earthquake near Xining, China, measuring 8.3 claimed approximately 200,000 victims.

The Wright brothers' flying machine is patented. The American aviation pioneers are credited with having performed “the first sustained and controlled heavier-than-air powered flight.” (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale)

Abraham Lincoln received patent number 6469 for his floating dry dock.

1st wagon train with 700 - 1000 migrants, departs Independence, Missouri for Oregon.

The first life insurance policy in the United States was issued in Philadelphia.

1st atlas 'Theatrum Orbis Terrarum' (Theatre of the World), published by Abraham Ortelius in Antwerp with 70 maps.

The first battle in the 30-year War of Roses took place at St. Albans.