May 15 is the 135th day of the year. There are 230 days remaining until the end of the year. This date is slightly more likely to fall on a Tuesday, Friday or Sunday (58 in 400 years each) than on Wednesday or Thursday (57), and slightly less likely to occur on a Monday or Saturday (56).
+ 1851 – The first Australian gold rush is proclaimed, although the discovery had been made three months earlier.
+ 1862 – President Abraham Lincoln signs a bill into law creating the United States Bureau of Agriculture. It is later renamed the United States Department of Agriculture.
+ 1905 – Las Vegas is founded when 110 acres (0.45 km2), in what later would become downtown, are auctioned off
+ 1928 – Walt Disney character Mickey Mouse premieres in his first cartoon, "Plane Crazy".
+ 1940 – McDonald's opens its first restaurant in San Bernardino, California
+ 1941 – Joe DiMaggio begins a 56-game hitting streak.
+ 1970 – President Richard Nixon appoints Anna Mae Hays and Elizabeth P. Hoisington the first female United States Army generals.
+ 1972 – In Laurel, Maryland, Arthur Bremer shoots and paralyzes Alabama Governor George Wallace while he is campaigning to become President.
( Births )
+ 1918 – Eddy Arnold, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor (d. 2008)
+ 1953 – George Brett, American baseball player and coach
+ 1957 – Kevin Von Erich, American football player and wrestler
+ 1967 – John Smoltz, American baseball player and sportscaster
+ 1969 – Emmitt Smith, American football player and sportscaster