TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2012

Today is Tuesday, May 15, the 136th day of 2012. There are 230 days left in the year.

1525 ― German Boer army surrounds/slaughters 5,000; ends Boer war

1602 ― Cape Cod discovered by English navigator Bartholomew Gosnold

1618 ― Johannes Kepler discovers harmonics law

1718 ― James Puckle, a London lawyer, patents world's first machine gun

1902 ― Portugal bankrupt by revolt in Angola

1905 ― Las Vegas, Nev., founded

1928 ― Mickey Mouse made his first appearance

1940 ― Nylon stockings go on sale for first time (U.S.)

1989 ― Soviet President Gorbachev in Beijing for first Sino-Soviet summit in 30 years

1991 ― Edith Cresson becomes France's first female premier