FRIDAY, May 1, 2026

1707-Acts of Union come into force, uniting England and Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain

1753-Publication of "Species Plantarum" by Carl Linnaeus - the formal start date of plant taxonomy adopted by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature

1840-"Penny Black," the world's first adhesive postage stamp is issued by the United Kingdom

1886-Nationwide demonstrations and strikes demanding an 8-hour workday begin in the U.S.

1924-German automobile manufacturers Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie begin their first joint venture, later merging into Mercedes-Benz

1931-Empire State Building opens in New York City as the world's tallest building until the World Trade Center surpasses it in 1970

1948- North Korea proclaims itself Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

1956- A doctor in Japan reports an “epidemic of an unknown disease of the central nervous system,” marking the official discovery of Minamata disease