Today is Friday, May 15, the 135th day of 2015. There are 230 days left in the year.
1618 ― Johannes Kepler discovers harmonics law
1672 ― First copyright law enacted by Massachusetts
1718 ― James Puckle, a London lawyer, patents world’s first machine gun
1730 ― Robert Walpole becomes England’s first prime minister (was chief minister)
1911 ― Supreme Court dissolves Standard Oil (Sherman Antitrust Act)
1928 ― Mickey Mouse made his first appearance
1940 ― Nylon stockings go on sale for first time (U.S.)
1963 ― Peter, Paul & Mary win their first Grammy (“If I Had a Hammer”)
1970 ― Beatles’ last LP, “Let It Be” is released in U.S.
1970 ― South Africa excluded from Olympic play
1988 ― Moscow begins withdrawing its 115,000 troops in Afghanistan
1989 ― Soviet President Gorbachev in Beijing for first Sino-Soviet summit in 30 years