What Happened on May 13?

May 13 is Frog Jumping Day — inspired by Mark Twain's tall tale — and the date colonists selected Jamestown in 1607. Winston Churchill pledged 'blood, toil, tears, and sweat' in 1940, and Pope John Paul II survived an assassination attempt in 1981.

• 1607 — English colonists select the Jamestown site in Virginia

  On May 13, 1607, Virginia Company settlers chose a marshy peninsula for Jamestown — England's first permanent colony in North America. Read the full story →

• 1846 — United States declares war on Mexico

  Congress approved President Polk's war message on May 13, 1846, launching the Mexican-American War over disputed Texas borderlands. Read the full story →

• 1917 — Three children report the first apparition at Fátima, Portugal

  On May 13, 1917, Lucia dos Santos and two cousins said they saw a vision of Mary near Fátima — beginning events that drew millions of pilgrims. Read the full story →

• 1940 — Churchill delivers his 'blood, toil, tears, and sweat' speech

  Three days after becoming prime minister, Winston Churchill told Parliament on May 13, 1940, that Britain's goal was victory — promising only 'blood, toil, tears, and sweat.' Read the full story →

• 1981 — Pope John Paul II survives an assassination attempt in St. Peter's Square

  On May 13, 1981, a gunman shot Pope John Paul II twice in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City — the pope recovered and later forgave his attacker. Read the full story →

• 1995 — Alison Hargreaves reaches Mount Everest's summit solo without oxygen

  British climber Alison Hargreaves stood atop Mount Everest on May 13, 1995, without bottled oxygen or Sherpa support on the final push — a rare feat. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Stevie Wonder (1950) · Stephen Colbert (1964) · Daphne du Maurier (1907–1989) · Robert Pattinson (1986)

Days & observances

Frog Jumping Day · National Apple Pie Day · World Cocktail Day · National Crouton Day