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 →

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