May 02

Born Zhu Di, he seized the throne in 1402 after a palace coup. He relocated the Ming capital to Beijing and initiated construction of the Forbidden City. He commissioned the Yongle Encyclopedia, a vast compendium of Chinese knowledge. He sponsored Zheng He's maritime expeditions across the Indian Ocean. His military campaigns secured China's northern borders against the Mongols. He died in 1424 after a 22-year reign that shaped Ming China's golden age.

Born into the Aragonese royal family in 1402. She married King Edward of Portugal in 1428, becoming queen consort. She was known for her diplomatic skill and support of the arts and monasteries. After her husband's death, she played a role in the regency for her son, King Afonso V. She was celebrated for her charitable works and religious devotion. She died in 1445, leaving a legacy of cultural and ecclesiastical patronage.

Born in 1451 as the son of John II of Lorraine. He became duke in 1473 and faced the threat of Burgundian expansion. He achieved a decisive victory over Charles the Bold at the Battle of Nancy in 1477. He navigated complex alliances between France and the Holy Roman Empire. His reign stabilized Lorraine and enhanced its political standing. He died in 1508 after more than three decades of rule.

Born in 1458 as a member of the Portuguese royal House of Aviz. She married King John II of Portugal and became queen consort. She is credited with founding the Santa Casa da Misericórdia in Lisbon. Her patronage of hospitals and charity influenced the development of social welfare. She maintained strong ties to the churches and supported religious reforms. She died in 1525, leaving a lasting legacy of philanthropy.

Born in 1476 into the influential Poděbrady family of Bohemia. He inherited the duchy of Münsterberg-Oels and the county of Kladsko. He was appointed governor of Bohemia and Silesia under Emperor Ferdinand I. His administration focused on consolidating Habsburg authority in Central Europe. He navigated political and religious tensions during the early Reformation. He died in 1536, after a long career in imperial service.

Born in 1533 as a member of the House of Welf. He succeeded his brother as Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen in 1551. He governed his small duchy amid the political upheavals of the Reformation. He worked to maintain peace and stability among Protestant and Catholic neighbors. His long reign saw the consolidation of territorial administration. He died in 1596 after 45 years of rule.

Born in 1579 as the son of Tokugawa Ieyasu. He succeeded his father as shōgun in 1605 and ruled until 1623. He enforced the bakuhan system, balancing power between shogunate and domains. He completed Edo Castle and established administrative structures across Japan. He managed diplomatic missions and maintained stability after years of war. He retired in 1623 and died in 1632, leaving a lasting legacy of order.

Born Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst on May 2, 1729. She ascended to the Russian throne in 1762 after a palace coup. Catherine expanded the Russian Empire through wars and diplomatic alliances. She championed the Enlightenment, corresponding with Voltaire and Diderot. Under her reign, Russia saw significant cultural development in the arts and education. She implemented administrative reforms and modernized Russian society. Catherine's legacy endures as one of Russia's most influential rulers.

Born on May 2, 1737 in Dublin, Ireland. He inherited the title Earl of Shelburne and entered British politics. Petty served as Prime Minister from 1782 to 1783 during the American War of Independence. He negotiated the peace treaty recognizing American independence. Known for his economic writings and support of free trade policies. His tenure was marked by financial reforms and controversy over parliamentary patronage.

Born on May 2, 1740 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Boudinot trained as a lawyer and became active in revolutionary politics. He was elected to the Continental Congress in 1782 and served as its president. Boudinot later served in the U.S. House of Representatives and supported Jay’s Treaty. He was a founding trustee of what became Princeton University. His leadership helped shape the early governance of the United States.

William Buell Richards was born in Brockville, Upper Canada in 1815 and studied law before being called to the bar in 1838. He served as a judge on the Court of Common Pleas for several years, earning a reputation for fairness and legal acumen. In 1875, Richards was appointed as the inaugural Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, overseeing the establishment of the country's highest judicial body. He presided over early landmark cases that shaped Canadian constitutional law. Richards retired in 1879 and died in 1889, remembered for laying the foundations of the Canadian judiciary and upholding the rule of law in the young Dominion.

James F. Byrnes was a prominent American politician and judge whose career spanned the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of the U.S. government. He began his public service as a U.S. Representative and Senator from South Carolina, where he earned a reputation for practical legal expertise. In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Byrnes to the U.S. Supreme Court, where he served briefly before resigning to lead the Office of Economic Stabilization during World War II. Byrnes then became Director of War Mobilization, overseeing home-front war production. In 1945, Roosevelt named him Secretary of State, making him the chief American diplomat in the early post-war era. Later, he served as Governor of South Carolina, implementing progressive infrastructure projects. Byrnes's versatility and influence in shaping mid-20th century U.S. policy reflect his significant political legacy.