Tuesday, 22nd May 1979 in London
Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! It's International Day for Biological Diversity. Explore 77 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in London. From remarkable moments in local and world history to the people who left their mark — find out what makes today special. Today's weather in London brings drizzly with temperatures between 7°C and 14°C. Tonight's moon is in its waxing gibbous phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Gemini. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Tuesday, 22nd May in London, GB.
On 22 May 1979, London experienced drizzly conditions as the city sat beneath a waxing gibbous moon. Those born on this date fell under the zodiac sign of Gemini, characterised by intellectual curiosity and communicative nature. London, the capital of the United Kingdom, has long served as a centre of commerce, culture and governance, with its complex network of transport links and historic institutions shaping global affairs for centuries.
Historical events of significance have marked this calendar date across multiple decades. In 1980, location testing for Pac-Man began in Shibuya, Tokyo, launching what would become an iconic symbol of 1980s arcade gaming culture. Two decades earlier, on 22 May 1960, the most powerful earthquake ever recorded struck near Valdivia, Chile, with a magnitude of approximately 9.5 on the Richter scale, generating tsunamis that reached as far as Hawaii and Japan. The scale of destruction and the scientific significance of this seismic event reshaped understanding of tectonic activity worldwide.
Political upheaval has also characterised this date in modern history. In 2014, Prayut Chan-o-cha, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army, launched a coup d'état against the caretaker government following six months of political instability in Thailand. These varied historical moments underscore how a single calendar date encompasses transformative events across continents and centuries.
DayAtlas provides comprehensive information about weather conditions on any given date, significant historical events, and notable births and deaths associated with specific days and locations. Users can explore historical context and understand how global events have unfolded across different geographical regions.
Find out what's happening today in London.
What the Weather Had in Store for London on 22nd May 1979
A map shows destinations but reveals nothing about departure.
Fortune of the Day
22nd May in the Stars – Star Sign Pisces
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on May 22nd embody the curious Gemini with innovative Uranus influence. They are lively, versatile, and constantly seeking new ideas and experiences. Their restless energy drives them to explore the world and push boundaries.
Strengths & Weaknesses These individuals shine through flexibility, communication skills, and original thinking. Their weakness lies in a tendency toward superficiality and inconsistency. They often struggle with impatience and difficulty committing long-term.
Love In relationships, May 22nd natives need mental stimulation and freedom. They thrive on vibrant conversations and partners who appreciate their innovative ideas. Emotional depth develops slowly, yet their loyalty runs deeper than their reputation suggests.
Caree & Finance These natives flourish in careers combining creativity and communication—journalism, technology, design, or research. They're brilliant problem-solvers but must learn to complete projects. Financially, they tend toward impulsiveness rather than planning.
Health May 22nd individuals benefit from mental and physical challenges. Their restlessness demands regular movement and intellectual engagement. Nervous tension and sleep issues can emerge when overstretched.
That night, the moon was in its waxing gibbous phase.
Chinese year of the Goat (Earth).
Fun Facts About 22nd May
Name Days in Your Language: Jolee, Joleen, Jolene, Jolie, Marshall
Someone born on this day in 1979 would be 46 years old today — just 17,125 days into life, which is roughly 411,001 hours, 24,660,069 minutes, or 1,479,604,174 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 142. day of the year.
There are 223 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 21 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 22nd May
- Erin McNaught, Australian model and actress (1982)
- Apolo Ohno, American speed skater (1982)
- Hong Yong-jo, North Korean footballer (1982)
- Bryan Danielson, American wrestler (1981)
- Bassel Khartabil, Syrian computer programmer and engineer (died 2015) (1981)
- Jürgen Melzer, Austrian tennis player (1981)
- Mark O'Meley, Australian rugby league player (1981)
- Tarin Bradford, Australian rugby league player (1980)
- Sharice Davids, American politician (1980)
- Lucy Gordon, British actress and model (died 2009) (1980)
Lives Remembered on 22nd May
- Cevdet Sunay, Turkish general and politician, 5th President of Turkey (born 1899) (1982)
- Lefty Grove, American baseball player (born 1900) (1975)
- Irmgard Flügge-Lotz, German-American mathematician and aerospace engineer (born 1903) (1974)
- Cecil Day-Lewis, Anglo-Irish poet and author (born 1904) (1972)
- Margaret Rutherford, English actress (born 1892) (1972)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 22nd May
- Abolition Day (Martinique)
- Aromanian National Day (marginal, celebration on May 23 is more common)
- Christian feast day: Castus and Emilius
- Christian feast day: Fulk
- Christian feast day: Humilita
- Christian feast day: Michael Hồ Đình Hy (one of Vietnamese Martyrs)
- Christian feast day: Quiteria
- Christian feast day: Rita of Cascia
- Christian feast day: Romanus of Subiaco
- Christian feast day: May 22 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Harvey Milk Day (California)
- International Day for Biological Diversity (International)
- United States National Maritime Day
- National Sovereignty Day (Haiti)
- Republic Day (Sri Lanka)
- Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas from Myra to Bari (Ukraine)
- Unity Day (Yemen), celebrates the unification of North and South Yemen into the Republic of Yemen in 1990.
- World Goth Day
What Happened on 22nd May?
- Hypothermia kills 21 runners in the 100 km (60-mile) Gansu ultramarathon disaster in China. (2021)
- Pakistan International Airlines Flight 8303 crashes in Model Colony near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan, killing 98 people. (2020)
- Twenty-two people are killed at an Ariana Grande concert in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. (2017)
- United States President Donald Trump visits the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and becomes the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Western Wall. (2017)
- The Republic of Ireland becomes the first nation in the world to utilise a public referendum to legalise gay marriage. (2015)
- General Prayut Chan-o-cha becomes interim leader of Thailand in a military coup d'état, following six months of political turmoil. (2014)
- An explosion occurs in Ürümqi, capital of China's far-western Xinjiang region, resulting in at least 43 deaths and 91 injuries. (2014)
- Fusilier Lee Rigby is murdered by 2 Islamic extremists in Woolwich, Southeast London (2013)
- Tokyo Skytree opens to the public. It is the tallest tower in the world (634 m), and the second tallest man-made structure on Earth after Burj Khalifa (829.8 m). (2012)
- SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 2 launches a Dragon capsule on a Falcon 9 rocket in the first commercial flight to the International Space Station. (2012)