On This Day for May 30 - Joan of Arc burned at the stake, Countee Cullen is featured, and more

This message contains graphics. If you do not see the graphics, click here to view. May 30 FEATURED BIOGRAPHY Countee Cullen READ MORE   FEATURED EVENT 1431 Joan of Arc burned at the stake READ MORE   Advertisement Advertisement   MORE EVENTS ON THIS DAY 2012: Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia, was sentenced to 50 years in prison after being convicted of crimes against humanity and war crimes that were committed during Sierra Leone 's civil war. [ Can you match these African leaders to the countries they have led?] 1961: Rafael Trujillo, an army officer who had become dictator of the Dominican Republic following a military revolt in 1930, was assassinated. [Take our quiz about dictators of the 20th century.] 1909: American jazz musician and bandleader Benny Goodman, who was known as the "King of Swing," was born. [Test your knowledge of musical nicknames.] 1381: An unpopular poll tax helped spark the Peasants' Revolt, the first great popular rebellion in English history. 1942: During World War II the British Royal Air Force dispatched more than 1,000 bombers against Cologne, Germany. [Sort fact from fiction in our World War II quiz .] 1925: In the May Thirtieth Incident, some 12 labour demonstrators were killed by British police in Shanghai, sparking nationwide strikes and protests in China. [ Test your knowledge of China.] SEE ALL EVENTS ON THIS DAY ALSO BORN ON THIS DAY 1975 Marissa Mayer American software engineer and businesswoman 1980 Steven Gerrard English football player 1963 Helen Sharman British chemist and astronaut 1974 CeeLo Green American singer, rapper, and songwriter 1908 Mel Blanc American entertainer 1909 Benny Goodman American musician SEE ALL BIOS ON THIS DAY   Advertisement   FOLLOW: To unsubscribe from Britannica e-mails, click here. Encyclopædia Britannica 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Chicago, Illinois 60654 United States © 2021 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Privacy Policy • Help