May 22nd is the 142nd day of the year (143rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 223 days remaining until the end of the year.

Events

853 – Byzantine–Arab Wars: The Byzantine navy began to sack and plunder the port city of Damietta on the Nile Delta, whose garrison was absent at the time.

1762 – The Trevi Fountain in Rome was officially inaugurated by Pope Clement XIII.

1849 – Abraham Lincoln was issued a patent for an invention to lift boats over obstacles in a river, making him the only U.S. President to ever hold a patent.

1958 – Ethnic rioting broke out in Ceylon, targeted mostly at the minority Sri Lankan Tamils, resulting in up to 300 deaths over the next five days.

2012 – Tokyo Skytree, the tallest tower in the world at a height of 634 m (2,080 ft), opened to the public.

Celebrity Birthdays

Singer Morrissey turns 59

Super Model Naomi Campbell turns 48

Actress Ginnifer Goodwin turns 40

Actress Maggie Q turns 39

WWE Star Daniel Bryan turns 37