English Queen consort Anne Boleyn, whom King Henry VIII married after famously divorcing Catherine of Aragon, was arrested on charges of adultery on May 2, 1536. The following trial, orchestrated by prominent minister of state Thomas Cromwell, led to Anne's conviction and eventual execution two weeks after her arrest despite Anne's denial of the charges. Henry VIII would marry Jane Seymour later that month. Learn more about Anne Boleyn.

Longtime FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover died on May 2, 1972 at age 77, having led the agency since 1924. He built his reputation on battling bootleggers during Prohibition and communist and pro-rights groups after World War II. Review Hoover's official FBI personnel file, released under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act.

On May 2, 1998, the European Central Bank (ECB) was founded to set monetary policy for the sixteen EU nations who use the Euro as their primary currency. Learn more about the ECB from the organization's website.