April 1, 1741
Vitus Bering discovered Alaska
In 1741, Vitus Bering etched his name into the annals of exploration by becoming one of the first Europeans to discover Alaska. But what do we know about the man himself, and how did his life's path l
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April in History
125 events
April 1, 1861
Pony Express ends
There was a time when daring young riders on horseback carried mail across the vast stretch from Missouri to California. That inaugural trip covered the distance in just ten days. Serving as one of th
April 1, 1952
Big Bang Theory Proposed By Alpher, Bethe & Gamow
It was on April 1, 1952, that Ralph Alpher, George Gamow, and Hans Bethe put forward what would become known as the Big Bang Theory, laying out their ideas in a paper that appeared in the scientific j
April 1, 1992
NHL Players Launched a Strike
The morning of April 1, 1992, brought a seismic shift to the world of professional hockey — one that would echo through the sport for decades. For the first time since 1917, NHL players walked off the
April 1, 2001
Gmail Was Launched by Google
Google fundamentally transformed how the world communicates when it unveiled Gmail on April 1, 2004. Far more than a simple product launch, this moment triggered a seismic shift across the entire emai
April 1, 2004
The Netherlands Legalized Same-Sex Marriage
The date April 1, 2001, holds a permanent place in the story of equal rights — a day that reshaped what legal recognition of love could look like. It was on this day that the Netherlands became the fi
April 2, 4
Darfur Conflict: The Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement Is Signed
April 8, 2004, marked a pivotal turning point for the Sudanese people. Tensions had been escalating in the oil-rich Darfur region, where the government found itself locked in a bitter struggle with tw
April 2, 1805
Hans Christian Andersen Was Born
On April 2, 1805, in the city of Odense, Denmark, the world welcomed a storyteller whose imagination would captivate millions. Hans Christian Andersen, now celebrated as one of the greatest fairy tale
April 2, 1836
Charles Dickens Married Catherine Thomas Hogarth
On April 2, 1836, Charles Dickens — widely regarded as one of the Victorian era's greatest literary figures — wed Catherine Thomson Hogarth in a ceremony at St. Luke's Church in Chelsea, London. What
April 2, 1902
The Electric Theater (America's First Full-Time Movie Theater) Opens in California
The story of Hollywood as we know it traces back to April 2, 1902, when Thomas Lincoln Tally launched the Electric Theater in California — a venture that would fundamentally transform how audiences ex
April 2, 1972
The Establishment of the Philadelphia Mint
On April 2, 1792, the Coinage Act was signed into law by the United States Congress — a landmark piece of legislation that brought the nation's first official mint to life in Philadelphia, which serve
April 3, 1882
The Murder of Jesse James
It was April 3, 1882, when a single bullet ended the life of Jesse James—one of the most infamous outlaws America has ever known. The man who pulled the trigger was Robert Ford, someone Jesse had trus
April 3, 1948
The Marshall Plan: Rebuilding Europe
The European Recovery Program (ERP) — better known as the Marshall Plan — became law on April 3, 1948, when President Harry S. Truman put pen to paper. At its core, this ambitious program aimed to lif
April 3, 1978
Motorola Employee Martin Cooper Makes The First Mobile Phone Call
On April 3, 1978, the very first mobile phone call was placed by Martin Cooper, an engineer at Motorola. Standing close to a 900 MHz base station on Sixth Avenue in New York City, Cooper dialed the Be
April 3, 1995
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor Became First Woman to Preside Over the Court
On April 3, 1995, the U.S. Supreme Court witnessed a moment that would resonate through the annals of American legal history. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor — who had already shattered a glass ceiling as
April 4, 1949
The Birth of NATO
On April 4, 1949, a dozen countries came together to sign the North Atlantic Treaty in what would become one of the most consequential diplomatic acts of the twentieth century. With that signature, th
April 4, 1968
Martin Luther King Jr. Assassinated
On Thursday, April 4, 1968, at 6:05 P.M., a gunshot rang out at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, fatally striking Martin Luther King Jr. as he stood on the building's balcony. A Baptist minis
April 4, 1973
The Opening of the World Trade Center
On April 4, 1973, New York City witnessed the official inauguration of the World Trade Center (WTC) — a moment that signaled the arrival of the Twin Towers on the world stage. Standing at 110 stories
April 4, 1975
Bill Gates and Paul Allen Founded Microsoft
On April 4, 1975, two friends who had known each other since childhood — Bill Gates and Paul Allen — took a bold step that would ultimately reshape the entire technology landscape. Together, they laun
April 5, 1722
Dutch Navigator Jacob Roggeveen Discovered Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
On April 5, 1722, Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen became the first European to lay eyes on what remains one of the most mysterious and perplexing locations anywhere on the planet: Easter Island. Known
April 5, 1856
The Birth of Booker T. Washington
On April 5, 1856, a child who would grow to become one of America's most influential educators, authors, and leaders entered the world in Franklin County, Virginia — born into the bonds of slavery. Th
April 5, 1923
The First Economical Inflatable Tires
April 5, 1923, stands out as a landmark day for the automotive world — it's when the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company unveiled its balloon tires. This innovative take on inflatable tire technology deli
April 5, 1986
The War of the Pacific Begins
The War of the Pacific stands out as one of South America's most consequential conflicts, raging from 1879 to 1884. At its heart was a fierce contest between Chile, Peru, and Bolivia over nitrate-rich
April 6, 1772
Catherine the Great Ended the Beard Tax
When Catherine the Great officially did away with the beard levy on April 6, 1772, she closed one of the more unusual chapters in Russian history. The tax had originally been the brainchild of Tsar Pe
April 6, 1896
The First Modern-Day Olympic Games Held in Athens
On April 6, 1896, the city of Athens, Greece, stepped onto the world stage in a truly remarkable way — hosting the first modern Olympic Games and breathing new life into a tradition that had lain dorm
April 6, 1917
The USA Joined WWI
On April 6, 1917, the United States made the momentous decision to enter World War I, a move driven by relentless German provocations that would fundamentally reshape both the trajectory of the confli
April 6, 1994
Plane Carrying Rwanda President Juvénal Habyarimana and Burundian President Cyprien Ntaryamira is Shot Down
On the evening of April 6, 1994, a Dassault Falcon 50 jet carrying Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana and Burundian President Cyprien Ntaryamira was struck by surface-to-air missiles as it prepared
April 7, 1915
Billie Holiday Born
Widely celebrated as one of the finest jazz vocalists in history, Billie Holiday left an indelible mark on music before her life was cut short by substance abuse. Her life story, told through her auto
April 7, 1927
The First Long-Distance Television Transmission
Back on April 7, 1927, Bell Telephone Laboratories pulled off something that had never been done before: the first long-distance television transmission. Connecting Washington, D.C., to New York City,
April 7, 1948
The Formation of the World Health Organization
On April 7, 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially came into existence — a moment so significant that we now honor it every year as World Health Day. Yet the idea of nations cooperating
April 7, 1954
Eisenhower Presented the "Domino Theory"
On April 7, 1954, the world got its first clear look at what would become one of the Cold War's most influential strategic concepts. During a press conference, President Dwight D. Eisenhower laid out
April 8, 1913
Ratification of the 17th Amendment
The democratic fabric of America was fundamentally reshaped on April 8, 1913, when the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was officially ratified. Before this pivotal change, state governments he
April 8, 1913
The Opening of China's National Assembly
It was on April 8, 1913, that a truly historic event unfolded: China's first National Assembly convened in Beijing. Born from the ashes of the Qing Dynasty, which had collapsed just one year earlier,
April 8, 1983
The Disappearance of the Statue of Liberty
On the evening of April 8, 1983, millions of television viewers watched in collective disbelief as David Copperfield pulled off what many consider the most audacious illusion ever staged. The 305-foot
April 9, 1483
Edward V Succeeds His Father for The Crown of England, But is Never Crowned
On April 9, 1483, the death of Edward IV thrust his eldest surviving son, Edward V, into the role of King of England. Yet this young monarch would never wear the crown — he was deposed just two months
April 9, 1865
The Ending of the Civil War
American history took a dramatic turn on April 9, 1865, when General Robert E. Lee formally yielded his Confederate forces to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia. This act s
April 9, 1866
President Andrew Johnson formally declares US Civil War over
There's no single moment that historians universally agree marked the decisive shift in the American Civil War. That said, many people look to two events in early July of 1863 as the war's turning poi
April 9, 1866
A Landmark Moment for Civil Rights
With the Civil War behind it, the nation found itself standing at a crossroads that would define the future of racial justice in America. On April 9, 1866, Congress delivered a thundering statement of
April 9, 2012
The Lion King Became Top-Grossing Broadway Show
With box office earnings climbing to almost $853 million, The Lion King cemented itself as a true Broadway landmark. The production demonstrated that when powerful narratives meet groundbreaking stagi
April 10, 1815
The Day Mount Tambora Blew the World Off Course
On April 10, 1815, the Indonesian island of Sumbawa became ground zero for the most powerful volcanic eruption in recorded history. Mount Tambora exploded with devastating force, killing over 71,000 p
April 10, 1858
Big Ben is Recast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry
The tale of Big Ben's bell is one of those stories that almost sounds too absurd to be true — a saga of mishaps, miscalculations, and sheer stubbornness that dragged on for years before finally reachi
April 10, 1912
The Titanic Set Sail on Its Fateful Journey
On April 10, 1912, the RMS Titanic departed from Southampton, England, beginning a maiden voyage that would etch itself into history as one of the sea's greatest tragedies. This floating palace — wide
April 10, 1998
The Good Friday Agreement
On April 10, 1998, a historic breakthrough emerged from years of painstaking diplomacy and decades of bitter strife. Known as both the Good Friday Agreement and the Belfast Agreement, this accord was
April 11, 1814
Napoleon Bonaparte Exiled To Elba
On April 11, 1814, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte found himself with no choice but to unconditionally give up the throne of France. Widely regarded as one of history's most remarkable military commanders,
April 11, 1968
The Civil Rights Act Celebrated Its Official Enactment
On April 11, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson put his signature on the Civil Rights Act of 1968, turning it into enforceable law. This was a pivotal moment in the broader push toward equal justice ac
April 11, 1970
NASA Launched Apollo 13
On April 11, 1970, at 2:13 p.m. EST, the Apollo 13 mission roared to life from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Originally designed to put astronauts on the lunar surface for the third time, the fligh
April 11, 2013
Rare Dinosaur Embryos Found in Fossilized Eggs
What if you could peer inside a dinosaur egg and watch life taking shape 70 million years before our time? That's essentially what became possible on April 11, 2013, when paleontologists working in Ch
April 12, 1927
Chiang Kai-Shek Begins Counter-Revolution in China
The events of April 12, 1927, plunged the eastern city of Shanghai into chaos as a violent crackdown unfolded — an episode now remembered as the Shanghai massacre and widely regarded as the spark that
April 12, 1945
The Tragic Death of President FDR
On April 12, 1945, Franklin D. Roosevelt died at the age of 63, and the world was suddenly without its most important leader. The news from Warm Springs, Georgia, triggered deep national mourning and
April 12, 1961
Yuri Gagarin Became First Person to Journey to Space
It took just 108 minutes to change the course of human history. On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin climbed aboard the Vostok 1 and rocketed beyond Earth's atmosphere, securing his place — and the Soviet
April 12, 1988
Harvard Patented a Genetically Engineered Mouse
On April 12, 1988, U.S. Patent 4,736,866 was awarded for the OncoMouse — marking the very first time a genetically modified animal had ever received patent protection. What made these mice so remarkab
April 13, 1742
The Premiere of Handel's "Messiah" in Dublin
What would become one of the most celebrated works in all of Western music had its very first outing on April 13, 1742, when George Frideric Handel's oratorio "Messiah" was performed before an enraptu
April 13, 1743
Thomas Jefferson's Birth and Enduring Legacy
On April 13, 1743, the Piedmont region of Virginia became the birthplace of Thomas Jefferson — a man who would emerge as one of the most intellectually gifted Founding Fathers in American history. His
April 13, 1860
First Pony Express in Sacramento, CA
Sacramento, California received its very first Pony Express mail delivery on April 13, 1860, capping off a journey that had taken ten days. Serving as a horseback mail delivery system across the Unite
April 13, 1970
Apollo 13: A Mission Turned Survival Story
On April 13, 1970, what had been a smooth NASA mission suddenly became a fight for survival. Only two days after launch, a routine stir of an oxygen tank onboard the Apollo 13 spacecraft set off a cat
April 13, 1985
Garry Kasparov becomes the youngest world chess champion
The match for the 1985 World Chess Championship pitted challenger Garry Kasparov against reigning titleholder Anatoly Kasparov. Spanning from September 3 to November 9, the contest culminated with Kas
April 14, 1828
The First American Dictionary was Published
It's hard to imagine now, but there was once a time when the English language was even more bewildering than it already is. Without a dictionary to serve as a shared reference point, people of varying
April 14, 1865
The Night Lincoln Was Shot: A Nation Mourns
On the evening of April 14, 1865, a single gunshot inside Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., changed the course of American history forever. President Abraham Lincoln fell to an assassin's bullet fir
April 14, 1912
Titanic Hits Iceberg
On April 14, 1912, just four days into its maiden voyage from Southampton bound for New York City, the RMS Titanic collided with an iceberg in the North Atlantic. The massive chunk of ice that doomed
April 14, 1935
Black Sunday Dust Storm Destroys the Midwest
On April 14, 1935, the Great Plains experienced an environmental catastrophe that would etch itself into the nation's memory as one of the most tragic events in U.S. history. Carrying an astonishing 3
April 15, 1874
First Impressionist Exhibit Opens in Paris
When the first Impressionist art exhibition threw open its doors in Paris, France on April 15, 1874, it marked the dawn of an artistic revolution. The movement, pioneered by Claude Monet, would go on
April 15, 1912
The RMS Titanic Sank in the North Atlantic
Among the most notorious seafaring catastrophes ever recorded, the sinking of the RMS Titanic claimed its place in history during the early hours of April 15, 1912. The vessel had struck an iceberg in
April 15, 1947
Jackie Robinson Joined the Brooklyn Dodgers
When Jackie Robinson stepped onto the diamond at Ebbets Field on April 15, 1947, wearing a Brooklyn Dodgers uniform, he didn't just take the field — he shattered baseball's color barrier and threw dow
April 15, 1955
Ray Kroc Launched the First McDonald's Restaurant
On April 15, 1955, a single restaurant opening in Des Plaines, Illinois, set in motion a revolution that would forever alter the landscape of fast food. Ray Kroc was the driving force behind that mome
April 16, 1457
Thutmose III's Decisive Victory at Megiddo
The Canaanite coalition, commanded by the King of Kadesh, suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Pharaoh Thutmose III at Megiddo on April 16, 1457 BCE. We know the details of this ancient clash be
April 16, 1900
First Book of Stamps is Used at US Post Office
Mailing a letter today without a stamp seems unthinkable, but there was a time when stamps didn't exist at all. In the early days of postal service, you'd bring your letter to the local postmaster, wh
April 16, 1943
The Day Albert Hofmann Discovered LSD's Psychedelic Effects
On April 16, 1943, the world's first documented case of LSD intoxication was experienced by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann — a moment that would forever alter how humanity thinks about consciousness its
April 16, 2007
The Virginia Tech Mass Shooting and Its Lasting Impact
On April 16, 2007, a typical morning unfolded at Virginia Tech as students filed into their classrooms — none of them imagining that their campus was about to become the scene of the deadliest school
April 17, 1387
"The Canterbury Tales"
On April 17, 1387, a colorful band of fictional travelers set out on their journey in Geoffrey Chaucer's beloved work, "The Canterbury Tales." This landmark collection, penned in Middle English, bring
April 17, 1961
The Bay of Pigs Invasion Began
In the early hours of April 17, 1961, Brigade 2506—a determined group of 1,400 Cuban exiles who had been trained and equipped by the CIA—stormed ashore at Cuba's Bahía de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs). Their
April 17, 1986
Britain Severed Diplomatic Ties with Libya
What happened in London's St James's Square on April 17, 1984, was nothing short of a defining moment — one that would fundamentally alter the diplomatic relationship between the United Kingdom and Li
April 17, 2011
The Premiere of "Game of Thrones"
On April 17, 2011, HBO unleashed _Game of Thrones_ upon the world with its debut episode, 'Winter Is Coming.' Drawing from George R.R. Martin's sprawling _A Song of Ice and Fire_ novels, the show plun
April 18, 1775
Paul Revere's Midnight Ride
During the late-night hours of April 18, 1775, Paul Revere set off on a bold and urgent ride from Charlestown, headed for Lexington. What drove him into the darkness? A singular, critical purpose: war
April 18, 1906
San Francisco Shattered by One of the Deadliest Earthquakes in U.S. History
The morning of April 18, 1906, began with a nightmare. At 5:12 AM, a massive magnitude 7.9 earthquake ripped through San Francisco, shaking the city to its core. Originating along the San Andreas Faul
April 18, 1924
Simon & Schuster Published the First Crossword Puzzle Book
On April 18, 1924, the American publishing company Simon & Schuster released what would become the world's first crossword puzzle book. But the story of the crossword itself stretches back even furthe
April 18, 1942
Doolittle's Raid: The Bold Mission That Changed World War II
Sixteen American bombers did something almost unthinkable on April 18, 1942 — they lifted off from an aircraft carrier in the Pacific and headed straight for Japan. Just months removed from the devast
April 19, 1775
The Shot Heard ‘Round the World
On this day in 1775, what had been simmering friction between the American colonies and Britain finally boiled over into armed confrontation. Colonial militias clashed with British soldiers at the Bat
April 19, 1909
Joan of Arc was beatified by the Roman Catholic Church
On April 19, 1909, Pope Pius X of the Roman Catholic Church formally bestowed beatification upon Joan of Arc. The term itself comes from two Latin words — _beatus_ and _facere_ — which translate to "b
April 19, 1932
Herbert Hoover and the Origins of the Five-Day Work Week
Hard as it might be to believe, there was a time when suggesting people work only five days a week was considered a downright revolutionary idea. On April 19, 1932, Herbert Hoover, the 31st president
April 19, 1995
Remembering the Oklahoma City Bombing
At 9:02 a.m. on April 19, 1995, downtown Oklahoma City was forever changed when a truck bomb exploded outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building with catastrophic force. Timothy McVeigh had parked
April 20, 1290
The Round Table Tournament of Edward I
On April 20, 1290, King Edward I hosted a spectacular gathering modeled after the legendary court of King Arthur — a Round Table Tournament thrown in honor of his daughter's engagement. It is thanks t
April 20, 1889
The Day Adolf Hitler Was Born
On April 20, 1889, in the small Austrian border town of Braunau am Inn, not far from Germany, a child was born who would grow up to become Nazi Germany's infamous dictator. What seemed like an ordinar
April 20, 1914
The Ludlow Massacre
Few episodes in the history of American labor conflict carry the weight and tragedy of what happened in Ludlow, Colorado, on April 20, 1914. Known as the Ludlow Massacre, this devastating clash betwee
April 20, 1969
2 million people join in the Vietnam Moratorium Demonstration
The Vietnam Moratorium Day stands as one of the most massive protest events in world History. Numerous nations held stakes in the Vietnam War, and this sweeping public demonstration served as a global
April 20, 1999
Columbine High School Massacre
On April 20, 1999, the community of Littleton, Colorado, was shattered when a pair of teenagers launched a devastating shooting rampage at Columbine High School. At that point in time, the Columbine H
April 21, 753
Romulus and Remus Found Rome
According to Roman legend, the Eternal City of Rome came into being on April 21, 753 BC, when Romulus established it following a turbulent chain of events that culminated in the death of his twin brot
April 21, 1836
The Day Texas Won Its Freedom from Mexico
It's hard to overstate just how dramatically the afternoon of April 21, 1836, reshaped the future of an entire region. Near the San Jacinto River, General Sam Houston led his Texan forces in a stunnin
April 21, 1918
The Day the Red Baron Was Shot Down
It was April 21, 1918, when Captain Manfred von Richthofen — known the world over as the "Red Baron" — climbed into the cockpit for what would be his final flight. Flying low near the Somme River in F
April 21, 1926
Queen Elizabeth II
When most people think of British royalty, Queen Elizabeth II is likely the first name that comes to mind. Born on April 21, 1926, and christened Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, she was the eldest daughter
April 22, 1954
Televised Hearings of US Senate
On April 22, 1954, Senator McCarthy launched his much-anticipated Senate hearings targeting the U.S. Army — and the cameras were rolling. Far from delivering the damning evidence McCarthy had promised
April 22, 1970
The First Earth Day Celebration
On April 22, 1970, following a century and a half of breakneck industrial expansion, the very first Earth Day emerged as a beacon of hope for the future of environmental conservation. Across the natio
April 22, 1994
Bonbon Makes the World's Largest Lollipop
Back on April 22, 1994, Danish confectionery maker BonBon pulled off something truly extraordinary — they brought to life the world's largest lollipop, tipping the scales at over 3,000 pounds. This ja
April 22, 2004
Pat Tillman's Ultimate Sacrifice
What would you be willing to sacrifice for something bigger than yourself? That question sits at the heart of Pat Tillman's story. On April 22, 2004, the NFL player turned Army soldier was killed duri
April 23, 1564
William Shakespeare Was Born
It was April 23, 1564, in the modest market town of Stratford-upon-Avon, England, when William Shakespeare entered the world — a child destined to become the greatest writer in the English language. P
April 23, 1928
Shirley Temple Was Born
Santa Monica, California welcomed one of Hollywood's most legendary figures on April 23, 1928, when Shirley Temple Black was born. She would go on to become the most celebrated child performer in the
April 23, 1968
Shilling Replaced by Decimal Coins in Britain
Great Britain took its first major step toward monetary modernization on April 23, 1968, when the 5 new pence and 10 new pence coins were introduced as replacements for the shilling and the florin. Th
April 23, 1985
Coca-Cola Launched "New Coke"
What seemed like a bold leap forward on April 23, 1985, quickly became one of the most infamous blunders in corporate history. Coca-Cola pulled the plug on its beloved 99-year-old recipe and rolled ou
April 24, 1479
Thutmose III Takes over the Throne of Egypt (Power Shifts to Hatshepsut)
When Thutmose III took the Egyptian throne on April 24, 1479 BCE, you might expect he wielded its power — but you'd be wrong. The real authority landed squarely in the hands of his stepmother Hatsheps
April 24, 1503
The Unfinished Vision: Michelangelo's Twelve Apostles for Florence
On April 24, 1503, Michelangelo's artistic journey reached a defining crossroads. Cathedral authorities handed him an extraordinary assignment: the creation of twelve marble apostle statues destined f
April 24, 1915
The Start of the Armenian Genocide
On April 24, 1915, what would become one of the earliest modern genocides began to unfold as the Ottoman Empire launched a deliberate, organized campaign of mass killings, forced marches, and deportat
April 24, 1980
The Failed Operation Eagle Claw Attempt
On April 24, 1980, Operation Eagle Claw launched as an audacious American effort to rescue U.S. hostages imprisoned in Iran — but it ended in disaster deep in the Iranian desert. A haboob, a fierce sa
April 25, 953
Watson and Crick Publish DNA Double Helix Discovery
It was April 25, 1953, when James Watson and Francis Crick dropped a short yet revolutionary paper in Nature — one that would forever alter how we think about life itself. In it, they unveiled the dou
April 25, 1874
The Birth of Guglielmo Marconi, Pioneer of Radio Technology
On April 25, 1874, in Bologna, Italy, the world welcomed Guglielmo Marconi—a man who would go on to reshape how humanity communicates. Though largely self-taught, Marconi rose to become one of the tow
April 25, 1960
The USS Triton Completes the First Submerged Circumnavigation of Earth
If you had even a hint of claustrophobia, what happened on this day in 1960 would have left you absolutely speechless. The USS Triton pulled off something no vessel had ever done before — circling the
April 25, 1990
Hubble Space Telescope Goes into Orbit
On April 25, 1990, the Hubble space telescope soared into orbit, setting the stage for a transformation in astronomical science that would prove nothing short of permanent. What's fascinating is that,
April 26, 1859
First Use of Temporary Insanity as a Murder Defense
On April 26, 1859, a groundbreaking moment in legal history unfolded when Dan Sickles became the first person ever to successfully employ the "temporary insanity" defense against a murder charge. But
April 26, 1941
The Day Baseball Got a Soundtrack
Something magical happened at Wrigley Field on April 26, 1941—the Chicago Cubs introduced a live organist to a Major League Baseball stadium for the very first time. Nobody had ever tried anything lik
April 26, 1986
Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster Shocks the World
What happened in the early hours of April 26, 1986, in the Soviet Ukrainian town of Pripyat would send shockwaves far beyond its borders. A late-night safety test running at Reactor No. 4 of the Chern
April 26, 1994
The Day South Africa Embraced Democracy
Queues stretching for kilometers — composed of South Africans from every racial background — captivated a global audience on April 26, 1994. What the world was witnessing was nothing less than the dis
April 27, 1810
Ludwig van Beethoven composes “Fur Elise”
Most people instantly recognize the enchanting melody of "Fur Elise," and it all began on April 27, 1810, when German composer and pianist Ludwig Van Beethoven put this iconic piece to paper. Widely r
April 27, 1865
A Forgotten American Tragedy on the Mississippi
In the final days of the Civil War, one of the most devastating disasters in American history unfolded on the Mississippi River — and almost nobody remembers it. On April 27, 1865, the steamboat SS Su
April 27, 1956
Rocky Marciano Left the Ring for Good
The boxing world received a stunning jolt on this day in 1956 when Rocky Marciano, still wearing the heavyweight crown, declared that he was hanging up his gloves for good. Walking away at only 31 yea
April 27, 1992
Serbia Declares Itself a Republic
When Yugoslavia began to splinter apart in the early 1990s, a wave of newly independent states reshaped the map of Southeastern Europe. Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia all bro
April 28, 1789
The Mutiny on the Bounty
What happened on the morning of April 28, 1789, would become one of the most legendary episodes in maritime history. Fletcher Christian, serving as master's mate, led a brazen takeover of the British
April 28, 1910
Claude Grahame-White Makes First Night Air Flight
On April 28, 1910, aviation took a bold leap forward when Claude Grahame-White became the first person to fly an airplane at night. While this might sound unremarkable by modern standards, no one had
April 28, 1945
The Execution of Benito Mussolini
Far from ending with dramatic final words or a defiant gesture, Benito Mussolini—Italy's authoritarian leader and one of European fascism's most towering figures—was cut down in a hail of gunfire alon
April 28, 2004
Shrek the Sheep’s Legendary Shear
Some heroes don capes. Shrek the Sheep carried around 60 pounds of wool instead. New Zealanders found themselves glued to their screens on April 28, 2004, witnessing something truly extraordinary: a r
April 29, 1945
31,601 People Liberated from Dachau Concentration Camp
The long, horrifying ordeal at Dachau finally came to an end on April 29, 1945, when the U.S. Army liberated 31,601 people from the concentration camp. Dachau holds the grim distinction of being the v
April 29, 1945
The Liberation of Dachau Concentration Camp
When the U.S. Army's 45th Infantry Division reached the Nazi concentration camp just northwest of Munich on April 29, 1945, they weren't prepared for what awaited them. The gates of Dachau swung open
April 29, 1992
The Los Angeles Riots Erupt
On this day in history, a jury in Simi Valley delivered a verdict that left countless people stunned and outraged — the acquittal of four Los Angeles Police Department officers who had been charged wi
April 29, 2011
The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton
Nearly two billion people around the world tuned in on April 29, 2011, to witness one of the most spectacular ceremonies of the century. What had started as a university romance culminated in a global
April 30, 311
Galerius Issued the Edict of Toleration
As Roman Emperor Galerius lay dying, he made a choice whose reverberations would be felt for centuries to come. On April 30, 311, weakened and confined to his deathbed, he issued what became known as
April 30, 1789
George Washington Inaugurated As First President
On April 30, 1789, the United States witnessed a moment unlike any before — George Washington took the oath of office as the nation's first President. Remarkably, this historic event wasn't even suppo
April 30, 1945
Adolf Hitler Committed Suicide
The downfall of the Third Reich didn't culminate in some dramatic final battle—it ended with a single gunshot deep underground. Adolf Hitler, the dictator responsible for dragging Europe into devastat
April 30, 1975
The Fall of Saigon Ends the Vietnam War
On this day in history, the Vietnam War came to its dramatic end when North Vietnamese forces seized control of Saigon. What unfolded on April 30, 1975, brought closure to a drawn-out, bitterly divisi