Today in History
Important Events
- 1660 English Convention Parliament meets and votes to restore Charles II
- 1792 Guillotine first used in France, executes highwayman Nicolas Pelletier
- 1846 Thornton Affair: Open conflict begins over the disputed border of Texas, triggering the Mexican-American War
- 1945 "Elbe Day" - US and Soviet forces meet at Torgau, Germany on the Elbe River during the invasion of Germany in WWII
- 1953 Francis Crick and James Watson's discovery of the double helix structure of DNA is published in "Nature" magazine
- 1954 Bell labs announces the 1st solar battery made from silicon. It has about 6% efficiency.
- 1990 Hubble space telescope is placed into orbit by shuttle Discovery
Today in Film & TV
- 1964 11th National Film Awards (India): "Shehar Aur Sapna" wins the Golden Lotus
Today in Music
- 1926 Giacomo Puccini's opera "Turandot" premieres in Milan
Today in Sport
- 1950 Chuck Cooper becomes the 1st African American to be drafted into the NBA (for Boston Celtics)
Did You Know?
German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller first to use the name America on his world map "Universalis Cosmographia"
On this day in 1507
Oliver Cromwell
Guglielmo Marconi
Ella Fitzgerald
Marcus Aurelius
Frederick Law Olmsted
Rudolf HessWould You Believe?
1st submerged circumnavigation of Earth completed by USS submarine Triton in 60 days, 21 hours
On this day in 1960
Famous Weddings
- 1972 Comedic actor Bob Denver (37) weds third wife Carole Abrahams
- 1981 Maureen Reagan (40) marries 3rd husband, Dennis Revell (28)
- 2003 "Angel" actress Amy Acker (26) weds actor James Carpinello (27) at Hans Fahden Vineyard in Napa Valley, California
Famous Divorces
- 1991 Designer Mary McFadden (52) announces divorce of Kohie Yohannan (23)
- 2012 Comedian and actor Martin Lawrence (47) files for divorce from Shamicka Gibbs due to irreconcilable differences after 1.5 years of marriage
Chongzhen
Anders Celsius
Ginger Rogers
John Wilkes Booth
Broderick Crawford
Lucille BallThis Month in History
![Who Wrote Shakespeare?]()
Who Wrote Shakespeare?
Could the son of a provincial glove-maker, born on this day in history, be the author of the world's greatest plays? The argument rages on.
April 23, 1564![Hitler's Diaries Fail Forensic Tests]()
Hitler's Diaries Fail Forensic Tests
German Magazine revealed the scoop of the century on this day but it's “Hitler’s Diaries” sensation failed a forensic test and was quickly proved a hoax.
April 25, 1983![Oscar Wilde Presses Self-Destruct Button]()
Oscar Wilde Presses Self-Destruct Button
When Oscar Wilde sued the Marquess of Queensberry for libel over a sodomite slur, he opened the door to social and financial ruin that would lead to his death.
April 26, 1895![Record-Breaking Sheila, the High-Flying Aviator]()
Record-Breaking Sheila, the High-Flying Aviator
The Sky's was the limit for Sheila Scott who made three solo flights around the world and was the first pilot, male or female, to fly over the North Pole.
April 27, 1922
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