1588 – Thomas Hobbes the English philosopher was born on the 5th April 1588 (d. 1679).

1621 – The Mayflower set sail from Plymouth, Massachusetts on a return trip to England on the 5th April 1621.

1722 – The Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen discovered Easter Island on the 5th April 1722.

1732 – Jean-Honoré Fragonard the French artist was born on the 5th April 1732 (d. 1806).

1752 – Sébastien Érard the French musical instrument maker was born on the 5th April 1752 (d. 1831).

1804 – High Possil Meteorite: The 1st recorded meteorite in Scotland fell in Possil on the 5th April 1804.

1827 – Joseph Lister the English surgeon and pioneer of antiseptic surgery was born on the 5th April 1827 (d. 1912).

1837 – Algernon Charles Swinburne the English poet was born on the 5th April 1837 (d. 1909).

1847 – Birkenhead Park, the first civic public park, was opened in Birkenhead on the 5th April 1847.

1899 – Elsie Thompson the American super-centenarian was born on the 5th April 1899 (d. 2013).

1900 – Archaeologists in Knossos, Crete discovered a large cache of clay tablets on the 5th April 1900, with hieroglyphic writing in a script called Linear B.

1900 – Spencer Tracy the American actor was born on the 5th April 1900 (d. 1967).

1908 – Bette Davis the American actress was born on the 5th April 1908 (d. 1989).

1916 – Gregory Peck the American actor was born on the 5th April 1916 (d. 2003).

1928 – Tony Williams the American singer from The Platters was born on the 5th April 1928 (d. 1992).

1932 – Alcohol prohibition in Finland ended on the 5th April 1932, when alcohol sales began in Alko liquor stores.

1940 – Tommy Cash the American singer-songwriter, and brother of Johnny Cash was born on the 5th April 1940.

1949 – Judith Resnik the American astronaut was born on the 5th April 1949 (d. 1986).

1950 – Agnetha Fältskog the Swedish singer from ABBA was born on the 5th April 1950.

1951 – Dean Kamen the American inventor of the Segway was born on the 5th April 1951.

1954 – Stan Ridgway the American singer-songwriter from the Wall of Voodoo was born on the 5th April 1954.

1955 – Winston Churchill resigned as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on the 5th April 1955, amid indications of failing health.

1956 – Anthony Horowitz the English author was born on the 5th April 1956.

1998 – In Japan, the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge linking Awaji Island with Honshū and costing about $3.8 billion USD, opened to traffic on the 5th April 1998, becoming the largest suspension bridge in the world.

 

1147 ~ Moscow was first made mention of in historical records on the 4th April 1147, when Yuri Dolgorukiy called upon the prince of the Novgorod-Severski to “come to me, brother, to Moscow.” The city is named after the river гра́д Моско́в, literally “the city by the Moskva River“ YouTube video shows some marvelous Moscow footage in this great 1980 hit by Genghis Khan…

1581 – Francis Drake was knighted for completing a circumnavigation of the world on the 4th April 1581.

1814 – Napoleon abdicated for the first time on the 4th April 1814.

1841 – William Henry Harrison died of pneumonia on the 4th April 1841, becoming the 1st President of the United States to die in office, and the one with the shortest term served.

1850 – Los Angeles, California was incorporated as a city on the 4th April 1850.

1873 – The Kennel Club was founded on the 4th April 1873. It is the oldest and first official registry of purebred dogs in the world.

1911 – Max Dupain the Australian photographer was born on the 4th April 1911 (died 1992).

1957 – Graeme Kelling the Scottish guitarist from Deacon Blue was born on the 4th April 1957 (died 2004).

1958 – The CND peace symbol was displayed in public for the first time in London on the 4th April 1958.

1960 – Hugo Weaving the Nigerian-Australian actor was born on the 4th April 1960.

1963 – Graham Norton the Irish-English actor and talk show host was born on the 4th April 1963.

1964 – The Beatles occupied the top 5 positions on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart on the 4th April 1964.

1965 – Robert Downey, Jr. the American actor, singer, screenwriter, and producer was born on the 4th April 1965.

1968 – Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated by James Earl Ray at a motel in Memphis, Tennessee on the 4th April 1968.

1968 – Apollo 6 was launcehed by NASA on the 4th April 1968.

1969 – Dr. Denton Cooley implanted the 1st temporary artificial heart on the 4th April 1969.

1973 – The World Trade Center in New York was officially dedicated on the 4th April 1973.

1975 – Microsoft was founded as a partnership between Bill Gates and Paul Allen in Albuquerque, New Mexico on the 4th April 1975.

1975 ~ The Tan Son Nhut C-5 accident occurrred on the 4th April 1975, with the crash of Lockheed C-5A Galaxy during Operation Babylift. The C-5 crashed on approach during an emergency landing at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam. The accident marked the 1st fatal crash for the C-5 Galaxy fleet, and the deadliest accident involving a U.S. military aircraft. Out of 313 people on board, the death toll included 78 children, 35 Defence Attaché Office employees and 11 U.S. Air Force personnel. 175 people survived, with all of the surviving orphans flown to the United States.

1978 – Sam Moran the Australian singer and guitarist from The Wiggles was born on the 4th April 1978.

1979 – Heath Ledger the Australian actor and director was born on the 4th April 1979 (died 2008).

1983 – Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-6) made its maiden voyage into space on the 4th April 1983.

1984 – President Ronald Reagan called for an international ban on chemical weapons on the 4th April 1984.

1989 ~ Round the Twist the Logie Award winning Australian television series was 1st broadcast on the 4th April 1989, until the 2nd May 2001. Round the Twist is about 3 children and their father living in a lighthouse and involved in many bizarre magical adventures. The first 2 series were based on the Round the Twist books written by author Paul Jennings. Several locations were used for the filming, including the Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet, Williamstown, Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff, all in the sate of Victoria. Round the Twist official website: www.RoundTheTwist.com

 YouTube video: Round The Twist Theme intro 1989…

1996 – Comet Hyakutake was imaged by the USA Asteroid Orbiter Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous on the 4th April 1996.

2002 – The Society Murders in Melbourne occurred on the 4th April in 2002.

2005 ~ International Day for Landmine Awareness was declared and started on the 4th April 2005, by the General Assembly. This video explains the Lend Your Leg campaign, which calls for civilians to roll up their pant leg as a symbolic act to support victims of landmines…

2012 ~ GRUMPY CAT the Internet celebrity was born on the 4th April 2012. Grumpy Cat’s real name is Tardar Sauce, and she is well known for her grumpy facial expression. Her owner Tabatha Bundesen said Grumpy Cat’s permanently grumpy-looking face is due to feline dwarfism. Grumpy Cat’s popularity originated from a picture of her posted on the social news website reddit by Tabatha’s brother Bryan on the 22nd September 2012. The photo was made into an image macro with grumpy captions. The Official Grumpy Cat on Facebook has had over 1.2 million Likes. Grumpy Cat was featured on the front page of The Wall Street Journal on the 30th May 2013. Grumpy Cat’s recognitions have included: MSNBC Most influential cat of 2012, BuzzFeed Meme of the Year Award at the 2013 Webby Awards, and 1st prize at the 2nd annual Internet Cat Video Film Festival. Grumpy Cat has made TV appearances Today, Good Morning America, CBS Evening News and other shows. Visit the official Grumpy Cat website: www.GrumpyCats.com, watch Grumpy Cat on YouTube and follow on Twitter.com/RealGrumpyCat.

Grumpy cat official Facebook ~ www.facebook.com/TheOfficialGrumpyCat

0033 ~ The crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth was on the 3rd April in the year 33. This is the generally agreed-upon date for the historical crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, the central figure of Christianity.

1885 ~ Bud Fisher the American cartoonist was born on the 3rd April 1885 (d. 1954).

1885 ~ Gottlieb Daimler was granted a German patent for his engine design on the 3rd April 1885.

1924 ~ Doris Day the American actress, singer and animal rights activist was born on the 3rd April 1924.

1924 ~ Marlon Brando the American actor was born on the 3rd April 1924 (d. 2004).

1929 ~ RMS Queen Mary was ordered from John Brown & Company Shipbuilding and Engineering by Cunard Line on the 3rd April 1929.

1933 ~ The 1st flight over Mount Everest was on the 3rd April 1933. The British expedition was led by the Marquis of Clydesdale, and funded by Lucy, Lady Houston.

1941 ~ Jan Berry the American musician from rock and roll duo Jan and Dean was born on the 3rd April 1941 (d. 2004).

1942 ~ Wayne Newton the American singer and actor was born on the 3rd April 1942.

1944 ~ Tony Orlando the American singer was born on the 3rd April 1944.

1948 ~ President Harry S. Truman signed the Marshall Plan, authorizing $5 billion in aid for 16 countries on the 3rd April 1948.

1958 ~ Alec Baldwin the American actor was born on the 3rd April 1958.

1961 ~ LEADBEATER’S POSSUM was rediscovered in Australia on the 3rd April 1961, after over 50 years of being presumed extinct. Leaderbeater’s Possum Awareness Week is held from the 1st to the 7th April annually. Please visit and help Leadbeater’s Possums at www.Leadbeaters.org.au 

1961 ~ Eddie Murphy the American actor and comedian was born on the 3rd April 1961.

1967 ~ Mark Skaife the Australian race car driver was born on the 3rd April 1967.

1968 ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech on the 3rd April 1968.

1968 ~ Sebastian Bach the Canadian singer and songwriter from Skid Row was born on the 3rd April 1968.

1972 ~ Jennie Garth the American actress was born in Urbana, Illinois on the 3rd April 1972.YouTube video: Beverly Hills 90210 ~ Seasons 1-8 Intros…

1973 ~ Martin Cooper of Motorola made the first handheld mobile phone call on the 3rd April 1973. Martin made the call to Joel S. Engel of Bell Labs, though it took 10 years for the DynaTAC 8000X to become the first such phone to be commercially released.

1981 ~ The Osborne 1, the 1st successful portable computer, was unveiled at the West Coast Computer Faire in San Francisco on the 3rd April 1981.

 

1732 ~ JOSEPH HAYDN the Austrian composer was born on the 1st day of April in 1732 (died in 1809 aged 77).

1765 ~ Luigi Schiavonetti the Italian engraver was born on the 1st April 1765 (died 1810).

1815 ~ Otto von Bismarck the German politician and 1st Chancellor of the German Empire was born on the 1st April 1815 (died 1898).

1826 ~ SAMUEL MOREY the American inventor patented the iNTERNAL COMBUSTiON ENGiNE on this 1st day of April in 1826. Samuel Morey was also a pioneer in steamships, and accumulated a total of 20 patents.

The Four-stroke cycle (aka Otto cycle) 1. Intake 2.Compression 3. Power 4. Exhaust (illustrated gif by Zephyris aka Richard Wheeler)

1854 ~ Charles Dickens began serialisation of Hard Times in his magazine Household Words on the 1st April 1854.

1865 ~ Richard Adolf Zsigmondy the Austrian chemist and Nobel Prize laureate was born on the 1st April 1865 (died 1929).

1867 ~ Singapore became a British crown colony on the 1st April 1867.

1873 ~ RMS Atlantic the British steamer sank off Nova Scotia on the 1st April 1873, killing 547 people

1887 ~ Mumbai Fire Brigade was established on the 1st April 1887.

1891 ~ The WRiGLEY COMPANY was founded in Chicago, Illinois on this 1st day of April in 1891. The Wrigley Company originally started selling soap and baking powder, until William Wrigley, Jr. (the founder) began packaging chewing gum with each can of baking powder in 1892. Eventually the chewing gum became more popular than the baking powder selling in more than 180 countries, with factories in Australia, Canada, China, France, India, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Spain, Taiwan, United Kingdom and United States. 

In 2004 The Wrigley Company purchased the Life Savers and Altoids businesses from Kraft Foods for US$1.48 billion, and in 2007 they purchased A.Korkunov for $300 million. In  2008 Mars Inc acquired Wrigley for approximately $23 billion.

1917 ~ Sheldon Mayer the American writer and illustrator was born on the 1st April 1917 (died 1991).

1917 ~ Sydney Newman the Canadian television producer and creator of Doctor Who was born on the 1st April 1917 (died 1997).

1919 ~ Joseph Murray the American surgeon and Nobel Prize laureate was born on the 1st April 1919 (died 2012).

1921 ~ Arthur “Guitar Boogie” Smith the American guitarist and songwriter was born on the 1st April 1921. Arthur Smith – Guitar Boogie YouTube video…

1924 ~ Adolf Hitler was sentenced to 5 years in jail on the 1st April 1924, for his participation in the Beer Hall Putsch, but he spent only 9 months in jail, during which he wrote Mein Kampf.

1929 ~ JANE POWELL the American actress, singer, and dancer was born on the 1st day of April in 1929.

1930 ~ Grace Lee Whitney the American actress was born on the 1st April 1930.

1932 ~ DEBBiE REYNOLDS the American actress was born on the 1st day of April in 1932.

1932 ~ Gordon Jump the American actor was born on the 1st April 1932 (died 2003).

1932 ~ APRiL FOOL’S DAY was first recorded in association with April 1st and foolishness on this 1st day of April in 1392, as found in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. April Fools’ Day aka All Fools Day is celebrated by people playing good-humoured foolishness, funny jokes, hoaxes and practical jokes on friends, family, teachers, neighbors, work mates and others. The jokes only last till noon in Australia, Canada, Cyprus, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK, and if anyone who plays a trick after noon is called an April Fool and taunted with “April Fool’s Day’s past and gone, You’re the fool for making one.” The jokes last all day in most other countries such as America, Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Poland, Scotland, Sweden, South Korea, Russia and The Netherlands. In France, Italy and (French speaking) Canada they attempt to attach a paper fish to the victim’s back without being noticed, and say “April’s fish” in their language.

The History of April Fool’s Day YouTube video by Jeremiah… 

1946 ~ Ronnie Lane the English bass player from  the Faces and Small Faces was born on the 1st April 1946 (died 1997).

1947 ~ Robin Scott the English singer-songwriter and guitarist from M was born on the 1st April 1947.

1948 ~ JiMMY CLiFF the Jamaican musician, singer, and actor was born on the 1st day of April in 1948.

1954 ~ Jeff Porcaro the American drummer from Toto was born on the 1st April 1954 (died 1992).

1957 ~ The Spaghetti tree hoax was broadcasted on the BBC current affairs programme Panorama for April Fools Day on the 1st April 1957.

1961 ~ SUSAN BOYLE the Scottish singer was born on the 1st day of April in 1961. Susan Boyle came to international public attention when she appeared as a contestant on Britain’s Got Talent on the 11th April 2009, singing I Dreamed a Dream from Les Misérables. Susan Boyle’s first album was released in November 2009 and debuted as the number 1 best-selling album on the music charts around the globe. Susan Boyle’s official website: www.SusanBoyleMusic.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/SusanBoyle | YouTube channel: www.YouTube.com/SusanBoyle 

1961 ~ Mark White the English singer-songwriter and guitarist from ABC was born on the 1st April 1961.

1966 ~ Craig Kelly the American snowboarder was born on the 1st April 1966 (died 2003).

1970 ~ The Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act was signed into law by President Richard Nixon on the 1st April 1970, requiring the Surgeon General‘s warnings on tobacco products and banning cigarette advertisements on television and radio in the United States, starting on the 1st January 1971.

1971 ~ Lachy Hulme the Australian actor and screenwriter was born on the 1st April 1971.

1973 ~ KYM WiLSON the Australian actress was born in Brisbane on the 1st day of April in 1973. YouTube video: Kym Wilson 1991 Samboy Chips Hit Me ♫: also features Melissa Bell and Toni Pearon from E Street…

1973 ~ Project Tiger a tiger conservation project was launched in the Corbett National Park in India on the 1st April 1973.

1975 ~ JOHN BUTLER the Australian singer and musician from The JOHN BUTLER TRiO was born on the 1st day of April in 1975.

1976 ~ APPLE iNC. was formed by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne on the 1st day of April in 1976.

1984 ~ MARViN GAYE the American singer died on the 1st day of April in 1984 aged 44.

1992 ~ The Bosnian war started on the 1st April 1992.

1993 ~ Blair Fowler the American blogger was born on the 1st April 1993.

1997 ~ Comet Hale-Bopp was seen passing over perihelion on the 1st April 1997.

2001 ~ SAME SEX MARRiAGE becomes legal in the Netherlands, the first country to allow it.

2006 ~ The Serious Organised Crime Agency, dubbed the British FBI, was created in the United Kingdom on the 1st april 2006.

2012 ~ Antonk.com website was officially launched on the day of this 1st Antonk blog post on the 1st April 2012.

2012 ~ The ART of LOOKiNG at LiFE Facebook Page was launched on the 1st April 2012. Like www.Facebook.com/TheARTofLOOKiNGatLiFE on Facebook 🙂

2013 ~ LEADBEATER’S POSSUM AWARENESS WEEK  1st – 7th APRiL: The Leadbeater’s Possum was rediscovered in Australia on the 3rd April 1961, after over 50 years of being presumed extinct. Leaderbeater’s Possum Awareness Week is held from the 1st to the 7th April annually. Please visit and help Leadbeater’s Possums at www.Leadbeaters.org.au