Today in History for 6th April 2026

Historical Events

1924 – Italy fascists receives 65% of vote of parliament
1976 – 1st quadrophonic movie track: “Ladies and Gentlemen the Rolling Stones”
1977 – Judge rules Beatles 1962 Hamburg album can be released
1987 – Middleweight World Boxing Championship bout: Sugar Ray Leonard upsets Marvelous Marvin Hagler at Caesars Palace in Paradise, Nevada
1997 – The Tradition Senior Men’s Golf, GC at Desert Mountain: Gil Morgan wins first of 3 Champions Tour majors by 6 strokes from Isao Aoki

More Historical Events »

Famous Birthdays

1917 – Leonora Carrington, British-Mexican Surrealist artist, born in Clayton-le-Woods, England (d. 2011)
1928 – James Watson, American molecular biologist who co-discovered DNA’s structure, with Francis Crick (Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine, 1962), geneticist and zoologist, born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2025)
1929 – Art Taylor, American jazz drummer (Bud Powell, Red Garland, John Coltrane, Donald Byrd), bandleader (Taylor’s Wailers), and writer (Notes and Tones), born in New York City (d. 1995)
1968 – Vanessa Lann, American composer (Dancing to an Orange Drummer), born in Brooklyn, New York
1996 – Myha’la [Herrold], American actress (Industry, Leave the World Behind), born in San Jose, California

More Famous Birthdays »

Famous Deaths

1348 – Laure de Noves, “Petrarch’s Laura”, Italian muse of poet Petrarch, wife of Count Hugues II de Sade, dies of the plague at about 38 (b. 1310)
1998 – Tammy Wynette [Virginia Pugh], American country singer (“Stand By Your Man”), dies at 55
2004 – Niki Sullivan, American guitarist (The Crickets), dies of a heart attack at 66
2019 – Ernest “Fritz” Hollings, American Democratic Senator from South Carolina (1966-2005) and Governor of South Carolina (1959-63), dies at 97
2020 – James Drury, American actor (The Virginian), dies of natural causes at 85

More Famous Deaths »

Famous Deaths for 5th April 2026

1168 – Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester (b. 1104)
1934 – Salvatore Di Giacomo, Italian poet and songwriter during “Golden Age of Neapolitan Song”, dies at 74
1971 – Earl “Jock” Caruthers American jazz saxophonist (Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra, 1932-47), dies at 60
1989 – William Hibbard, American composer, musician and conductor, dies of an AIDS related illness at 49
1991 – Manley Lanier “Sonny” Carter Jr, American chemist and NASA astronaut (STS 33), dies at 43
1993 – Divya Bharti, Indian actress in Hindi and Telugu movies (Shola Aur Shabnam; Deewana), dies at 19 of injuries and internal bleeding after falling from balcony of her 5th-floor apartment
1994 – Roy Smeck, American vaudeville banjoist, lap steel guitarist, and ukulele player, known as “The Wizard of the Strings”, dies at 94
2001 – Sonya Hedenbratt, Swedish jazz singer, and actress, dies at 70
2007 – Maria Gripe, Swedish writer (Josephine), dies at 83
2020 – Bobby Mitchell, American Pro Football Hall of Fame running back (Pro Bowl 1960, 62–64; First-team All-Pro 1962–64; Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins), dies at 84

More Famous Deaths »

Historical Events for 5th April 2026

1881 – Transvaal regains independence under British suzerainty
1939 – Alexander Gretchaninov’s 5th Symphony premieres at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia with Leopold Stowkowski conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra
1949 – 60 year old St Anthony’s Hospital in Effingham, Illinois, catches fire, killing 77 people
1974 – Last day of Test cricket for Garfield Sobers and Rohan Kanhai
1984 – Galt MacDermot and William Dumaresq’s musical “The Human Comedy”, based on the novel by William Saroyan, opens at Royale Theater, NYC; runs for 13 performances
1992 – WrestleMania VIII, Hoosier Dome, Indianapolis, IN (62,167): Hulk Hogan defeats Sid Justice by DQ; Randy Savage beats Ric Flair for WWF Heavyweight title
2004 – 66th NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship: Connecticut beats Georgia Tech, 82-73; Huskies’ forward Emeka Okafor named tournament Most Outstanding Player
2021 – 82nd NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship: Baylor Bears become second consecutive first-time NCAA champions with 86–70 over previously undefeated Gonzaga Bulldogs

More Historical Events »

Today in History for 5th April 2026

Historical Events

1881 – Transvaal regains independence under British suzerainty
1946 – 100th Grand National: Capt. Robert Petre wins aboard 25/1 shot Lovely Cottage; first true GN since 1940 due to World War II; last on a Friday
2012 – Severe storms in Argentina kill 14 people
2012 – International internet group Anonymous hack several Chinese bureaus in opposition to censorship
2016 – 35th NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: Connecticut defeats Syracuse, 82–51; Huskies’ power forward Breanna Stewart, 24 points

More Historical Events »

Famous Birthdays

1830 – Alexander Muir, Scottish-Canadian composer (The Maple Leaf Forever), born in Lesmahagow, Scotland (d. 1906)
1920 – Rafiq Zakaria, Indian politician and Islamic religious cleric, born in Nala Sopara, British India (d. 2005)
1943 – Max Gail, American Emmy Award winning actor (Barney Miller – “Wojo”; D.C. Cab: General Hospital; 42), born in Detroit, Michigan
1950 – Paul Oscher, American blues musician (Muddy Waters Blues Band), born in Brooklyn, New York
1973 – Spencer Folau, Tongan, American football offensive lineman (Baltimore Ravens), born in Nukuʻalofa, Tonga

More Famous Birthdays »

Famous Deaths

1723 – Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, Austrian Baroque architect under the Habsburgs (Schönbrunn Palace), dies at 66
1735 – William Derham, English clergyman, natural theologian and scientist, dies at 77
1935 – Emil Młynarski, Polish conductor and composer, dies at 64
2023 – Ian McIntosh, Zimbabwean rugby union coach (South Africa 1993-94; Natal), dies at 84
2025 – Heikki Hasu, Finnish Nordic skier (Olympic gold individual 1948, 4×10k relay 1952; silver individual 1952), dies at 99

More Famous Deaths »

Famous Deaths for 4th April 2026

1617 – John Napier, Scottish mathematician and inventor (logarithms), dies from effects of gout at 67
1714 – Charles, Duke of Berry, French heir presumptive to the Spanish throne (1700-07), dies of injuries from a hunting accident at 27
1870 – Heinrich Gustav Magnus, German chemist and physicist (b. 1802)
1890 – Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau, French Canadian politician (1st Premier of Quebec), dies at 69
1912 – Isaac Kauffman Funk, American publisher (Funk and Wagnalls), dies at 72
1926 – Thomas Burberry, English fashion designer, founder of luxury brand Burberry, and inventor of gabardine, dies at 90
1951 – Al Christie, Canadian-born pioneering film director and producer (Nestor Film Company), dies at 69
2002 – Harry L. O’Connor, Czech film stuntman
2012 – Claude Miller, French director and screenwriter, dies at 70
2023 – Craig Breedlove, American auto racer (5 x world land speed record holder; first to reach 500mph (800km/h) and 600mph (970km/h), dies of cancer at 86

More Famous Deaths »

Historical Events for 4th April 2026

1932 – Charles G. King, University of Pittsburgh isolates Vitamin C, using adrenal samples provided by Hungarian Albert Szent-Györgyi
1945 – The Holocaust: US forces liberate the Ohrdruf concentration camp in Germany, the first such camp to be liberated by the US Army
1959 – Mali Federation founded, consisting of Senegal and French Sudan (dissolved 1960)
1972 – First electric power plant fueled by garbage begins operating
1988 – Largest crowd (55,438) at an MLB Opening Day game at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium; Reds win over St. Louis Cardinals, 5-4 in 12 innings
1992 – 146th Grand National: 14/1 shot Party Politics, ridden by Welsh jockey Carl Llewellyn wins by 2½ lengths from Romany King
1994 – Netscape Communications founded as Mosaic Communications
1997 – Second Defense Meteorological Satellite Program weather satellite is launched aboard a Titan II rocket

More Historical Events »

Today in History for 4th April 2026

Historical Events

1655 – Battle of Porto Farina: English fleet defeats Barbary corsairs in Tunis
1974 – Hank Aaron ties Babe Ruth’s home run record by hitting his 714th in Cincinnati against Jack Billingham
1983 – 45th NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship: North Carolina State beats Houston, 54-52; Wolfpack win with buzzer-beating dunk by Lorenzo Charles off a desperation 30 foot shot from Dereck Whittenburg
2022 – Economist Rodrigo Chaves elected President of Costa Rica defeating current president José María Figueres
2022 – Ukrainian government begins a war crimes investigation after 410 civilians found killed after the withdrawal of Russian forces from around Kyiv

More Historical Events »

Famous Birthdays

1802 – Dorothea Dix, American pioneering nurse and social activist who created the first American mental asylums, born in Hampden, Maine (d. 1887)
1933 – Frits Bolkestein, Dutch politician (People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy), born in Amsterdam
1953 – Susan Alcorn, American pedal steel guitarist and avant garde composer, born in Allentown, Pennsylvania (d. 2025)
1977 – Omarr Smith, American football defensive back, born in Chicago, Illinois
1983 – Angelle Tymon, American journalist and TV game show host (PlayMania Block), born in Lutcher, Louisiana

More Famous Birthdays »

Famous Deaths

1994 – Olga Lowina, Dutch yodeler (Edelweisskapel), dies at 69
1999 – Early Wynn, Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher (Cy Young Award 1959 Chicago WS; MLB wins leader 1954, 59; 9 x MLB All Star; Cleveland Indians), dies of a stroke at 79
2015 – Elmer Lach, Canadian Hockey HOF center (Stanley Cup 1944, 46, 53 Montreal Canadiens; Hart Trophy 1945; Art Ross Trophy 1948; 5 x NHL All Star), dies of a stroke at 97
2018 – Gertrude Jeannette, African American taxi driver, playwright and film and stage actress (Shaft, Cotton Comes to Harlem), dies at 103
2023 – Craig Breedlove, American auto racer (5 x world land speed record holder; first to reach 500mph (800km/h) and 600mph (970km/h), dies of cancer at 86

More Famous Deaths »

Famous Deaths for 3rd April 2026

1694 – Ferdinand van Apshoven the Younger, Flemish painter, buried at 64
1747 – Francesco Solimena, Italian painter, dies at 89
1792 – George Pocock, British admiral who commanded British naval forces in the East Indies, dies at 86
1987 – Hans Gál, Austrian-British composer (Die heilige Ente (The Sacred Duck)), dies at 97
1993 – Alexander Mnouchkine, French movie producer (Professional), dies at 83
1996 – (Roosevelt) “Booba” Barnes, American blues guitarist, dies at 59
2014 – Tommy Lynn Sells, American serial killer, executed for murder at 49
2014 – Virginie Korte-van Hemel, Dutch Catholic People’s Party (KVP) politician (Council of State, 1992-99; Secretary of Justice, 1982-89), dies at 84
2017 – Kishori Amonkar, Indian classical Hindustani singer, dies at 84
2023 – Rena Koumioti, Greek laiko and entechno singer, dies due to complications of dementia at 81

More Famous Deaths »

Historical Events for 3rd April 2026

1882 – Wood block alarm invented, when alarm rang, it dropped 20 wood blocks
1913 – British suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst is sentenced to 3 years in jail for incitement to place an explosive in a building at Walton
1927 – Interstate Commerce Commission transfers Ohio to Eastern time zone
1929 – Persia agrees to the Litvinov Protocol
1930 – Stanley Cup Final, Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec: Montreal Canadiens beat Boston Bruins, 4-3 for a 2-0 series sweep and their 3rd Championship
1957 – Soviet Union conducts atmospheric nuclear test
1984 – Soviet Soyuz T-11 launches carrying three cosmonauts, including the first Indian cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma
2020 – London’s Nightingale hospital opened by Prince Charles (remotely) after nine days with 4,000 beds to treat COVID-19 patients at the ExCeL Centre

More Historical Events »

Today in History for 3rd April 2026

Historical Events

1956 – German war criminals Hinrichsen, Ruhl, Siebens and Viebahn freed
1960 – 7.0 earthquake felt in Havre, Belgium
1964 – The Beatles hold top 6 spots on the record chart in Sydney, Australia
1989 – New York Mets win their 11th consecutive home opener 8-4 over the St. Louis Cardinals at Shea Stadium
2016 – ANA Inspiration Women’s Golf, Mission Hills CC: Lydia Ko of New Zealand wins by 1 from Charley Hull and Chun In-gee for her second major title

More Historical Events »

Famous Birthdays

1922 – Ted Ashley [Theodore Assofsky], American talent agent and chairman of Warner Brothers (1969-80), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2002)
1941 – Joel Krosnick, American cellist and member of the Juilliard String Quartet (1974-2016), born in New Haven, Connecticut (d. 2025)
1941 – Carl Boenish, American father of BASE jumping, born in New Castle, Pennsylvania (d. 1984)
1944 – Barry Pritchard, British rock guitarist (Fortunes – “You’ve Got Your Troubles”; “Here It Comes Again”; “This Golden Ring”), born in Birmingham, England (d. 1999)
1960 – Marie Denise Pelletier, Canadian pop singer (Entre la tête et le cœur), born in Montréal, Québec

More Famous Birthdays »

Famous Deaths

1876 – Henriette Davidis, German cookery writer (Practical Cookbook), dies at 75
1993 – Pinky Lee, American children’s show host (Pinky Lee Show), dies of a heart attack at 85
2002 – Fad Gadget [Francis Tovey], English singer and musician, dies of a heart attack at 45
2007 – Marion Eames, Welsh novelist, dies at 86
2015 – Sarah Brady, American gun-control activist, dies at 73

More Famous Deaths »