| 1124:
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Death of Alexander I, King of Scotland
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| 1172:
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Henry II, King of England, leaves Ireland
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| 1174:
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Marie of Champagne issues a "responsum" to the inquiry "Can real love exist between married people?" The answer was "No."
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| 1278:
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Death of St. Zita
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| 1404:
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John "the Fearless" becomes Duke of Burgundy
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| 1509:
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Pope Julius II excommunicated the Italian state of Venice
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| 1521:
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Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan was killed by natives in the Philippines
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| 1605:
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Death of Pope Leo XI
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| 1646:
|
Charles I flees Oxford
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| 1667:
|
John Milton sells the copyright for "Paradise Lost" for 10 pounds
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| 1737:
|
English historian Edward Gibbon author of "Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire." born
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| 1759:
|
Author Mary Godwin born
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| 1791:
|
Samuel F.B. Morse, American artist and inventor of magnetic telegraphy born
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| 1805:
|
A force led by US Marines captured the city of Derna, on the shores of Tripoli
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| 1810:
|
Ludwig van Beethoven gave the world a romantic piece for piano, with the dedication, "For Therese, as a remembrance." But today nobody remembers Therese. The publisher couldn't read Beethoven's handwriting and to this day the piece is known as "Fur Elise."
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| 1822:
|
Ulysses S. Grant, Civil War general and 18th president of the United States born in Point Pleasant, Ohio
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| 1850:
|
The American-owned steamship "The Atlantic" began regular trans-Atlantic passenger service. It was the first U.S. vessel to challenge what had been a British monopoly
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| 1865:
|
The steamer "Sultana" exploded on the Mississippi River near Memphis, Tennessee, killing more than 1400 Union prisoners of war
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| 1880:
|
Francis Clarke and M.G. Foster patented the electrical hearing aid
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| 1882:
|
Ralph Waldo Emerson died in Concord, Massachusetts, one month before his 70th birthday and was buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery beside Thoreau and Hawthorne
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| 1896:
|
Wallace Carothers, inventor of nylon born
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| 1897:
|
Grant's Tomb (famed of song & legend) is dedicated
|
| 1900:
|
Woody Woodpecker creator Walter Lantz born
|
| 1903:
|
Jamaica Race Track opened this day in Long Island, New York. Among the spectators were Lillian Russell and "Diamond" Jim Brady
|
| 1904:
|
English poet C. Day Lewis born
|
| 1922:
|
Actor Jack Klugman born
|
| 1927:
|
Civil rights activist Coretta Scott King born
|
| 1932:
|
Actress Anouk Aimee born
|
| 1932:
|
Announcer Casey Kasem born
|
| 1932:
|
Former football coach Chuck Knox born
|
| 1932:
|
American poet Hart Crane, returning from Mexico where he had gone on a Guggenheim Fellowship, drowned after jumping from a steamer while en route to New York; he was 32
|
| 1937:
|
CBS News correspondent Phil Jones born
|
| 1937:
|
The first Social Security payment was made in the United States
|
| 1938:
|
Geraldine Apponyi was the first American woman to become a Queen as she married King Zog of Albania on this day
|
| 1939:
|
Actress Judy Carne born
|
| 1941:
|
Opera singer Judith Blegen born
|
| 1944:
|
Rhythm-and-blues singer Cuba Gooding born
|
| 1945:
|
The Allies rejected peace offers by German SS chief Heinrich Himmler, insisting on unconditional surrender
|
| 1946:
|
The first commercial, carrier ship to be equipped with radar, the SS African Star, was placed in service
|
| 1947:
|
Singer Ann Peebles born
|
| 1947:
|
It was "Babe Ruth Day" at Yankee Stadium as baseball fans, not just in New York, but across the country as well, honored the ailing star
|
| 1948:
|
Rock singer Kate Pierson (The B-52's) born
|
| 1949:
|
Rhythm-and-blues singer Herbie Murrell (The Stylistics) born
|
| 1949:
|
Actor Douglas Sheehan ("Knots Landing") born
|
| 1949:
|
Musician Clive Taylor (Amen Corner) born
|
| 1950:
|
The Boston Celtics hired Arnold "Red" Auerbach to coach their losing team. In 16 seasons, he led them to 9 NBA championships
|
| 1951:
|
Rock musician Ace Frehley (KISS) born
|
| 1956:
|
Rocky Marciano relinquished his crown as heavyweight boxing champ when he retired from boxing
|
| 1959:
|
Pop singer Sheena Easton born
|
| 1960:
|
The submarine, Tullibee, was launched from Groton, Connecticut. It was the first sub to be equipped with closed-circuit television
|
| 1962:
|
Actor James Le Gros born
|
| 1965:
|
Rock musician Rob Squires (Big Head Todd & the Monsters) born
|
| 1965:
|
Broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow died in Pawling, New York, at age 57
|
| 1967:
|
Expo '67 was officially opened in Montreal by Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson
|
| 1968:
|
Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson" was released. It is widely associated with the film "The Graduate.""
|
| 1969:
|
Singer Mica Paris born
|
| 1969:
|
Bolivian President Rene Barrientos Ortuno was killed in a helicopter crash near the village of Arque. He had been president since 1964
|
| 1973:
|
During the Watergate scandal, Acting FBI Director L. Patrick Gray resigned
|
| 1978:
|
Convicted Watergate defendant John D. Ehrlichman was released from an Arizona prison after serving 18 months
|
| 1978:
|
Afghanistan's armed forces seized power, establishing a government based on Islamic principles. President Daoud was killed and new President Nur Mohammed Taraki proclaimed the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
|
| 1979:
|
Rock singer-musician Travis Meeks (Days of the New) born
|
| 1981:
|
Beatle Ringo Starr married actress Barbara Bach at the Marylebone Registry Office in London. Paul McCartney and his wife Linda, George Harrison and Harry Nilsson were in attendance
|
| 1982:
|
The trial of John W. Hinckley Junior, who had shot four people, including President Reagan, began in Washington. (The trial ended with Hinckley's acquittal by reason of insanity.)
|
| 1983:
|
President Reagan appeared before Congress to urge members to embrace his arms and economic program for Central America, saying the United States had a duty to save the region from the leftist revolution
|
| 1983:
|
Nolan Ryan (Houston Astros) struck out the 3,509th batter for his career to pass Walter Johnson as all time strike out king. The Astros won 4-2 over Montreal. Johnson's record had been on the books for 55 years
|
| 1984:
|
In a speech during his visit to China, President Reagan extolled the virtues of capitalism. However, Chinese television deleted Reagan's criticism of the Soviet Union and praise of freedoms in the United States
|
| 1984:
|
In London, the ten-day siege at the Libyan Embassy ended peacefully as the building's occupants left for home
|
| 1985:
|
President Reagan used his weekly radio address to say he was looking forward to his visit to Europe without mentioning his plans to visit the military cemetery at Bitburg, a decision which had sparked controversy
|
| 1986:
|
A video pirate calling himself Captain Midnight interrupted a movie on HBO with a printed message protesting de-scrambling fees. (He turned out to be John R. MacDougall of Florida, who was fined and placed on probation
|
| 1987:
|
Attorney General Edwin Meese barred Austrian President Kurt Waldheim from the United States, citing the alleged role of the former United Nations secretary-general in Nazi war crimes
|
| 1988:
|
The Senate approved a sweeping trade bill, 63-to-36, falling short of the two-thirds vote needed to override a threatened veto by President Reagan
|
| 1989:
|
More than 150,000 students and workers calling for democracy marched, cheered and sang through central Beijing
|
| 1990:
|
The aperture door of the Hubble Space Telescope was opened by ground controllers as the space shuttle Discovery, which had carried the Hubble into orbit, prepared to return home
|
| 1991:
|
A group of 250 Kurds became the first refugees to move into a new U.S.-built camp in northern Iraq
|
| 1992:
|
Russia and 12 other former Soviet republics won entry into the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank
|
| 1992:
|
The new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was proclaimed in Belgrade by the republic of Serbia and its lone ally, Montenegro. Russia and 12 other former Soviet republics won entry into the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank
|
| 1992:
|
A Zambian air force plane carrying Zambia's national football team crashed into the Atlantic off Gabon killing all 30 aboard
|
| 1993:
|
The final performance of the current New York Philharmonic series, included the new Phillip Ramey horn concerto and the Haydn 69th Symphony, plus Ravel's "Rhapsody espagnole" and the short version of "Appalachian Spring." Leonard Slatkin conducted
|
| 1993:
|
After a hiatus of more than four months, Israeli and Arab delegates resumed Middle East peace talks in Washington DC
|
| 1994:
|
Former President Richard M. Nixon was remembered at an outdoor funeral service attended by all five of his successors at the Nixon presidential library in Yorba Linda, California
|
| 1995:
|
Former Orange County, California, Treasurer Robert Citron pleaded guilty to six counts of defrauding investors in the Orange County investment pool
|
| 1996:
|
Tens of thousands of refugees streamed home to southern Lebanon after a US-brokered cease-fire silenced the guns in the 16-day Israel-Hezbollah war. Events
|
| 1997:
|
President Clinton, along with former presidents George Bush and Jimmy Carter, helped polish gritty city streets in Philadelphia as they launched the three-day Summit for America's Future, a gathering on community service also attended by former President Gerald Ford and former first lady Nancy Reagan
|
| 1997:
|
Armed separatists took two hostages in West Texas, sparking a standoff with 300 police officers
|
| 1999:
|
A week after the Columbine High School massacre, President Clinton called for new gun control measures, saying, "People's lives are at stake here."
|
| 1999:
|
Jazz trumpeter Al Hirt died in New Orleans at age 76
|
| 2000:
|
New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani disclosed that he had prostate cancer (he later bowed out of the US Senate race against Hillary Rodham Clinton)
|
| 2005:
|
Anthrax scare closes Michigan newspaper office
|
| 2005:
|
Syria: Lebanon pullout is "full and complete", UN to verify
|
| 2005:
|
Execution deadline for kidnapped journalists expires
|
| 2005:
|
Children find human bones, develop interest in anatomy
|
| 2005:
|
World's largest passenger airliner makes first flight
|
| 2005:
|
Dutch mayors support legalisation of cannabis
|
| 2005:
|
Bomb explosion kills two in Myanmar's second largest city
|
| 2005:
|
Dorothy's dress from Wizard of Oz sells for £140,000
|
| 2005:
|
Lebanon government wins ‘vote of confidence’
|
| 2005:
|
New Italian goverment gets confidence from the House
|
| 2005:
|
Boeing secures $11bn of aircraft deals
|
| 2005:
|
Air alarm at White House, Bush moved to safety
|
| 2006:
|
Maoists in Nepal declare three month ceasefire
|
| 2006:
|
Australia to introduce universal health and welfare smartcard
|
| 2006:
|
"Voxtel" company will be transformed into "Orange"
|
| 2006:
|
US Federal Reserve ceases to publish M3 index
|
| 2006:
|
Chickens at a Norfolk farm to be culled after testing positive for bird flu
|
| 2006:
|
Family devastated by body mix-up
|
| 2006:
|
Members of Granny Peace Brigade acquitted
|
| 2006:
|
Israeli report: Iran acquired missiles capable of striking Europe
|
| 2006:
|
Nintendo Revolution name revealed
|
| 2007:
|
Arrest warrant issued for Richard Gere for kissing actress Shilpa Shetty
|
| 2007:
|
One killed in clashes over World War monument in Estonia
|
| 2007:
|
Strong 6.3 earthquake reported in Sumatra, Indonesia
|
| 2007:
|
Funeral held for two Lebanese youths found slain
|
| 2008:
|
Vandals deface family crypt of Pierre Elliott Trudeau
|
| 2008:
|
National Hockey League playoff news: April 27, 2008
|
| 2008:
|
Austrian man kept daughter prisoner in cellar for 24 years
|
| 2008:
|
Wikimedia board of trustees announces restructure
|
| 2008:
|
Lakshmi Mittal tops Sunday Times Rich List
|
| 2008:
|
President of Afghanistan uninjured after assassination attempt
|
| 2008:
|
Soyuz rocket launches GIOVE-B satellite
|
| 2008:
|
Spectator killed and 10 injured in German airshow crash
|
| 2008:
|
Owner and manager of Moroccan factory arrested over 55-fatality fire
|
| 2008:
|
California wildfire forces evacuation of thousands
|
| 2008:
|
Toronto transit workers ordered back to work
|
| 2008:
|
Last Titan launch complex at Cape Canaveral demolished
|
| 2008:
|
Large increase in number of foreclosures across US
|
| 2009:
|
Jenson Button wins Bahrain Grand Prix
|
| 2010:
|
Officials: US drone strike kills five in Pakistan
|
| 2010:
|
Suicide bombing in Afghanistan kills three, 35 injured
|
| 2010:
|
Smoke bomb thrown in Ukrainian parliament during naval base debate
|
| 2010:
|
Snap election fails to end political deadlock in Nauru
|
| 2010:
|
Gulf of Mexico oil spill expanding; submarines to try to stop leak
|
| 2011:
|
U.S. President Barack Obama releases original birth certificate
|
| 2011:
|
Dingoes attack toddler on Fraser Island
|
| 2012:
|
Florida court blocks drug testing state workers
|
History
Icons
Union Army General and 18th US President, Ulysses S Grant born in Point Pleasant, Ohio
Cartoonist animator, and creator of Woody Woodpecker, Walter Lantz born in New Rochelle, New York
Actor Jack Klugman born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Civil rights leader Coretta Scott King born in Heiberger, Alabama
DJ and voice actor, Casey Kasem born Kemal Amin Kasem in Detroit, Michigan
Actress Judy Carne born Joyce Botterill in Northampton, England
Motel owner, musician, singer and co-founder of the B-52's, Kate Pierson born in Weehawken, New Jersey
Actress and Grammy Award winning singer, Sheena Easton born in Bellshill, Scotland