Abraham Lincoln is Shot by John Wilkes Booth
On April 14, 1865, tragedy strikes as actor and Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth shoots President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Lincoln, beloved for his leadership during the Civil War and efforts to abolish slavery, succumbs to his injuries the following day, plunging the nation into mourning and altering the course of […]
First Nonstop Flight to North America From Europe
On April 13, 1928, history is made as aviators Captain Hermann Köhl, Major James Fitzmaurice, and Baron Ehrenfried Günther Freiherr von Hünefeld complete the first nonstop flight from Europe to North America. Departing from Baldonnel Aerodrome in Ireland, the intrepid crew navigates treacherous weather and technical challenges to land their Junkers W33 aircraft in Greenly […]
Colfax Massacre Occurs
On this day in history, the Colfax Massacre occurs in Colfax, Louisiana, as a violent confrontation erupts between white supremacist paramilitary groups and African American freedmen defending their right to vote. The massacre, one of the deadliest incidents of racial violence during Reconstruction, underscores the ongoing struggle for civil rights and racial equality in post-Civil […]
Thomas Jefferson is Born
On April 13, 1743, Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence, is born in Shadwell, Virginia. Jefferson’s legacy as a statesman, philosopher, and founding father would profoundly shape the course of American history and democracy.
U.S. Embassy in Cambodia Evacuated
On April 12, 1975, the United States Embassy in Cambodia is evacuated as Khmer Rouge forces advance on the capital city of Phnom Penh during the Cambodian Civil War. The evacuation marks the end of American diplomatic presence in Cambodia and foreshadows the fall of the Cambodian government to the Khmer Rouge regime, which would […]
Martin Luther King Writes “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”
On this day in history, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. is jailed in Birmingham, Alabama, for participating in nonviolent protests against racial segregation. During his imprisonment, King pens his famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” a powerful and eloquent defense of civil disobedience and the struggle for racial justice that would become one […]
Civil War Begins, Fire on Fort Sumter
On April 12, 1861, the American Civil War erupts as Confederate forces under General P.G.T. Beauregard fire on Fort Sumter in South Carolina, initiating the first military engagement of the conflict. This pivotal event marks the beginning of a bloody and transformative chapter in American history, as North and South are plunged into a devastating […]
Apollo 13 Launches to the Moon
On April 11, 1970, the Apollo 13 mission launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida with the goal of landing astronauts on the moon. However, the mission encountered a life-threatening crisis when an oxygen tank exploded two days later, forcing the crew to abort their lunar landing and undertake a perilous journey back to Earth. […]
First Live Sporting Event Broadcast on Radio
In 1921, history was made as the first live sporting event was broadcast on radio, revolutionizing how audiences experienced sports. The broadcast, featuring a boxing match between Johnny Ray and Johnny Dundee, paved the way for the widespread coverage of sports events and the development of sports broadcasting as a major industry.
Napoleon Bonaparte Abdicates the Throne
On this day in history, Napoleon Bonaparte abdicates the throne of France following his defeat in the War of the Sixth Coalition, and is subsequently exiled to the island of Elba. This marked the end of his rule as Emperor of the French and the beginning of his first exile, though he would later return […]