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1943–In Basel, Switzerland, Albert Hoffman, a Swiss chemist working at the Sandoz pharmaceutical research laboratory, accidentally consumes LSD-25, a synthetic drug he had created in 1938 as part of his research into the medicinal value of lysergic acid compounds. After taking the drug, formally known as lysergic acid diethylamide, Dr. Hoffman was disturbed by unusual sensations and hallucinations. After intentionally taking the drug again to confirm that it had caused this strange physical and mental state, Dr. Hoffman published a report announcing his discovery, and so LSD made its entry into the world as a hallucinogenic drug. Widespread use of the so-called "mind-expanding" drug did not begin until the 1960s, when counterculture figures such as Timothy Leary, Ken Kesey, and The Beatles publicly expounded on the benefits of using LSD as a recreational drug. The manufacture, sale, possession, and use of LSD, known to cause negative reactions in some of those who take it, were made illegal in the United States in 1965.


BC 1457–The Battle of Megiddo takes place between Thutmose III and a large Canaanite coalition under the King of Kadesh.

69–Roman Emperor, Otho, dies by stabbing himself in the heart with a dagger in Rome, Italy, at age 36. He was emperor for three months, from January 15 to April 16, 69. He was the second emperor of the Year of the Four Emperors.

73–Masada, a Jewish fortress, falls to the Romans after several months of siege, ending the Jewish Revolt.

556–Pelagius I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.

1113–Sviatopolk II of Kiev dies in Vyshhorod, Ukraine, at age 62.

1346–Dusan the Mighty is proclaimed Emperor, with the Serbian Empire occupying much of the Balkans.

1435–Jan II the Mad (Jan II Szalony) is born. A controversial figure, Jan II was praised by some historians for his ambitions and criticized by others for his fussiness and crazy ideas.

1488–Jungjong of Joseon is born Yi Yeok in present-day Korea.

1516–Burmese King, Tabinshwehti, is born in Toungoo, Burma. He was King of Toungoo Dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) from 1530 to 1550, and the founder of the Toungoo Empire. His military campaigns created the largest kingdom in Burma since the fall of the Pagan Empire in 1287.

1520–The Revolt of the Comuneros begins in Spain against the rule of Charles V.

1521–Martin Luther makes his first appearance before the Diet of Worms to be examined by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and the other estates of the Empire.

1582–Spanish conquistador, Hernando de Lerma, founds the settlement of Salta, Argentina.

1640–Countess Charlotte Flandrina of Nassau dies in St. Croix, Poitiers, France, at age 59.

1646–Architect, Jules Hardouin-Mansart, is born in Paris, France. One of the most important architects of the 17th century, his work is considered the pinnacle of the French Baroque style. As Louis XIV's chief architect, he enlarged the royal chateau of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. He designed all the additions and rebuildings at Versailles, and the acclaimed Hall of Mirrors. He also designed numerous works which are still eminent in the face of Paris today, such as the Place des Victoires and the Place Vendôme.

1705–Queen Anne of England knights Isaac Newton at Trinity College.

1724–The first Easter is observed.

1746–The Battle of Culloden is fought between the French-supported Jacobites and the British Hanoverian forces, commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, in Scotland. After the battle, many highland traditions were banned and the Highlands of Scotland were cleared of inhabitants.

1780–The University of Münster is founded in Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

1799–Napoleon drives Ottoman Turks across the River Jordan near Acre, in the Battle of Mount Tabor.

1818–The U.S. Senate ratifies the Rush-Bagot Treaty, establishing the border with Canada.

1828–Spanish painter, Francisco de Goya, dies of a stroke at age 82. A romantic painter and printmaker, he is regarded both as the last of the Old Masters and the first of the Moderns. From 1824 until his death, he lived in voluntary exile in France. Originally buried in Bordeaux, his remains were transferred to the Royal Chapel of St. Anthony of La Florida in Madrid, Spain, in 1919.

1847–The accidental shooting of a Maori by an English sailor results in the opening of the Wanganui Campaign of the New Zealand land wars.

1850–Madame Marie Tussaud, maker of wax figures, dies in her sleep in London, England, at age 88. She founded Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. In 1777, she created her first wax figure, that of Voltaire. During the French Revolution, Tussaud was employed to make death masks of the victims of the time, including some of the most infamous dead, such as Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Marat, and Robespierre. In 1835, she established her first permanent exhibition on Baker Street, on the upper floor of the "Baker Street Bazaar" in London, England.

1851–The “Lighthouse Storm” rages near Boston Harbor in Massachusetts. Whole gales and gigantic waves destroy Minot Light with its two keepers still inside.

1853–The first passenger rail opens in India, from Bori Bunder, Bombay, to Thane.

1854–San Salvador is destroyed by an earthquake.

1858–The Wernerian Natural History Society, a former Scottish learned society, winds down.

1862–The District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act, a bill ending slavery in the District of Columbia, becomes law.

1866–Karakozov attempts to assassinate Tsar Alexander II of Russia.

1867–Aircraft inventor, Wilbur Wright, is born in Millville, Indiana. He and his brother, Orville, are credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane, and making the first controlled, powered, and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903, four miles south of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Although not the first to build and fly experimental aircraft, the Wright brothers were the first to invent aircraft controls that made fixed-wing powered flight possible.

1879–The first Bulgarian constitution is voted and adopted by the Constituent National Assembly held in Veliko, Tarnovo, as part of the establishment of the Principality of Bulgaria.

1881–Bat Masterson fights his last gun battle in Dodge City, Kansas.

1889–Actor-director, Charlie Chaplin, is born Charles Spencer Chaplin in South London, England. His stage career began at age five, when his actress mother lost her singing voice, and the stage manager led little Charlie out to sing in her place. As a boy he passed in and out of orphanages, and he started working with a touring company as an actor at the age of 12. Twelve years later he went to Hollywood, California, to make comedy shorts for Mack Sennet. By the time he made his second one, Kid Auto Races at Venice, in 1914, he had settled on the costumefor “the Tramp”: baggy trousers, oversized shoes, tight frock coat, derby hat, cane, and false mustache. Within two years he was the highest paid entertainer in the world. His films include The Kid, A Woman of Paris, The Gold Rush, The Circus, City Lights, Modern Times, The Great Dictator, and Limelight. He was married to actress, Paulette Goddard.

1894–In Manchester, England, the Manchester City Football Club is formed from the Ardwick Association Football Club.

1905–Andrew Carnegie donated $10 million to set up the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

1908–The Natural Bridges National Monument is established in Utah.

1910–Dr. William Chester Minor, the major contributor of illustrative quotations to the Oxford English Dictionary (despite the fact that he had spent the last 38 years in an asylum for the criminally insane), is paroled so that he may be returned to hospitalization in his native America.

1910–Boston Arena opens in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the oldest existing indoor ice hockey arena still used for the sport in the 21st century.

1912–Harriet Quimby becomes the first woman to fly an airplane across the English Channel.

1912–Actor, David Langton, is born Basil Muir Langton-Dodds in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He is best known for his role on the TV series Upstairs Downstairs. He appeared in the films Abandon Ship, Saint Joan, The World of Suzie Wong, The Pumpkin Eater, A Hard Day’s Night, and Quintet.

1913–Actor, Les Tremayne, is born Lester Tremayne in Balham, London, England. His radio career began in 1931, and during the 1930s and 1940s Tremayne was heard in as many as 45 shows a week. He appeared in the films A Man Called Peter, The Racket, The Angry Red Planet, The War of The Worlds, Say One for Me, North by Northwest, The Monolith Monsters, The Monster of Piedras Blancas, and The Fortune Cookie.

1917–Vladimir Lenin returns to Petrograd, Russia, from exile in Switzerland.

1917–Actor, Barry Nelson, is born Haakon Robert Nielsen in San Francisco, California. He appeared in the films Johnny Eager, The Affairs of Martha, The Human Comedy, A Guy Named Joe, Casino Royal, Mary, Mary, Airport, Pete ‘n’ Tillie, and The Shining.

1918–Actor-comedian, Spike Milligan, is born Terence Alan Milligan in Ahmednagar, India. He was the co-creator, main writer, and a principal cast member of the BBC’s The Goon Show, performing a range of roles including the popular Eccles and Minnie Bannister characters. He appeared in the films The Running, Jumping and Standing Still Film, The Invasion Quartet, What a Whopper, The Bed-Sitting Room, The Magic Christian, The Cucumber Castle, The Ruling Class, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Three Musketeers, The Last Remake of Beau Geste, Monty Python's Life of Brian, History of the World Part I, and Yellowbeard.

1919–Mohandas Gandhi organizes a day of “prayer and fasting” in response to the British slaughter of Indian protestors in the Amritsar Massacre.

1919–The Polish army launches the Vilna offensive to capture Vilnius in modern Lithuania, during the Polish-Soviet War.

1919–Avant Garde choreographer, Merce Cunningham, is born Mercier Philip Cunningham in Centralia, Washington. As a teacher and leader of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, he had a profound influence on modern dance. He was a long-time collaborator with John Cage.

1921–Actor, Peter Ustinov, is born Peter Alexander, Baron von Ustinov in London, England. He was a filmmaker, theatre and opera director, stage designer, author, screenwriter, comedian, humorist, newspaper and magazine columnist, and radio broadcaster. He appeared in the films One of Our Aircraft Is Missing, Carnival, Vice Versa, Odette, The Magic Box, Quo Vadis, Beau Brummell, We’re No Angels, Spartacus, The Sundowners, Romanoff and Juliet, Billy Budd, Topkapi, Lady L, The Comedians, Blackbeard’s Ghost, Viva Max!, Logan’s Run, The Last Remake of Beau Geste, Death on the Nile, The Great Muppet Caper, Murder in Three Acts, Around the World in Eighty Days, and Lorenzo’s Oil.

1922–The Treaty of Rapallo is signed, re-establishing German and Soviet Union diplomatic relations.

1924–Film composer and conductor, Henry Mancini, is born Enrico Nicola Mancini in Cleveland, Ohio. He is best known for his film and television scores. His work includes The Music from Peter Gun, High Time, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, A Change of Seasons, Charade, The Pink Panther, The Great Race, Darling Lili, The Molly McGuires, Silver Streak, and The Thorn Birds. His hits include Moon River, Days of Wine and Roses, Charade, Dear Heart, The Sweetheart Tree, Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet, and Love Story.

1924–Rudy Pompilli, saxophonist for Bill Haley & His Comets, is born Rudolph Clement Pompilii in Chester, Pennsylvania. Within a few months of joining The Comets, Pompilli had become the band's most visible member (aside from Haley himself), becoming the focus of Rudy's Rock, a show-stopping instrumental co-written by Pompilli and Haley that debuted in the film Rock Around the Clock in 1956.

1925–During the Communist St, Nedelya Church assault in Sofia, Bulgaria, 150 people are killed and 500 others are wounded.

1927–Actress, Edie Adams, is born Edith Elizabeth Enke in Kingston, Pennsylvania. She worked regularly on television and was seen on the shows The Ernie Kovacs Show, The Garry Moore Show, Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, and As the World Turns. She appeared in the films The Apartment, Lover Come Back, Under the Yum Yum Tree, Love with the Proper Stranger, The Best Man, Made in Paris, and The Oscar. She was married to comedian, Ernie Kovacs.

1927–Pope Benedict XVI is born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger in Marktl, Bavaria, Germany. He served as Catholic Pope from 2005 to 2013.

1928–Businessman, Ellsworth Milson Statler, dies. His was the founder of Statler Hotels. His Statler Hotel in Buffalo, New York, was the first hotel in America to have private baths with running water in each room.

1930–Jazz flautist, Herbie Mann, is born Herbert Jay Solomon in Brooklyn, New York. He was among the first jazz musicians to specialize on the flute. His most popular single was Hijack, which was a Billboard #1 dance hit for three weeks in 1975.

1934–Music manager, Robert Stigwood, is born in Adelaide, South Australia. He was a music entrepreneur and impresario, best known for managing Cream and the Bee Gees. He also produced stage musicals and the films Grease, Jesus Christ Superstar, Tommy, Saturday Night Fever, Staying Alive, and Evita.

1935–The first radio broadcast of Fibber McGee & Molly goes out over the radio airwaves.

1935–Blues singer and guitarist, Haskell “Cool Papa” Sadler, is born Haskell Robert Sadler in Denver, Colorado.

1935–Singer, Bobby Vinton, is born Stanley Robert Vinton, Jr. in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. His biggest hit was Blue Velvet.

1937–German planes bomb the small Spanish town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. The horrific event was the inspiration for Pablo Picasso's famous mural of the same name.

1939–The Stanley Cup: The Boston Bruins beats the Toronto Maple Leafs, 4 games to 1.

1939–Zydeco accordionist, John Delafose, is born in Duralde, Louisiana. He began his career playing in the fais do-do of his area, a Cajun dance party. Later he gained public recognition with the albums Joe Pete Got Two Women and Blues Stay Away from Me. In the mid-1970s, he formed the band The Eunice Playboys, with which he played until his death in 1994.

1939–Singer, Dusty Springfield, is born Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien in West Hampstead, North London, England. She was one of the most popular girl singers during the British Invasion, with numerous “Top 10” hits. Her image, which included a peroxide blonde bouffant hairstyle, evening gowns, and heavy make-up, made her an icon of the Swinging Sixties. Her hits include I Only Want to Be with You, Wishin’ and Hopin’, In the Middle of Nowhere, You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me, The Look of Love, Son of a Preacher Man, and Brand New Me.

1940–Bob Feller, of the Cleveland Indians, throws the only Opening Day no-hitter in the history of Major League Baseball, beating the Chicago White Sox 1-0.

1940–Margrethe II of Denmark is born Margrethe Alexandrine Porhildur Ingrid in Copenhagen, Denmark. She is the Queen of Denmark. She is also the supreme authority of the Church of Denmark and Commander-in-Chief of the Danish Defence Forces.

1942–Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha dies at Schwäbisch Hall, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, at age 63. She was the fourth child and third daughter of Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia. She was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, as well as of Tsar Alexander II of Russia.

1943–In Basel, Switzerland, Albert Hoffman, a Swiss chemist working at the Sandoz pharmaceutical research laboratory, accidentally consumes LSD-25, a synthetic drug he had created in 1938 as part of his research into the medicinal value of lysergic acid compounds. A tiny amount of the substance accidentally seeped through the skin of his finger. After taking the drug, formally known as lysergic acid diethylamide, Dr. Hoffman was disturbed by unusual sensations and hallucinations. In his notes, he related the experience: "Last Friday, April 16, 1943, I was forced to interrupt my work in the laboratory in the middle of the afternoon and proceed home, being affected by a remarkable restlessness, combined with a slight dizziness. At home I lay down and sank into a not unpleasant, intoxicated-like condition, characterized by an extremely stimulated imagination. In a dreamlike state, with eyes closed (I found the daylight to be unpleasantly glaring), I perceived an uninterrupted stream of fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colors. After some two hours this condition faded away." After intentionally taking the drug again to confirm that it had caused this strange physical and mental state, Dr. Hoffman published a report announcing his discovery, and so LSD made its entry into the world as a hallucinogenic drug. Widespread use of the so-called "mind-expanding" drug did not begin until the 1960s, when counterculture figures such as Albert M. Hubbard, Timothy Leary, Ken Kesey, and The Beatles publicly expounded on the benefits of using LSD as a recreational drug. The manufacture, sale, possession, and use of LSD, known to cause negative reactions in some of those who take it, were made illegal in the United States in 1965.

1944–Allied forces start bombing Belgrade, Serbia, killing about 1,100 people. The bombing fell on the Orthodox Christian Easter.

1945–The Red Army begins its final assault on German forces around Berlin, with nearly one million troops fighting in the Battle of the Seelow Heights.

1945–More than 7,000 people die when the German refugee ship, Goya, is sunk by a Soviet submarine torpedo.

1945–The U.S. Army liberates Nazi Sonderlager (high security) prisoner-of-war camp Oflag IV-C (better known as Colditz).

1945–Goran Antunac, International Chess Master, is born in Yugoslavia.

1946–Arthur Chevrolet, Swiss-born race car driver and automobile designer, dies from suicide by hanging in Slidell, Louisiana, at age 62. He had been suffering from depression. His brother was Louis Chevrolet, founder of the Chevrolet car company.

1947–NBC-TV demonstrates the first zoom lens, the Zoomar, in New York. It had been invented by Dr. Frank Back.

1947–An explosion on board a freighter in port causes the city of Texas City, Texas, to catch fire, killing almost 600 people.

1947–Bernard Baruch coins the term "Cold War" to describe the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union.

1947–Basketball player, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, is born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr. in New York, New York. He played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers.

1947–Musician, Gerry Rafferty, is born in Paisley, Scotland. Rafferty was the voice behind the group, Stealers Wheel. His biggest solo hit was Baker Street.

1947–Rudolf Höss, commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp, is excuted by hanging in Oswiecim, Poland, at age 47. He was tried for murder, and when he was accused of murdering three and a half million people, Höss replied, "No. Only two and one half million: the rest died from disease and starvation."

1949–The Stanley Cup: The Toronto Maple Leafs beats the Detroit Red Wings, in 4 games.

1949–Actress, Melody Patterson, is born in Inglewood, California. She is best known for the role of Wrangler Jane on the TV series F Troop. She appeared in the films Bye Bye Birdie, The Angry Breed, The Cycle Savages, Blood and Lace, and The Harrad Experiment. She was married to actor, James MacArthur.

1953–Queen Elizabeth II launches the Royal Yacht HMY Britannia.

1953–The Stanley Cup: The Montreal Canadiens beats the Boston Bruins, 4 games to 1.

1954–The Stanley Cup: The Detroit Red Wings beats the Montreal Canadiens, 4 games to 3.

1954–Actress, Ellen (Rona) Barkin, is born in the Bronx, New York. She appeared in the films Diner, Tender Mercies, Daniel, Eddie and the Cruisers, Harry & Son, Desert Bloom, The Big Easy, Siesta, Sea of Love, Switch, Into the West, This Boy’s Life, Wild Bill, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and Ocean’s Thirteen. She was married to actor, Gabriel Byrne.

1956–Rock and roll pioneer, Buddy Holly, releases his first single, Blue Days, Black Nights.

1957–The USSR conducts an atmospheric nuclear test.

1957–The Stanley Cup: The Montreal Canadiens beats the Boston Bruins, 4 games to 1.

1961–In a nationally broadcast speech, Cuban leader, Fidel Castro, declares that he is a Marxist-Leninist and that Cuba is going to adopt Communism.

1961–The Stanley Cup: The Chicago Blackhawks beats the Detroit Red Wings, 4 games to 2.

1962–CBS-TV appoints Walter Cronkite to succeed Douglas Edwards as the chief news anchorman of the CBS Evening News. He would anchor the program for nearly two decades and become an American icon of journalism, known as "the most trusted man in America."

1963–Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. pens his Letter from Birmingham Jail while incarcerated in Birmingham, Alabama, for protesting against segregation.

1963–Jimmy Osmond, of The Osmond Brothers, is born James Arthur Osmond in Canoga Park, California. He is the youngest member of the sibling musical group.

1964–The Beatles record the title track for their first film, A Hard Day's Night. The writing of the song was a bit unusual in that John Lennon and Paul McCartney had the title first, and had to write a song to order. The song is completed in nine takes. A Hard Day's Night ended up being the title of the film, the title of a song, and the title of the soundtrack album.

1965–Actor, Jon Cryer, is born Jonathan Niven Cryer in New York, New York. He appeared in the films No Small Affair, Pretty in Pink, Morgan Stewart’s Coming Home, Dudes, Hiding Out, Hot Shots!, Holy Man, and Stay Cool.

1965–Comedian, Martin (Fitzgerald) Lawrence, is born in Frankfurt, West Germany. He starred in the TV series Martin from 1992 to 1997. He appeared in the films Do the Right Thing, House Party, You So Crazy, Bad Boys, Big Momma’s House, Wild Hogs, and Death at a Funeral.

1968–Writer, Edna Ferber, dies of stomach cancer in New York, New York, at age 82. Her novels were especially popular and included the Pulitzer Prize-winning So Big, Show Boat, Saratoga Trunk, Cimarron, and Giant.

1969–A chart topper: The Israelites by Desmond Dekker & The Aces.

1971–Actor, Peter Billingsley, is born in New York, New York. He is best known for the role of Ralphie in the film A Christmas Story. He also appeared in the films If I Ever See You Again, Honky Tonk Freeway, Paternity, The Dirt Bike Kid, Ruskies, Elf, and Iron Man.

1971–Singer, Selena, is born Selena Quintanilla in Lake Jackson, Texas. Called the Queen of Tejano music, her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mexican-American entertainers of the late 20th century.

1972–China sends two giant pandas to the U.S.

1972–Apollo 16 is launced from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

1973–American journalist, Elliot Mintz, interviews the John Lennon and Yoko Ono at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Faced with the rumor that the couple’s marriage is on the rocks, Lennon replies: “It’s much better now. They program you to say you’re gonna get sick of each other, but it’s entirely different... it grows!” (Within the year, they had separated.) Mintz had been fired from his radio job the year before for playing the entire Some Time In New York City LP. He became close with the Lennons and later served as the official spokesperson for Yoko Ono.

1973–Paul McCartney's television special, James Paul McCartney, is broadcast by ABC-TV in the U.S. ATV will broadcast the special in the U.K. on May 10th. It receives very mixed reviews.

1974–The USSR conducts a nuclear test at Eastern Kazakh.

1974–The rock group, Queen, play their first American concert at Denver's Regis College.

1976–Songwriter, Boz Scaggs, is cold-cocked by two bouncers outside Antone's, a blues club in Austin, Texas, after attempting to go backstage to see the headliner, Bobby “Blue” Bland.

1976–Actor, Lukas (Daniel) Haas, is born in West Hollywood, California. He appeared in the films Testament, Witness, Solarbabies, Lady in White, See You in the Morning, Music Box, Convicts, Rambling Rose, Leap of Faith, Boys, Mars Attacks!, Zoolander, and Lincoln.

1979–The 83rd Boston Marathon is won by Bill Rodgers of Massachusetts, with a time of 2:09:27.

1979–The 8th Boston Women's Marathon is won by Joan Benoit Samuelson, with a time of 2:35:15.

1980–The U.S. conducts a nuclear test at Nevada Test Site.

1984–The 88th Boston Marathon is won by Geoff Smith of Great Britain, with a time of 2:10:34.

1984–The 13th Boston Women's Marathon is won by Lorraine Moller of New Zealand, with a time of 2:29:28.

1985–Actor, Scott Brady, dies of pulmonary fibrosis in Los Angeles, California, at age 60. He appeared in the films He Walked by Night, Undertow, Yankee Buccaneer, Bloodhounds of Broadway, A Perilous Journey, Johnny Guitar, Terror at Midnight, Mohawk, The Restless Breed, John Goldfarb Please Come Home, Journey to the Center of Time, Marooned, $, The China Syndrome, and Gremlins.

1986–To dispel rumors that he is dead, Moammar Gadhafi appears on TV.

1987–The FCC imposes a broader definition of “indecency” over American radio airwaves.

1990–The "Doctor of Death," Jack Kevorkian, participates in his first assisted suicide.

1990–Over 72,000 people gather at London’s Wembley Stadium for an anti-aparthied concert honoring Nelson Mandela. Mandela had recently been released from prison.

1990–Thunderstorms produce baseball-size hail south of Carney, Oklahoma, and wind gusts to 100 mph in the Oklahoma City area, sweeping away many income tax returns that are being transported from a mail cart to a waiting truck near the time of the midnight deadline.

1990–The 94th Boston Marathon is won by Gelindo Bordin of Italy, with a time of 2:08:19.

1990–The 19th Boston Women's Marathon is won by Rosa Mota of Portugal, with a time of 2:25:23.

1991–Film director, David Lean, dies of throat cancer in Limehouse, London, England, at age 83. His films include This Happy Breed, Blithe Spirit, Brief Encounter, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, Hobson’s Choice, Summertime, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, Ryan’s Daughter, and A Passage to India.

1992–The Katina P runs aground off of Maputo, Mozambique, and 60,000 tons of crude oil spill into the ocean.

1992–Actor, Neville Brand, dies of emphysema in Sacramento, California, at age 71. He appeared in the films D.O.A., Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye, Halls of Montezuma, Kansas City Confidential, Stalag 17, Riot in Cell Block 11, Love Me Tender, The Tin Star, Birdman of Alcatraz, and That Darn Cat!

1993–Paul McCartney headlines a concert at the Hollywood Bowl to celebrate Earth Day. He had last performed there as a member of The Beatles in 1965. Other performers at the concert include Ringo Starr, Steve Miller, and Don Henley.

1994–Novelist, Ralph Waldo Ellison, dies of pancreatic cancer in New York, New York, at age 80. His novel, Invisible Man, published in 1952, explores the theme of man's search for his identity and place in society, as seen from the perspective of an unnamed black man in the New York City of the 1930s.

1995–Cheyenne Brando commits suicide by hanging in Punaauia, Tahiti, at age 25. She had been formally diagnosed with schizophrenia. She was the daughter of actor, Marlon Brando.

1998–Super-centenarian, Marie-Louise Meilleur, dies in Corbeil, Ontario, Canada, at age 117 (and 230 days). Meilleur was the oldest validated Canadian ever. She had 85 grandchildren, 80 great-grandchildren, 57 great-great-grandchildren, and four great-great-great-grandchildren.

1999–Skip Spence, of Jefferson Airplane, dies of lung cancer in Santa Cruz, California, at age 52. Mental illness, drug addiction, and alcoholism prevented Spence from sustaining a career in the music industry. Much of his life was spent in third-party care, as a ward of the State of California, and either homeless or in transient accommodations in his later years.

2001–India and Bangladesh begin a five-day border conflict, but are unable to resolve the dispute.

2001–The Pulitzer Prizes are awarded. Reporting: David Willman, of The Los Angeles Times, for his pioneering exposé of seven unsafe prescription drugs that had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and an analysis of the policy reforms that had reduced the agency's effectiveness; Fiction: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon (Random House); Drama: Proof by David Auburn (Faber and Faber); Non-Fiction: Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan by Herbert P. Bix (HarperCollins); History: Founding Brothers–The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis (Alfred A. Knopf); Biography or Autobiography: W.E.B. Du Bois–The Fight for Equality and the American Century 1919-1963 by David Levering Lewis (Henry Holt and Company); Poetry: Different Hours by Stephen Dunn (W.W. Norton & Company); Photography: Matt Rainey, of The Star-Ledger, Newark, New Jersey, for his emotional photographs that illustrate the care and recovery of two students critically burned in a dormitory fire at Seton Hall University; Music: Symphony No. 2 for String Orchestra by John Corigliano (G. Schirmer).

2001–Producer, director and screenwriter, Michael Ritchie, dies of complications related to prostate cancer in New York, New York, at age 62. His films include Downhill Racer, The Candidate, Prime Cut, The Bad News Bears, Semi-Tough, Divine Madness!, Student Bodies, The Survivors, Fletch, Wildcats, The Couch Trip, and The Scout.

2002–Businesswoman, Ruth Fertel, dies of cancer in New Orleans, Louisiana, at age 75. She founded Ruth's Chris Steak House.

2002–Actor, Robert Urich, dies of synovial cell sarcoma in Thousand Oaks, California, at age 56. He is best known for his starring role in the action TV series Vega$. He also starred in in TV series Spenser: For Hire. He appeared in the films Magnum Force, Endangered Species, The Ice Pirates, Turk 182!, and Lonesome Dove.

2003–The Treaty of Accession is signed in Athens admitting 10 new member states to the European Union. The countires are the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, and Slovakia.

2007–The Virginia Tech massacre is the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history: gunman, Seung-Hui Cho, shoots and kills 32 people and injures 23 others before committing suicide.

2007–The Pulitzer Prizes are awarded. Reporting: Staff of The Wall Street Journal for its sharply edged reports on the adverse impact of China's booming capitalism on conditions ranging from inequality to pollution; Fiction: The Road by Cormac McCarthy (Alfred A. Knopf); Drama: Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire (TCG); Non-Fiction: The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright (Alfred A. Knopf); History: The Race Beat by Gene Roberts and Hank Klibanoff (Alfred A. Knopf); Biography or Autobiography: The Most Famous Man in America by Debby Applegate (Doubleday); Poetry: Native Guard by Natasha Trethewey (Houghton Mifflin); Photography: Oded Balilty, of the Associated Press, for his powerful photograph of a lone Jewish woman defying Israeli security forces as they remove illegal settlers in the West Bank; Music: Sound Grammar by Ornette Coleman. Special Citations are given to Ray Bradbury for his “distinguished, prolific and deeply influential career as an unmatched author of science fiction and fantasy,” and John Coltrane for his “masterful improvisation, supreme musicianship and iconic centrality to the history of jazz.”

2010–Police officer, Daryl Gates, dies of bladder cancer in Dana Point, California, at age 83. He was the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) from 1978 to 1992. As chief of police, he took a hardline, aggressive, paramilitary approach to law enforcement. Gates is co-credited with the creation of SWAT teams with LAPD's John Nelson, who others claim was the originator of SWAT in 1965. Gates also co-founded Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E), along with the Los Angeles Unified School District.

2011–Screenwriter and producer, Sol Saks, dies of respiratory failure in Sherman Oaks, California, at age 100. He is best known as the creator of the TV sitcom Bewitched.

2012–The trial for Anders Behring Breivik, the perpetrator of the 2011 Norway attacks, begins in Oslo, Norway.

2012–The Pulitzer Prizes are awarded. Reporting: David Wood, of The Huffington Post, for his riveting exploration of the physical and emotional challenges facing American soldiers severely wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan during a decade of war; Fiction: No award given; Drama: Water by the Spoonful by Quiara Alegría Hudes; Non-Fiction: The Swerve–How the World Became Modern by Stephen Greenblatt; History: Malcolm X–A Life of Reinvention by Manning Marable; Biography or Autobiography: George F. Kennan–An American Life by John Lewis Gaddis; Poetry: Life on Mars by Tracy K. Smith; Photography: Craig F. Walker, of The Denver Post, for his compassionate chronicle of an honorably discharged veteran, home from Iraq and struggling with a severe case of post-traumatic stress; Music: Silent Night–Opera in Two Acts by Kevin Puts.

2013–A 7.8 earthquake strikes Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran, killing at least 35 people and injuring 117 others.

2013–Sports broadcaster, Pat Summerall, dies after undergoing surgery for a broken hip at age 82. He became part of the most popular sports broadcast team in the country upon joining forces with John Madden for 21 seasons. Summerall also called NBA games for CBS-TV, as well as golf and tennis events. He broadcast his last Super Bowl in 2002, and retired soon after.

2014–The South Korean ferry, MV Sewol, capsizes and sinks near Jindo Island, killing 304 passengers and crew members.

2015–A five-legged lamb is born at Rhiwlas Farm in Powys, Wales. Lambs with deformities often die shortly after birth, but the owner told the media that the lamb is acting "perfectly normal." The family named the lamb Jake, and he will be kept as a family pet.

2015–Kim Richards, cast member of the Bravo reality series The Housewives of Beverly Hills, is arrested at The Beverly Hills Hotel on suspicion of public intoxication, trespassing, resisting an officer, and battery on a police officer. Richards shows “objective symptoms of alcohol intoxication” and is escorted from the restaurant by security. She had "slurred speech and belligerent, insolent behavior, cursing at the officers and passively resisting arrest," police said. Richards' battle with alcohol abuse has been documented on the show.

2015–Singer, Johnny Kemp, dies of drowning in Montego Bay, Jamaica, at age 55. His hits include Dancin' with Myself and Just Got Paid.

2017–The U.S. Pacific Command and South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff report that a North Korean missile, tested near the city of Sinpo on the country's east coast, blew up almost immediately after the launch, just hours before U.S. Vice President Mike Pence was due in South Korea for talks about the North's arms program.

2017–Nine people are injured in a shooting at the J&R Party Hall after-hours club in Columbus, Ohio.

2018–German prosecutors charge an unidentified 94-year-old ex-Auschwitz guard with aiding and abetting 13,335 Holocaust murders when he was 19 years old.

2018–Actor, Harry Anderson, dies from a stroke during the night at his home in Asheville, North Carolina, at age 65. He is best known for the role of Judge Harry Stone on the TV series Night Court.


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