On This Day in History — April 1

Highlights of April 1

• 2001 — Same-sex marriage in the Netherlands was legalized, making it the first country to do so. Read more
• 2001 — An American Lockheed EP-3 and a Chinese Shenyang J-8 collided in mid-air off Hainan, resulting in an international dispute between the two countries. Read more
• 1990 — The longest prison riot in British penal history began at Strangeways Prison in Manchester, lasting 25 days. Read more
• 1976 — Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded Apple Computer, Inc. (first logo pictured). Read more
• 1974 — A man ignited tires in the crater of Mount Edgecumbe, prompting a false eruption scare later revealed as an April Fools' hoax. Read more
• 1970 — U.S. president Richard Nixon signed the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act into law, requiring that a prominent warning by the surgeon general be placed on cigarette packages. Read more
• 1970 — The American Motors Corporation introduced its Gremlin, promoted as America's first subcompact car. Read more
• 1969 — The Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the first operational fighter aircraft with V/STOL capabilities, entered service with the Royal Air Force. Read more
• 1963 — On Her Majesty's Secret Service, the tenth novel of Ian Fleming's James Bond series, was released in the United Kingdom. Read more
• 1955 — The British Army's Mobile Defence Corps, intended to assist with civil defence after a nuclear attack, was established by royal warrant. Read more
• 1952 — Israel enacted a citizenship law, prior to which the country technically had no citizens. Read more
• 1941 — Soviet border guards opened fire on civilians attempting to cross the border from the Soviet Union to Romania near Fântâna Albă, killing between 44 and 3,000 people. Read more
• 1933 — English cricketer Wally Hammond set a record for the highest individual score in Test cricket of 336 not out during a match against New Zealand. Read more
• 1922 — Under the South Seas Mandate, Japan set up a government in Koror, precipitating large-scale Japanese settlement in Palau. Read more
• 1918 — The United Kingdom established the Royal Air Force, near the end of the First World War. Read more
• 1879 — The Inland Customs Line, established by the British for the collection of the salt tax in India, was abandoned. Read more
• 1871 — The Duke of Buckingham opened the first section of the Brill Tramway, a short railway line to transport goods between his lands and the national rail network. Read more
• 1865 — American Civil War: The Union Army under Major General Philip Sheridan (pictured) inflicted more than 2,900 casualties on the Confederates at the Battle of Five Forks. Read more
• 1833 — Mexican Texans met at San Felipe de Austin to begin the Convention of 1833. Read more
• 1346 — Hundred Years' War: John, Duke of Normandy, laid siege to the town of Aiguillon. Read more
• 1340 — A band of warriors led by Niels Ebbesen killed Count Gerhard III, ending Holstein rule in Denmark. Read more
• 1293 — Robert Winchelsey left England for Rome to be consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury, but a papal vacancy delayed the ceremony. Read more
• 1234 — Richard Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, was defeated by knights loyal to King Henry III of England at the Battle of the Curragh in County Kildare, Ireland. Read more

Events

• 2026 — The Artemis II lunar flyby mission launches, marking the first crewed flight above low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. Read more
• 2016 — The 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict begins along the Nagorno-Karabakh Line of Contact. Read more
• 2011 — After protests against the burning of the Quran turn violent, a mob attacks a United Nations compound in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, resulting in the deaths of fourteen people, including seven UN workers. Read more
• 2006 — Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) of the Government of the United Kingdom is enforced, but later merged into National Crime Agency on 7 October 2013. Read more
• 2004 — Google launches its Email service Gmail. Read more
• 2001 — An EP-3E United States Navy surveillance aircraft collides with a Chinese People's Liberation Army Shenyang J-8 fighter jet. The Chinese pilot ejected but is subsequently lost. The Navy crew makes an emergency landing in Hainan, China and is detained. Read more
• 2001 — Former President of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milošević surrenders to police special forces, to be tried on war crimes charges. Read more
• 2001 — Same-sex marriage becomes legal in the Netherlands, the first contemporary country to allow it. Read more
• 1999 — Nunavut is established as a Canadian territory carved out of the eastern part of the Northwest Territories. Read more
• 1997 — Comet Hale–Bopp is seen passing at perihelion. Read more
• 1993 — NASCAR champion Alan Kulwicki is killed in a plane crash near the Tri-Cities Regional Airport in Blountville, Tennessee. Read more
• 1989 — Margaret Thatcher's new local government tax, the Community Charge (commonly known as the "poll tax"), is introduced in Scotland. Read more
• 1986 — Communist Party of Nepal (Mashal) cadres attack a number of police stations in Kathmandu, seeking to incite a popular rebellion. Read more
• 1984 — Singer Marvin Gaye is shot to death by his father in his home in Arlington Heights, Los Angeles, California. Read more
• 1979 — Iran becomes an Islamic republic by a 99% vote, officially overthrowing the Shah. Read more
• 1976 — Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak found Apple Computer, Inc. Read more
• 1974 — The Local Government Act 1972 of England and Wales comes into effect. Read more
• 1973 — Project Tiger, a tiger conservation project, is launched in the Jim Corbett National Park, India. Read more
• 1971 — Bangladesh Liberation War: The Pakistan Army massacre more than a thousand people in Keraniganj Upazila, Bangladesh. Read more
• 1970 — President Richard Nixon signs the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act into law. Read more
• 1970 — A Royal Air Maroc Sud Aviation Caravelle crashes near Berrechid, Morocco, killing 61. Read more
• 1969 — The Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the first operational fighter aircraft with Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing capabilities, enters service with the Royal Air Force. Read more
• 1964 — The British Admiralty, War Office and Air Ministry are replaced by a unified Defence Council of the United Kingdom. Read more
• 1960 — The TIROS-1 satellite transmits the first television picture from space. Read more
• 1955 — The EOKA rebellion against the British Empire begins in Cyprus, with the goal of unifying with Greece. Read more
• 1954 — United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower authorizes the creation of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Read more
• 1949 — The Government of Canada repeals Japanese-Canadian internment after seven years. Read more
• 1948 — Cold War: Communist forces respond to the introduction of the Deutsche Mark by attempting to force the western powers to withdraw from Berlin. Read more
• 1948 — Faroe Islands gain autonomy from Denmark. Read more
• 1947 — The only mutiny in the history of the Royal New Zealand Navy begins. Read more
• 1946 — The 8.6 Mw Aleutian Islands earthquake shakes the Aleutian Islands with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VI (Strong). A destructive tsunami reaches the Hawaiian Islands resulting in dozens of deaths, mostly in Hilo, Hawaii. Read more
• 1946 — The Malayan Union is established. Protests from locals led to the establishment of the Federation of Malaya two years later. Read more
• 1945 — World War II: The Tenth United States Army attacks the Thirty-Second Japanese Army on Okinawa. Read more
• 1944 — World War II: Navigation errors lead to an accidental American bombing of the Swiss city of Schaffhausen. Read more
• 1941 — Fântâna Albă massacre: Between two hundred and two thousand Romanian civilians are killed by Soviet Border Troops. Read more
• 1941 — A military coup in Iraq overthrows the regime of 'Abd al-Ilah and installs Rashid Ali al-Gaylani as Prime Minister. Read more
• 1939 — Spanish Civil War: Generalísimo Francisco Franco of the Spanish State announces the end of the Spanish Civil War, when the last of the Republican forces surrender. Read more
• 1937 — Aden becomes a British crown colony. Read more
• 1937 — The Royal New Zealand Air Force is formed as an independent service. Read more
• 1935 — India's central banking institution, the Reserve Bank of India, is formed. Read more
• 1933 — The recently elected Nazis under Julius Streicher organize a one-day boycott of all Jewish-owned businesses in Germany, ushering in a series of anti-Semitic acts. Read more
• 1924 — Adolf Hitler is sentenced to five years fortress confinement for his participation in the "Beer Hall Putsch" but spends only nine months in jail. Read more
• 1924 — The Royal Canadian Air Force is formed. Read more
• 1922 — In newly formed Northern Ireland, six Catholics are murdered in the Arnon Street killings, one week after six others were killed in the McMahon killings. Read more
• 1918 — The Royal Air Force is created by the merger of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service. Read more
• 1908 — The Territorial Force (renamed Territorial Army in 1920) is formed as a volunteer reserve component of the British Army. Read more
• 1900 — Prince George becomes absolute monarch of the Cretan State. Read more
• 1873 — The White Star steamer SS Atlantic sinks off Nova Scotia, killing 547 in one of the worst marine disasters of the 19th century. Read more
• 1867 — Singapore becomes a British crown colony. Read more
• 1865 — American Civil War: Union troops led by Philip Sheridan decisively defeat Confederate troops led by George Pickett, cutting the Army of Northern Virginia's last supply line during the Siege of Petersburg. Read more
• 1833 — The Convention of 1833, a political gathering of settlers in Mexican Texas to help draft a series of petitions to the Mexican government, begins in San Felipe de Austin. Read more
• 1789 — In New York City, the United States House of Representatives achieves its first quorum and elects Frederick Muhlenberg of Pennsylvania as its first Speaker. Read more
• 1725 — J. S. Bach's later Easter Oratorio in its first version is performed at the Nikolaikirche in Leipzig on Easter Sunday. Read more
• 1572 — In the Eighty Years' War, the Watergeuzen capture Brielle from the Seventeen Provinces, gaining the first foothold on land for what would become the Dutch Republic. Read more
• 1081 — Alexios I Komnenos overthrows the Byzantine emperor Nikephoros III Botaneiates, and, after his troops spend three days extensively looting Constantinople, is formally crowned on April 4. Read more
• 527 — Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne. Read more
• 285 — Roman emperor Diocletian names Maximian his co-emperor ("Augustus"). Read more

Born on April 1

• 2000 — Rhian Brewster, English footballer Read more
• 1999 — Gabe Davis, American football player Read more
• 1998 — King Combs, American rapper Read more
• 1998 — Mitchell Robinson, American basketball player Read more
• 1997 — Asa Butterfield, English actor Read more
• 1997 — Álex Palou, Spanish racing driver Read more
• 1996 — Sophia Hutchins, American socialite Read more
• 1995 — Jofra Archer, Barbadian-English cricketer Read more
• 1995 — Logan Paul, American YouTuber, actor and wrestler Read more
• 1992 — Deng Linlin, Chinese gymnast Read more
• 1991 — Duván Zapata, Colombian footballer Read more
• 1990 — Julia Fischer, German discus thrower Read more
• 1989 — Jan Blokhuijsen, Dutch speed skater Read more
• 1989 — David Ngog, French footballer Read more
• 1989 — Christian Vietoris, German racing driver Read more
• 1988 — Brook Lopez, American basketball player Read more
• 1988 — Robin Lopez, American basketball player Read more
• 1987 — Vitorino Antunes, Portuguese footballer Read more
• 1987 — Ding Junhui, Chinese professional snooker player Read more
• 1987 — Gianluca Musacci, Italian footballer Read more
• 1987 — Oliver Turvey, English racing driver Read more
• 1986 — Nikolaos Kourtidis, Greek weightlifter Read more
• 1986 — Hillary Scott, American country singer-songwriter Read more
• 1985 — Daniel Murphy, American baseball player Read more
• 1985 — Beth Tweddle, English gymnast Read more
• 1984 — Gilberto Macena, Brazilian footballer Read more
• 1983 — Ólafur Ingi Skúlason, Icelandic footballer Read more
• 1983 — Sean Taylor, American football player (died 2007) Read more
• 1982 — Taran Killam, American actor, voice artist, comedian, and writer Read more
• 1982 — Andreas Thorkildsen, Norwegian javelin thrower Read more
• 1981 — Antonis Fotsis, Greek basketball player Read more
• 1981 — Bjørn Einar Romøren, Norwegian ski jumper Read more
• 1980 — Dennis Kruppke, German footballer Read more
• 1980 — Randy Orton, American wrestler Read more
• 1980 — Bijou Phillips, American actress and model Read more
• 1979 — Ruth Beitia, Spanish high jumper Read more
• 1978 — Antonio de Nigris, Mexican footballer (died 2009) Read more
• 1978 — Mirka Federer, Slovak-Swiss tennis player Read more
• 1978 — Anamaria Marinca, Romanian-English actress Read more
• 1978 — Etan Thomas, American basketball player Read more

Died on April 1

• 2025 — Val Kilmer, American actor (born 1959) Read more
• 2025 — Johnny Tillotson, American singer-songwriter (born 1938) Read more
• 2024 — Lou Conter, American naval commander (born 1921) Read more
• 2024 — Vontae Davis, American football player (born 1988) Read more
• 2024 — Joe Flaherty, American actor, writer, and comedian (born 1941) Read more
• 2024 — Sami Michael, Iraqi-born Israeli writer and human rights activist (born 1926) Read more
• 2024 — Ed Piskor, American comic book artist (born 1982) Read more
• 2024 — Mohammad Reza Zahedi, Iranian senior military officer (born 1960) Read more
• 2019 — Vonda N. McIntyre, American science fiction author (born 1948) Read more
• 2018 — Steven Bochco, American television writer and producer (born 1943) Read more
• 2017 — Lonnie Brooks, American blues singer and guitarist (born 1933) Read more
• 2017 — Yevgeny Yevtushenko, Soviet and Russian poet and writer (born 1932) Read more
• 2015 — Nicolae Rainea, Romanian footballer and referee (born 1933) Read more
• 2014 — King Fleming, American pianist and bandleader (born 1922) Read more
• 2014 — Jacques Le Goff, French historian and author (born 1924) Read more
• 2014 — Rolf Rendtorff, German theologian and academic (born 1925) Read more
• 2013 — Moses Blah, Liberian general and politician, 23rd President of Liberia (born 1947) Read more
• 2013 — Karen Muir, South African swimmer and physician (born 1952) Read more
• 2012 — Lionel Bowen, Australian soldier, lawyer, and politician, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia (born 1922) Read more
• 2012 — Giorgio Chinaglia, Italian-American soccer player and radio host (born 1947) Read more
• 2012 — Miguel de la Madrid, Mexican banker, academic, and politician, 52nd President of Mexico (born 1934) Read more
• 2010 — John Forsythe, American actor (born 1918) Read more
• 2010 — Tzannis Tzannetakis, Greek soldier and politician, 175th Prime Minister of Greece (born 1927) Read more
• 2006 — In Tam, Cambodian general and politician, 26th Prime Minister of Cambodia (born 1916) Read more
• 2005 — Paul Bomani, Tanzanian politician and diplomat, 1st Tanzanian Minister of Finance (b 1925) Read more
• 2005 — Robert Coldwell Wood, American political scientist and academic (born 1923) Read more
• 2004 — Ioannis Kyrastas, Greek footballer and manager (born 1952) Read more
• 2004 — Carrie Snodgress, American actress (born 1945) Read more
• 2003 — Leslie Cheung, Hong Kong singer-songwriter and actor (born 1956) Read more
• 2002 — Simo Häyhä, Finnish soldier and sniper (born 1905) Read more
• 2001 — Trịnh Công Sơn, Vietnamese guitarist and composer (born 1939) Read more
• 1999 — Jesse Stone, American pianist, songwriter, and producer (born 1901) Read more
• 1998 — Rozz Williams, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1963) Read more
• 1997 — Makar Honcharenko, Ukrainian footballer and manager (born 1912) Read more
• 1996 — Mário Viegas, Portuguese actor and poetry reciter (born 1948) Read more
• 1995 — H. Adams Carter, American mountaineer, journalist, and educator (born 1914) Read more
• 1995 — Francisco Moncion, Dominican American ballet dancer, choreographer, charter member of the New York City Ballet (born 1918) Read more
• 1995 — Lucie Rie, Austrian-English potter (born 1902) Read more
• 1994 — Robert Doisneau, French photographer (born 1912) Read more
• 1993 — Alan Kulwicki, American race car driver (born 1954) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Cellach of Armagh; Christian feast day: Hugh of Grenoble; Christian feast day: Frederick Denison Maurice (Church of England); Christian feast day: Mary of Egypt; Christian feast day: Melito of Sardis; Christian feast day: Tewdrig; Christian feast day: Theodora; Christian feast day: Walric, abbot of Leuconay; Christian feast day: April 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); April Fools' Day; Odisha Day (Odisha, India); Arbor Day (Tanzania); Civil Service Day (Thailand); Cyprus National Day (Cyprus); Edible Book Day; Fossil Fools Day; Kha b-Nisan, the Assyrian New Year (Assyrian people)

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