On This Day in History — April 13

Highlights of April 13

• 2017 — War in Afghanistan: In an airstrike in Nangarhar Province, the U.S. military dropped the most powerful conventional bomb used in combat. Read more
• 2011 — The board of Rosendale, New York, voted 3–2 to approve the purchase of Joppenbergh Mountain. Read more
• 2009 — Twenty-three people died in a fire at a homeless hostel in Kamień Pomorski; it was Poland's deadliest fire since 1980. Read more
• 2009 — Andrew Hussie's webcomic Homestuck debuted, and later concluded on the same day in 2016. Read more
• 1997 — In golf, 21-year-old Tiger Woods became the youngest player to win the Masters Tournament, breaking the record for the lowest four-round score. Read more
• 1996 — An Israel Defense Forces helicopter fired rockets at an ambulance, killing two women and four children in Mansouri, Lebanon. Read more
• 1976 — Forty people died in an explosion at an ammunition factory in Lapua, Finland. Read more
• 1973 — Catch a Fire, the landmark reggae album by Bob Marley and the Wailers, was released. Read more
• 1958 — In the midst of the Cold War, American pianist Van Cliburn won the inaugural International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Read more
• 1956 — The Vietnamese National Army captured Ba Cụt, a military commander of the religious sect Hòa Hảo, which ran a de facto state in South Vietnam in opposition to Prime Minister Ngô Đình Diệm. Read more
• 1953 — Ian Fleming's novel Casino Royale was published as the first work to feature the British spy character James Bond. Read more
• 1953 — The CIA began Project MKUltra, an illegal, covert human research program into mind control. Read more
• 1946 — Nakam, a Jewish organization seeking revenge for the Holocaust, attempted to poison thousands of SS prisoners at Langwasser internment camp, but did not kill anyone. Read more
• 1943 — The Neoclassical Jefferson Memorial (pictured) in Washington, D.C., was formally dedicated on the 200th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson's birth. Read more
• 1943 — World War II: German news announced the discovery of a mass grave of Polish prisoners of war killed by Soviet forces in Katyn, Russia, causing a diplomatic rift between the Polish government-in-exile and the Soviet Union. Read more
• 1942 — Austrian soldier Anton Schmid was executed for rescuing Jews from the Ponary massacre in Vilnius. Read more
• 1930 — C. Rajagopalachari led the non-violent Vedaranyam March from Trichinopoly towards Vedaranyam. Read more
• 1829 — The Roman Catholic Relief Act received royal assent, removing the most substantial restrictions on Catholics in the United Kingdom. Read more
• 1777 — American Revolutionary War: British and Hessian forces conducted a surprise attack against a Continental Army outpost at Bound Brook, New Jersey. Read more
• 1742 — The first performance of the oratorio Messiah by George Frideric Handel (pictured) took place in Dublin. Read more

Events

• 2025 — Rory McIlroy wins the Masters Tournament, becoming just the sixth person to complete the Grand Slam in golf. Read more
• 2024 — Six people and the perpetrator are killed and twelve others injured in a mass stabbing at Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre in Sydney, Australia. Read more
• 2023 — The house of Jack Teixeira is raided in an investigation into leaked Pentagon documents; he is arrested on the same day. Read more
• 2014 — Three people are killed in a shooting in Overland Park, Kansas. Read more
• 2013 — Salam Fayyad resigns as Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority following an ongoing dispute with President Mahmoud Abbas. Read more
• 2013 — Lion Air Flight 904 crashes on approach to Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, Indonesia, injuring 40 people. Read more
• 2009 — A fire destroys a homeless hostel and kills at least 22 people in Kamień Pomorski, Poland. Read more
• 2006 — The United Front for Democratic Change's attack on the Chadian capital of N'Djamena is repelled by the Chadian army Read more
• 1997 — Tiger Woods becomes the youngest golfer to win the Masters Tournament. Read more
• 1996 — Two women and four children are killed after an Israeli helicopter fires rockets at an ambulance in Mansouri, Lebanon. Read more
• 1976 — The United States Treasury Department reintroduces the two-dollar bill as a Federal Reserve Note on Thomas Jefferson's 233rd birthday as part of the United States Bicentennial celebration. Read more
• 1976 — Forty workers die in the Lapua Cartridge Factory explosion, the deadliest industrial accident in modern Finnish history. Read more
• 1975 — Beirut bus massacre: A confrontation between Phalangist paramilitaries and PLO militia marks the start of the 15-year Lebanese Civil War. Read more
• 1972 — The Universal Postal Union decides to recognize the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate Chinese representative, effectively expelling the Republic of China administering Taiwan. Read more
• 1972 — Vietnam War: The Battle of An Lộc begins. Read more
• 1970 — At 10:08 PM EST an oxygen tank aboard the Apollo 13 Service Module explodes, putting the crew in great danger and causing major damage to the Apollo command and service module (codenamed "Odyssey") while en route to the Moon. Read more
• 1964 — At the Academy Awards, Sidney Poitier becomes the first African-American man to win the Best Actor award for the 1963 film Lilies of the Field. Read more
• 1960 — The United States launches Transit 1-B, the world's first satellite navigation system. Read more
• 1953 — CIA director Allen Dulles launches the mind-control program Project MKUltra. Read more
• 1948 — In an ambush, 78 Jewish doctors, nurses and medical students from Hadassah Hospital, and a British soldier, are massacred by Arabs in Sheikh Jarrah. This event came to be known as the Hadassah medical convoy massacre. Read more
• 1945 — World War II: German troops kill more than 1,000 political and military prisoners in Gardelegen, Germany. Read more
• 1945 — World War II: Soviet and Bulgarian forces capture Vienna. Read more
• 1943 — World War II: The discovery of mass graves of Polish prisoners of war killed by Soviet forces in the Katyń Forest Massacre is announced, causing a diplomatic rift between the Polish government-in-exile in London and the Soviet Union, which denies responsibility. Read more
• 1943 — The Jefferson Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C., on the 200th anniversary of President Thomas Jefferson's birth. Read more
• 1941 — A pact of neutrality between the USSR and Japan is signed. Read more
• 1924 — A.E.K., a major Greek multi-sport club, is established in Athens by Greek refugees from Constantinople. Read more
• 1919 — Jallianwala Bagh massacre: British Indian Army troops led by Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer kill approximately 379–1,000 unarmed demonstrators including men and women in Amritsar, India. Approximately 1,500 are injured. Read more
• 1909 — The 31 March Incident leads to the overthrow of Sultan Abdul Hamid II. Read more
• 1873 — The Colfax massacre: More than 60 to 150 black men are murdered in Colfax, Louisiana, while surrendering to a mob of former Confederate soldiers and members of the Ku Klux Klan. Read more
• 1870 — The New York City Metropolitan Museum of Art is founded. Read more
• 1865 — American Civil War: Raleigh, North Carolina is occupied by Union forces. Read more
• 1861 — American Civil War: Union forces surrender Fort Sumter to Confederate forces. Read more
• 1849 — Lajos Kossuth presents the Hungarian Declaration of Independence in a closed session of the National Assembly. Read more
• 1829 — The Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 gives Roman Catholics in the United Kingdom the right to vote and to sit in Parliament. Read more
• 1777 — American Revolutionary War: American forces are ambushed and defeated in the Battle of Bound Brook, New Jersey. Read more
• 1742 — George Frideric Handel's oratorio Messiah makes its world premiere in Dublin, Ireland. Read more
• 1699 — The Sikh religion is formalised as the Khalsa – the brotherhood of Warrior-Saints – by Guru Gobind Singh in northern India, in accordance with the Nanakshahi calendar. Read more
• 1613 — Samuel Argall, having captured Pocahontas in Passapatanzy, Virginia, sets off with her to Jamestown with the intention of exchanging her for English prisoners held by her father. Read more
• 1612 — Samurai Miyamoto Musashi defeats Sasaki Kojirō in a duel at Funajima island. Read more
• 1455 — Thirteen Years' War: the beginning of the Battle for Kneiphof. Read more
• 1204 — Constantinople falls to the Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade, temporarily ending the Byzantine Empire. Read more
• 1175 — Saladin routs his Muslim opponents, the Zengids, in the battle of the Horns of Hama, consolidating his control over Syria except for Aleppo. Read more
• 1111 — Henry V, King of Germany, is crowned Holy Roman Emperor by pope Paschal II. Read more
• 1055 — Election of Pope Victor II following the death of Pope Leo IX in the previous year. Read more
• 989 — The death of Bardas Phokas the Younger in the battle of Abydos ends his second rebellion against Byzantine Emperor Basil II. Read more

Born on April 13

• 2002 — Karl Hein, Estonian footballer Read more
• 2001 — Neco Williams, Welsh footballer Read more
• 2000 — Rasmus Dahlin, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
• 2000 — Facundo Torres, Uruguayan footballer Read more
• 1999 — Alessandro Bastoni, Italian footballer Read more
• 1999 — András Schäfer, Hungarian footballer Read more
• 1997 — Mateo Cassierra, Colombian footballer Read more
• 1997 — Kyle Walker-Peters, English footballer Read more
• 1996 — Marko Grujić, Serbian footballer Read more
• 1994 — Kahraba, Egyptian footballer Read more
• 1993 — Melvin Gordon, American football player Read more
• 1993 — Darrun Hilliard, American basketball player Read more
• 1992 — Jordan Silk, Australian cricketer Read more
• 1991 — Josh Gordon, American football player Read more
• 1989 — Josh Reynolds, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1988 — Allison Williams, American actress and singer Read more
• 1988 — Anderson, Brazilian footballer Read more
• 1987 — Steven De Vuyst, Belgian politician Read more
• 1986 — Lorenzo Cain, American baseball player Read more
• 1984 — Anders Lindegaard, Danish footballer Read more
• 1983 — Claudio Bravo, Chilean footballer Read more
• 1983 — Hunter Pence, American baseball player Read more
• 1982 — Nellie McKay, British-American singer-songwriter, musician, and actress Read more
• 1982 — Ty Dolla Sign, American singer, songwriter, and musician Read more
• 1980 — Kelli Giddish, American actress Read more
• 1980 — Quentin Richardson, American basketball player Read more
• 1979 — Baron Davis, American basketball player Read more
• 1978 — Carles Puyol, Spanish footballer Read more
• 1977 — Margus Tsahkna, Estonian lawyer and politician Read more
• 1976 — Jonathan Brandis, American actor (died 2003) Read more
• 1976 — Dan Campbell, American football player and coach Read more
• 1976 — Glenn Howerton, American actor Read more
• 1975 — Lou Bega, German singer Read more
• 1973 — Bokeem Woodbine, American actor Read more
• 1972 — Aaron Lewis, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
• 1971 — Franck Esposito, French swimmer Read more
• 1971 — Danie Mellor, Australian painter and sculptor Read more
• 1971 — Bo Outlaw, American basketball player Read more
• 1970 — Ricky Schroder, American actor Read more
• 1967 — Dana Barros, American basketball player and coach Read more

Died on April 13

• 2026 — Moya Brennan, Irish singer-songwriter and harp player (born 1952) Read more
• 2026 — Dave McGinnis, American football player and coach (born 1951) Read more
• 2025 — Richard Armitage, American diplomat and government official (born 1945) Read more
• 2025 — Mario Vargas Llosa, Peruvian novelist and writer, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1936) Read more
• 2025 — Jean Marsh, English actress and screenwriter (born 1934) Read more
• 2024 — Faith Ringgold, American artist and author (born 1930) Read more
• 2022 — Michel Bouquet, French stage and film actor (born 1925) Read more
• 2022 — Gloria Parker, American musician and bandleader (born 1921) Read more
• 2018 — Art Bell, American radio host (born 1945) Read more
• 2017 — Dan Rooney, American football executive and former United States Ambassador to Ireland (born 1932) Read more
• 2015 — Eduardo Galeano, Uruguayan journalist and author (born 1940) Read more
• 2015 — Günter Grass, German novelist, poet, playwright, and illustrator, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1927) Read more
• 2015 — Herb Trimpe, American author and illustrator (born 1939) Read more
• 2014 — Ernesto Laclau, Argentinian-Spanish philosopher and theorist (born 1935) Read more
• 2014 — Michael Ruppert, American journalist and author (born 1951) Read more
• 2013 — Stephen Dodgson, English composer and educator (born 1924) Read more
• 2012 — Cecil Chaudhry, Pakistani pilot, academic, and activist (born 1941) Read more
• 2012 — Shūichi Higurashi, Japanese illustrator (born 1936) Read more
• 2008 — John Archibald Wheeler, American physicist and academic (born 1911) Read more
• 2006 — Muriel Spark, Scottish novelist, poet, and critic (born 1918) Read more
• 2005 — Johnnie Johnson, American pianist and songwriter (born 1924) Read more
• 2005 — Phillip Pavia, American painter and sculptor (born 1912) Read more
• 2004 — Caron Keating, Northern Irish television host (born 1962) Read more
• 2000 — Giorgio Bassani, Italian author and poet (born 1916) Read more
• 2000 — Frenchy Bordagaray, American baseball player and manager (born 1910) Read more
• 1999 — Ortvin Sarapu, Estonian-New Zealand chess player and author (born 1924) Read more
• 1999 — Willi Stoph, German engineer and politician, 2nd Prime Minister of East Germany (born 1914) Read more
• 1998 — Patrick de Gayardon, French skydiver and base jumper (born 1960) Read more
• 1997 — Bryant Bowles, American soldier and white supremacist, founded the National Association for the Advancement of White People (born 1920) Read more
• 1997 — Alan Cooley, Australian public servant (born 1920) Read more
• 1997 — Dorothy Frooks, American author and actress (born 1896) Read more
• 1997 — Voldemar Väli, Estonian wrestler (born 1903) Read more
• 1996 — Leila Mackinlay, English author and educator (born 1910) Read more
• 1993 — Wallace Stegner, American novelist, short story writer, and essayist (born 1909) Read more
• 1992 — Maurice Sauvé, Canadian economist and politician (born 1923) Read more
• 1992 — Feza Gürsey, Turkish mathematician and physicist (born 1921) Read more
• 1992 — Daniel Pollock, Australian actor (born 1968) Read more
• 1988 — Jean Gascon, Canadian actor and director (born 1920) Read more
• 1984 — Ralph Kirkpatrick, American harpsichordist and musicologist (born 1911) Read more
• 1984 — Dionysis Papagiannopoulos, Greek actor (born 1912) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Caradoc; Christian feast day: Ida of Louvain; Christian feast day: Pope Martin I; Christian feast day: Margaret of Castello; Christian feast day: Sabás Reyes Salazar; April 13 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Songkran Songkran (Thailand); Songkran Water-Sprinkling Festival; Vaisakhi (between 1902 and 2011)

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