On This Day in History — April 30

Highlights of April 30

• 2021 — A crowd crush killed 45 people during the annual pilgrimage to the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Israel. Read more
• 2014 — A bomb blast in Ürümqi, China, killed three people and injured 79 others. Read more
• 2009 — A Dutch man drove his car at high speed into a parade in an attempt to kill the Dutch royal family. Read more
• 2004 — The New Yorker published an online article and photographs detailing accounts of torture and abuse by American military personnel of Iraqi prisoners held at Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad. Read more
• 2000 — Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun whose apparitions of Jesus inspired the Catholic devotion to the Divine Mercy, was canonized by Pope John Paul II. Read more
• 1994 — Riverdance was performed for the first time, as the interval act for the Eurovision Song Contest. Read more
• 1982 — Sixteen monks and a nun of the Hindu organisation Ananda Marga were beaten to death and set on fire in Calcutta, India. Read more
• 1975 — American forces completed a helicopter evacuation of U.S. citizens, South Vietnamese civilians and others from Saigon, just before North Vietnamese troops captured the city and ended the Vietnam War. Read more
• 1963 — A refusal by the Bristol Omnibus Company and the Transport and General Workers' Union to permit the employment of black bus crews led to a bus boycott in Bristol, England. Read more
• 1945 — World War II: As Allied forces closed in on Berlin, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler committed suicide in the Führerbunker with Eva Braun one day after their marriage. Read more
• 1943 — Second World War: The Royal Navy submarine HMS Seraph began Operation Mincemeat to deceive Germany about the upcoming invasion of Sicily. Read more
• 1927 — The Federal Industrial Institute for Women opened near Alderson, West Virginia, as the first federal prison for women in the United States. Read more
• 1927 — Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford became the first two celebrities to make imprints of their hands and feet in cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. Read more
• 1897 — British physicist J. J. Thomson and his team announce the discovery of the electron. Read more
• 1894 — A crowd of workers, unemployed due to the Panic of 1893, concluded the first significant popular protest march on Washington D.C. Read more
• 1883 — New York governor Grover Cleveland signed legislation that led to the creation of Niagara Falls State Park, the United States' first state park. Read more
• 1803 — The United States purchased France's claim to the Louisiana Territory for 80 million francs, or less than US$.03 per acre ($.07/ha). Read more
• 1789 — George Washington (pictured) took the oath of office as the first president of the United States at Federal Hall in New York City. Read more
• 1006 — SN 1006, the brightest supernova in recorded history, first appeared in the constellation Lupus. Read more
• 313 — Civil wars of the Tetrarchy: An outnumbered army led by Roman emperor Licinius defeated his rival Maximinus II's forces at the Battle of Tzirallum. Read more
• 311 — The Diocletianic Persecution of Christians officially ended in the eastern Roman Empire. Read more

Events

• 2021 — Forty-five men and boys are killed in the Meron stampede in Israel. Read more
• 2014 — A bomb blast in Ürümqi, China kills three people and injures 79 others. Read more
• 2013 — Willem-Alexander is inaugurated as King of the Netherlands following the abdication of Beatrix. Read more
• 2012 — An overloaded ferry capsizes on the Brahmaputra River in India killing at least 108 people. At least 150 more are missing and presumed dead. Read more
• 2009 — Chrysler files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Read more
• 2009 — Seven civilians and the perpetrator are killed and another ten injured at a Queen's Day parade in Apeldoorn, Netherlands in an attempted assassination on Queen Beatrix. Read more
• 2008 — Two skeletal remains found near Yekaterinburg are confirmed by Russian scientists to be the remains of Alexei and Anastasia, two of the children of the last Tsar of Russia, whose entire family was executed at Yekaterinburg by the Bolsheviks. Read more
• 2004 — U.S. media release graphic photos of American soldiers committing war crimes against Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison. Read more
• 2000 — Canonization of Faustina Kowalska in the presence of 200,000 people and the first Divine Mercy Sunday celebrated worldwide. Read more
• 1999 — Neo-Nazi David Copeland carries out the last of his three nail bombings in London at the Admiral Duncan gay pub, killing three people and injuring 79 others. Read more
• 1994 — Formula One racing driver Roland Ratzenberger is killed in a crash during the qualifying session of the San Marino Grand Prix run at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari outside Imola, Italy. Read more
• 1993 — CERN announces World Wide Web protocols will be free. Read more
• 1989 — The Monkseaton shootings occur in Tyne and Wear, England. One is killed and 16 are injured. Read more
• 1982 — The Bijon Setu massacre occurs in Calcutta, India. Read more
• 1980 — Beatrix is inaugurated as Queen of the Netherlands following the abdication of Juliana. Read more
• 1980 — The Iranian Embassy siege begins in London. Read more
• 1979 — Eruption of Mount Marapi: Mount Marapi, a complex volcano on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, erupts. Between 80 and 100 people are killed. Read more
• 1975 — Fall of Saigon: Communist forces gain control of Saigon. The Vietnam War formally ends with the unconditional surrender of South Vietnamese president Dương Văn Minh. Read more
• 1973 — Watergate scandal: U.S. President Richard Nixon fires White House Counsel John Dean; other top aides, most notably H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman, resign. Read more
• 1963 — The Bristol Bus Boycott is held in Bristol to protest the Bristol Omnibus Company's refusal to employ Black or Asian bus crews, drawing national attention to racial discrimination in the United Kingdom. Read more
• 1961 — K-19, the first Soviet nuclear submarine equipped with nuclear missiles, is commissioned. Read more
• 1957 — Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery enters into force. Read more
• 1956 — Former Vice President and Democratic Senator Alben Barkley dies during a speech in Virginia. Read more
• 1948 — In Bogotá, Colombia, the Organization of American States is established. Read more
• 1947 — In Nevada, Boulder Dam is renamed Hoover Dam. Read more
• 1945 — World War II: Führerbunker: Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun commit suicide after being married for less than 40 hours. Read more
• 1945 — World War II: Soviet soldiers raise the first Soviet flag over the Reichstag. The Victory Banner will be raised the next day. Read more
• 1945 — World War II: Stalag Luft I prisoner-of-war camp near Barth, Germany is liberated by Soviet soldiers, freeing nearly 9,000 American and British airmen. Read more
• 1943 — World War II: The British submarine HMS Seraph surfaces near Huelva to cast adrift a dead man dressed as a courier and carrying false invasion plans. Read more
• 1939 — The 1939–40 New York World's Fair opens. Read more
• 1939 — NBC inaugurates its regularly scheduled television service in New York City, broadcasting President Franklin D. Roosevelt's N.Y. World's Fair opening day ceremonial address. Read more
• 1937 — The Commonwealth of the Philippines holds a plebiscite for Filipino women on whether they should be extended the right to suffrage; over 90% would vote in the affirmative. Read more
• 1927 — The Federal Industrial Institute for Women opens in Alderson, West Virginia, as the first women's federal prison in the United States. Read more
• 1925 — Automaker Dodge Brothers, Inc, is sold to Dillon, Read & Co. for US$146 million plus $50 million for charity. Read more
• 1905 — Albert Einstein completes his doctoral thesis at the University of Zurich. Read more
• 1900 — Hawaii becomes a territory of the United States, with Sanford B. Dole as governor. Read more
• 1897 — J. J. Thomson of the Cavendish Laboratory announces his discovery of the electron as a subatomic particle, over 1,800 times smaller than a proton (in the atomic nucleus), at a lecture at the Royal Institution in London. Read more
• 1885 — Governor of New York David B. Hill signs legislation creating the Niagara Reservation, New York's first state park, ensuring that Niagara Falls will not be devoted solely to industrial and commercial use. Read more
• 1871 — The Camp Grant massacre takes place in Arizona Territory. Read more
• 1864 — American Civil War: Confederate forces led by General E. Kirby Smith attack federal troops retreating across the Saline at Jenkins' Ferry, Arkansas. Read more
• 1863 — A 65-man French Foreign Legion infantry patrol fights a force of nearly 2,000 Mexican soldiers to nearly the last man in Hacienda Camarón, Mexico. Read more
• 1859 — Charles Dickens publishes the first edition of his literary magazine, All the Year Round, containing the first installment of his best-selling classic, A Tale of Two Cities. Read more
• 1838 — Nicaragua declares independence from the Central American Federation. Read more
• 1812 — The Territory of Orleans becomes the 18th U.S. state under the name Louisiana. Read more
• 1803 — Louisiana Purchase: The United States purchases the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million, more than doubling the size of the young nation. Read more
• 1789 — On the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York City, George Washington takes the oath of office to become the first President of the United States. Read more
• 1636 — Eighty Years' War: Dutch Republic forces recapture a strategically important fort from Spain after a nine-month siege. Read more
• 1598 — Juan de Oñate begins the conquest of Santa Fe de Nuevo México. Read more
• 1598 — Henry IV of France issues the Edict of Nantes, allowing freedom of religion to the Huguenots. Read more
• 1513 — Edmund de la Pole, Yorkist pretender to the English throne, is executed on the orders of Henry VIII. Read more
• 1492 — Spain gives Christopher Columbus his commission of exploration. He is named admiral of the ocean sea, viceroy and governor of any territory he discovers. Read more
• 1315 — Enguerrand de Marigny is hanged at the instigation of Charles, Count of Valois. Read more
• 1305 — Roger de Flor, leader of the mercenary Catalan Company, is murdered, leading to widespread pillaging by the mercenaries in Thrace. Read more
• 311 — The Diocletianic Persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire ends. Read more

Born on April 30

• 2003 — Emily Carey, British actress Read more
• 2003 — Jung Yun-seok, South Korean actor Read more
• 2002 — Anna Cramling, Spanish-Swedish chess player Read more
• 2002 — Teden Mengi, English footballer Read more
• 2000 — Yui Hiwatashi, Japanese singer Read more
• 2000 — Dean James, Indonesian footballer Read more
• 1999 — Jorden van Foreest, Dutch chess grandmaster Read more
• 1999 — Krit Amnuaydechkorn, Thai actor and singer Read more
• 1998 — Georgina Amorós, Spanish actress Read more
• 1997 — Adam Ryczkowski, Polish footballer Read more
• 1996 — Luke Friend, English singer Read more
• 1994 — Chae Seo-jin, South Korean actress Read more
• 1994 — Wang Yafan, Chinese tennis player Read more
• 1993 — Dion Dreesens, Dutch swimmer Read more
• 1993 — Martin Fuksa, Czech canoeist Read more
• 1992 — Marcel Bauer, German politician Read more
• 1992 — Goodnight Chicken, Taiwanese YouTuber Read more
• 1992 — Marc-André ter Stegen, German footballer Read more
• 1991 — Chris Kreider, American ice hockey player Read more
• 1991 — Travis Scott, American rapper and producer Read more
• 1990 — Jonny Brownlee, English triathlete Read more
• 1990 — Mac DeMarco, Canadian singer-songwriter Read more
• 1990 — Kaarel Kiidron, Estonian footballer Read more
• 1990 — Paula Ribó, Spanish singer-songwriter and actress Read more
• 1989 — Jang Wooyoung, South Korean singer and actor Read more
• 1988 — Andy Allen, Australian chef Read more
• 1988 — Sander Baart, Dutch field hockey player Read more
• 1988 — Ana de Armas, Cuban actress Read more
• 1988 — Liu Xijun, Chinese singer Read more
• 1988 — Oh Hye-ri, South Korean taekwondo athlete Read more
• 1987 — Alipate Carlile, Australian footballer Read more
• 1987 — Chris Morris, South African cricketer Read more
• 1987 — Rohit Sharma, Indian cricketer Read more
• 1986 — Dianna Agron, American actress and singer Read more
• 1986 — Martten Kaldvee, Estonian biathlete Read more
• 1985 — Brandon Bass, American basketball player Read more
• 1985 — Gal Gadot, Israeli actress and model Read more
• 1985 — Ashley Alexandra Dupré, American journalist, singer, and prostitute Read more
• 1984 — Seimone Augustus, American basketball player Read more
• 1984 — Shawn Daivari, American wrestler and manager Read more

Died on April 30

• 2024 — Paul Auster, American writer and film director (born 1947) Read more
• 2023 — Jock Zonfrillo, Scottish television presenter and chef (born 1976) Read more
• 2022 — Naomi Judd, American singer-songwriter and actress (born 1946) Read more
• 2022 — Mino Raiola, Italian football agent (born 1967) Read more
• 2021 — Anthony Payne, English composer (born 1936) Read more
• 2020 — Tony Allen, Nigerian drummer and composer (born 1940) Read more
• 2020 — Rishi Kapoor, Indian actor, film director and producer (born 1952) Read more
• 2019 — Peter Mayhew, English-American actor (born 1944) Read more
• 2017 — Belchior, Brazilian singer and composer (born 1946) Read more
• 2016 — Daniel Berrigan, American priest and activist (born 1921) Read more
• 2016 — Harry Kroto, English chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1939) Read more
• 2015 — Ben E. King, American singer-songwriter and producer (born 1938) Read more
• 2014 — Khaled Choudhury, Indian painter and set designer (born 1919) Read more
• 2014 — Julian Lewis, English biologist and academic (born 1946) Read more
• 2014 — Carl E. Moses, American businessman and politician (born 1929) Read more
• 2014 — Ian Ross, Australian journalist (born 1940) Read more
• 2013 — Roberto Chabet, Filipino painter and sculptor (born 1937) Read more
• 2013 — Shirley Firth, Canadian skier (born 1953) Read more
• 2013 — Viviane Forrester, French author and critic (born 1925) Read more
• 2012 — Tomás Borge, Nicaraguan poet and politician, co-founded the Sandinista National Liberation Front (born 1930) Read more
• 2012 — Alexander Dale Oen, Norwegian swimmer (born 1985) Read more
• 2012 — Giannis Gravanis, Greek footballer (born 1958) Read more
• 2012 — Benzion Netanyahu, Russian-Israeli historian and academic (born 1910) Read more
• 2011 — Dorjee Khandu, Indian politician, 6th Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh (born 1955) Read more
• 2011 — Evald Okas, Estonian painter (born 1915) Read more
• 2011 — Ernesto Sabato, Argentinian physicist, author, and painter (born 1911) Read more
• 2009 — Henk Nijdam, Dutch cyclist (born 1935) Read more
• 2008 — Juancho Evertsz, Dutch Antillean politician (born 1923) Read more
• 2007 — Kevin Mitchell, American football player (born 1971) Read more
• 2007 — Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk, Inuk writer (born 1931) Read more
• 2007 — Tom Poston, American actor, comedian, and game show panelist (born 1921) Read more
• 2007 — Gordon Scott, American film and television actor (born 1926) Read more
• 2006 — Jean-François Revel, French philosopher (born 1924) Read more
• 2006 — Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Indonesian author and academic (born 1925) Read more
• 2005 — Phil Rasmussen, American lieutenant and pilot (born 1918) Read more
• 2003 — Mark Berger, American economist and academic (born 1955) Read more
• 2003 — Possum Bourne, New Zealand race car driver (born 1956) Read more
• 2002 — Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, German philanthropist, founded the Gründerzeit Museum (born 1928) Read more
• 2000 — Poul Hartling, Danish politician, 36th Prime Minister of Denmark (born 1914) Read more
• 1998 — Nizar Qabbani, Syrian-English poet, publisher, and diplomat (born 1926) Read more

Holidays & observances

Armed Forces Day (Georgia); Camarón Day (French Foreign Legion); Children's Day (Mexico); Christian feast day: Adjutor; Christian feast day: Aimo; Christian feast day: Amator, Peter and Louis; Christian feast day: Donatus of Evorea; Christian feast day: Eutropius of Saintes; Christian feast day: Marie Guyart (Anglican Church of Canada and Catholic Church); Christian feast day: Maximus of Rome; Christian feast day: Blessed Miles Gerard; Christian feast day: Pomponius of Naples; Christian feast day: Pope Pius V; Christian feast day: Quirinus of Neuss; Christian feast day: Sarah Josepha Hale (Episcopal Church); Christian feast day: Suitbert the Younger; Christian feast day: April 30 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Consumer Protection Day (Thailand); Honesty Day (United States); International Jazz Day (UNESCO); Martyrs' Day (Pakistan); May Eve, the eve of the first day of summer in the Northern hemisphere (see May 1): Beltane begins at sunset in the Northern hemisphere, Samhain begins at sunset in the Southern hemisphere. (Neo-Druidic Wheel of the Year); May Eve, the eve of the first day of summer in the Northern hemisphere (see May 1): Walpurgis Night (Central and Northern Europe); National Persian Gulf Day (Iran); Reunification Day (Vietnam); Rincon Day (Bonaire); Russian State Fire Service Day (Russia); Teachers' Day (Paraguay)

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