Home › Almanac › On This Day

On This Day in History — April 6

‹ April 5 The Almanac April 7 ›

Jump to a date

Highlights of April 6

2026 — During the Artemis II mission, the Orion made its closest approach to the far side of the Moon and reached its greatest distance from Earth . Read more
2018 — A bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos collided with a semi-truck, killing 16 and injuring 13. Read more
2012 — The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad unilaterally declared the region of Azawad independent from Mali. Read more
2011 — Mexican drug war: Authorities discovered 59 bodies in clandestine mass graves linked to earlier bus hijackings in San Fernando, Tamaulipas. Read more
2010 — Naxalite–Maoist insurgency: Insurgents from the Communist Party of India (Maoist) ambushed a Central Reserve Police Force convoy in Dantewada district, India, killing 76 officers. Read more
2009 — An earthquake measuring 6.3 Mw struck near L'Aquila in the central Italian region of Abruzzo, killing 308 people and leaving more than 66,000 homeless. Read more
2009 — Mass protests began across Moldova against the results of the parliamentary election. Read more
2005 — Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani was elected by the National Assembly as the first non-Arab president of Iraq. Read more
2004 — Lithuanian president Rolandas Paksas became the first European head of state to be removed from office by impeachment. Read more
1994 — The aircraft carrying Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana and Burundian president Cyprien Ntaryamira was shot down in Kigali; the event became the catalyst for the Rwandan genocide. Read more
1974 — ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest representing Sweden with the song "Waterloo". Read more
1970 — Four California Highway Patrol officers were killed in a shootout following a traffic stop in Newhall, north of Los Angeles. Read more
1945 — Second World War: The Battle of Slater's Knoll on Bougainville Island concluded with a decisive victory for the Australian Army's 7th Brigade against the Imperial Japanese Army's 6th Division. Read more
1941 — World War II: The Luftwaffe began Operation Retribution, bombing the Yugoslav capital of Belgrade in retaliation for a coup d'état that overthrew the government that had signed the Tripartite Pact. Read more
1941 — World War II: German forces invaded Greece and Yugoslavia. Read more
1926 — Varney Air Lines made its first commercial flight (flight covers pictured), later forming the basis of United Airlines. Read more
1830 — Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and others formally organized the Church of Christ, starting the Latter Day Saint movement. Read more
1812 — Peninsular War: After a three-week siege, the Anglo-Portuguese Army, under the Earl of Wellington, captured Badajoz, Spain, and forced the surrender of the French garrison. Read more
1809 — Napoleonic Wars: British forces captured the French frigate Niémen in the Bay of Biscay. Read more
1808 — John Jacob Astor founded the American Fur Company, the profits from which made him the first multi-millionaire in the United States. Read more
1776 — American Revolutionary War: Ships of the Continental Navy unsuccessfully attempted to capture HMS Glasgow near Block Island. Read more
1712 — A group of 23 slaves in New York City revolted, setting fire to a building, but were soon recaptured. Read more
1652 — Dutch sailor Jan van Riebeeck landed at Table Bay in southern Africa, establishing a settlement that later became known as Cape Town. Read more

Events

2026 — The crew of Artemis II makes the first crewed circumlunar flight since Apollo 17 in 1972, returning humanity to the Moon's vicinity and breaking Apollo 13's record by ~4,000 miles as the furthest crewed spaceflight. Read more
2018 — A bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos junior ice hockey team collides with a semi-truck in Saskatchewan, Canada, killing 16 people and injuring 13 others. Read more
2017 — U.S. military launches 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at an air base in Syria. Russia describes the strikes as an "aggression", adding they significantly damage US-Russia ties. Read more
2012 — Azawad declares itself independent from the Republic of Mali. Read more
2011 — In San Fernando, Tamaulipas, Mexico, over 193 victims of Los Zetas were exhumed from several mass graves. Read more
2010 — Maoist rebels kill 76 CRPF officers in Dantewada district, India. Read more
2009 — A 6.3 magnitude earthquake strikes near L'Aquila, Italy, killing 307. Read more
2008 — The 2008 Egyptian general strike starts led by Egyptian workers later to be adopted by April 6 Youth Movement and Egyptian activists. Read more
2005 — Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani becomes Iraqi president; Shiite Arab Ibrahim al-Jaafari is named premier the next day. Read more
2004 — Rolandas Paksas becomes the first president of Lithuania to be peacefully removed from office by impeachment. Read more
1998 — Nuclear weapons testing: Pakistan tests medium-range missiles capable of reaching India. Read more
1997 — In Greene County, Tennessee, the Lillelid murders occur. Read more
1994 — The Rwandan genocide begins when the aircraft carrying Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana and Burundian president Cyprien Ntaryamira is shot down. Read more
1992 — The Bosnian War begins. Read more
1985 — Sudanese President Gaafar Nimeiry is ousted from power in a coup d'état led by Field Marshal Abdel Rahman Swar al-Dahab. Read more
1984 — Members of Cameroon's Republican Guard unsuccessfully attempt to overthrow the government headed by Paul Biya. Read more
1974 — In Brighton, United Kingdom, ABBA wins the 1974 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with "Waterloo", the first of a joint-record seven Swedish wins. Read more
1974 — The first California Jam festival takes place at the Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California. Co-headlined by Deep Purple and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The festival set what were then records for the loudest amplification system ever installed, the highest paid attendance, and highest gross in history. Read more
1973 — Launch of Pioneer 11 spacecraft. Read more
1973 — The American League of Major League Baseball begins using the designated hitter. Read more
1972 — Vietnam War: Easter Offensive: American forces begin sustained air strikes and naval bombardments. Read more
1970 — Newhall massacre: Four California Highway Patrol officers are killed in a shootout. Read more
1968 — In the downtown district of Richmond, Indiana, a double explosion kills 41 and injures 150. Read more
1968 — Pierre Elliott Trudeau wins the Liberal Party leadership election, and becomes Prime Minister of Canada soon afterward. Read more
1965 — Launch of Early Bird, the first commercial communications satellite to be placed in geosynchronous orbit. Read more
1958 — Capital Airlines Flight 67 crashes in Tittabawassee Township, Michigan, near Freeland Tri-City Airport, killing 47. Read more
1957 — The flag carrier airline of Greece for decades, Olympic Airways, is founded by Aristotle Onassis following the acquisition of "TAE - Greek National Airlines". Read more
1948 — The Finno-Soviet Treaty is signed in Moscow. Read more
1947 — The first Tony Awards are presented for theatrical achievement. Read more
1945 — World War II: Sarajevo is liberated from German and Croatian forces by the Yugoslav Partisans. Read more
1945 — World War II: The Battle of Slater's Knoll on Bougainville comes to an end. Read more
1941 — World War II: Nazi Germany launches Operation 25 (the invasion of Kingdom of Yugoslavia) and Operation Marita (the invasion of Greece). Read more
1936 — Tupelo–Gainesville tornado outbreak: Another tornado from the same storm system as the Tupelo tornado hits Gainesville, Georgia, killing 203. Read more
1930 — At the end of the Salt March, Gandhi raises a lump of mud and salt and declares, "With this, I am shaking the foundations of the British Empire." Read more
1929 — Huey P. Long, Governor of Louisiana, is impeached by the Louisiana House of Representatives. Read more
1926 — Varney Airlines makes its first commercial flight (Varney is the root company of United Airlines). Read more
1918 — Finnish Civil War: The battle of Tampere ends. Read more
1917 — World War I: The United States declares war on Germany. Read more
1911 — During the Battle of Deçiq, Dedë Gjon Luli Dedvukaj, leader of the Malësori Albanians, raises the Albanian flag in the town of Tuzi, Montenegro, for the first time after George Kastrioti (Skanderbeg). Read more
1909 — Robert Peary and Matthew Henson become the first people to reach the North Pole; Peary's claim has been disputed because of failings in his navigational ability. Read more
1896 — In Athens, the opening of the first modern Olympic Games is celebrated, 1,500 years after the original games are banned by Roman emperor Theodosius I. Read more
1866 — The Grand Army of the Republic, an American patriotic organization composed of Union veterans of the American Civil War, is founded. It lasts until 1956. Read more
1865 — American Civil War: The Battle of Sailor's Creek: Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia fights and loses its last major battle while in retreat from Richmond, Virginia, during the Appomattox Campaign. Read more
1862 — American Civil War: The Battle of Shiloh begins: In Tennessee, forces under Union General Ulysses S. Grant meet Confederate troops led by General Albert Sidney Johnston. Read more
1860 — The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, later renamed Community of Christ, is organized by Joseph Smith III and others at Amboy, Illinois. Read more
1841 — U.S. President John Tyler is sworn in, two days after having become president upon William Henry Harrison's death. Read more
1830 — Church of Christ, the original church of the Latter Day Saint movement, is organized by Joseph Smith and others at either Fayette or Manchester, New York. Read more
1814 — Nominal beginning of the Bourbon Restoration; anniversary date that Napoleon abdicates and is exiled to Elba. Read more
1812 — British forces under the command of the Duke of Wellington assault the fortress of Badajoz. This would be the turning point in the Peninsular War against Napoleon-led France. Read more
1808 — John Jacob Astor incorporates the American Fur Company, that would eventually make him America's first millionaire. Read more
1800 — The Treaty of Constantinople establishes the Septinsular Republic, the first autonomous Greek state since the Fall of the Byzantine Empire. (Under the Old Style calendar then still in use in the Ottoman Empire, the treaty was signed on 21 March.) Read more
1793 — During the French Revolution, the Committee of Public Safety becomes the executive organ of the republic. Read more
1782 — King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (Rama I) of Siam (modern day Thailand) establishes the Chakri dynasty. Read more
1776 — American Revolutionary War: Ships of the Continental Navy fail in their attempt to capture a Royal Navy dispatch boat. Read more
1712 — The New York Slave Revolt of 1712 begins near Broadway. Read more
1652 — At the Cape of Good Hope, Dutch sailor Jan van Riebeeck establishes a resupply camp that eventually becomes Cape Town. Read more
1580 — One of the largest earthquakes recorded in the history of England, Flanders, or Northern France, takes place. Read more
1453 — Mehmed II begins his siege of Constantinople. The city falls on May 29 and is renamed Istanbul. Read more
1320 — The Scots reaffirm their independence by signing the Declaration of Arbroath. Read more
945 — Byzantine Emperor Constantine VII crowns his son Romanos II as co-emperor. Read more

Born on April 6

2009 — Shaylee Mansfield, deaf American actress and YouTuber Read more
2009 — Valentina Tronel, French child singer Read more
2002 — Andrea Botez, Canadian-American chess player, commentator, Twitch streamer and YouTuber Read more
2002 — Leyre Romero Gormaz, Spanish tennis player Read more
2001 — Oscar Piastri, Australian racing driver Read more
2001 — Moritz Seider, German ice hockey player Read more
2000 — Shaheen Afridi, Pakistani cricketer Read more
2000 — Maxence Lacroix, French footballer Read more
1998 — Nicolás González, Argentine footballer Read more
1998 — Peyton List, American actress and model Read more
1998 — Spencer List, American actor Read more
1998 — Nahuel Molina, Argentine footballer Read more
1997 — Mingyu, South Korean singer and rapper Read more
1996 — Al-Musrati, Libyan footballer Read more
1995 — Darya Lebesheva, Belarusian tennis player Read more
1994 — Adrián Alonso, Mexican actor Read more
1992 — Ken, South Korean singer Read more
1992 — Julie Ertz, American soccer player Read more
1992 — Huh Chan-mi, South Korean singer Read more
1990 — Lachlan Coote, Australian rugby league player Read more
1990 — Charlie McDermott, American actor Read more
1990 — Andrei Veis, Estonian footballer Read more
1988 — Jucilei, Brazilian footballer Read more
1988 — Leigh Adams, Australian footballer Read more
1988 — Daniele Gasparetto, Italian footballer Read more
1988 — Carlton Mitchell, American football player Read more
1988 — Fabrice Muamba, Congolese-English footballer Read more
1988 — Ivonne Orsini, Puerto Rican model and television host, Miss World Puerto Rico 2008 Read more
1987 — Benjamin Corgnet, French footballer Read more
1987 — Heidi Mount, American model Read more
1987 — Levi Porter, English footballer Read more
1987 — Hilary Rhoda, American model Read more
1986 — Nikolas Asprogenis, Cypriot footballer Read more
1986 — Aaron Curry, American football player Read more
1986 — Goeido Gotaro, Japanese sumo wrestler Read more
1986 — Ryota Moriwaki, Japanese footballer Read more
1985 — Fatau Dauda, Ghanaian footballer Read more
1985 — Clarke MacArthur, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
1985 — Frank Ongfiang, Cameroonian footballer Read more
1985 — Sinqua Walls, American basketball player and actor Read more

Died on April 6

2026 — Nick Pope, British UFO writer (born 1965) Read more
2025 — Clem Burke, American drummer (born 1954) Read more
2025 — Jay North, American actor (born 1951) Read more
2024 — Joseph E. Brennan, American politician, 70th Governor of Maine (born 1934) Read more
2022 — Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Russian and Soviet politician (born 1946) Read more
2022 — Jill Knight, British politician (born 1923) Read more
2021 — Hans Küng, Swiss Catholic priest, theologian, and author (born 1928) Read more
2021 — Alcee Hastings, American politician (born 1936) Read more
2020 — Al Kaline, American baseball player, broadcaster and executive (born 1934) Read more
2019 — Michael O'Donnell, British physician, journalist, author and broadcaster (born 1928) Read more
2017 — Don Rickles, American actor and comedian (born 1926) Read more
2016 — Merle Haggard, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1937) Read more
2015 — Giovanni Berlinguer, Italian lawyer and politician (born 1924) Read more
2015 — James Best, American actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1926) Read more
2015 — Ray Charles, American singer-songwriter and conductor (born 1918) Read more
2015 — Dollard St. Laurent, Canadian ice hockey player (born 1929) Read more
2014 — Mary Anderson, American actress (born 1918) Read more
2014 — Jacques Castérède, French pianist and composer (born 1926) Read more
2014 — Liv Dommersnes, Norwegian actress (born 1922) Read more
2014 — Mickey Rooney, American soldier, actor, and dancer (born 1920) Read more
2014 — Chuck Stone, American soldier, journalist, and academic (born 1924) Read more
2014 — Massimo Tamburini, Italian motorcycle designer, co-founded Bimota (born 1943) Read more
2013 — Hilda Bynoe, Grenadian physician and politician, 2nd Governor of Grenada (born 1921) Read more
2013 — Bill Guttridge, English footballer and manager (born 1931) Read more
2013 — Bigas Luna, Spanish director and screenwriter (born 1946) Read more
2013 — Ottmar Schreiner, German lawyer and politician (born 1946) Read more
2012 — Roland Guilbault, American admiral (born 1934) Read more
2012 — Thomas Kinkade, American painter and illustrator (born 1958) Read more
2012 — Fang Lizhi, Chinese astrophysicist and academic (born 1936) Read more
2012 — Sheila Scotter, Australian fashion designer and journalist (born 1920) Read more
2012 — Reed Whittemore, American poet and critic (born 1919) Read more
2011 — Gerald Finnerman, American director and cinematographer (born 1931) Read more
2010 — Wilma Mankiller, American tribal leader (born 1945) Read more
2010 — Corin Redgrave, English actor (born 1939) Read more
2009 — J. M. S. Careless, Canadian historian and academic (born 1919) Read more
2009 — Shawn Mackay, Australian rugby player and coach (born 1982) Read more
2007 — Luigi Comencini, Italian director and producer (born 1916) Read more
2006 — Maggie Dixon, American basketball player and coach (born 1977) Read more
2006 — Francis L. Kellogg, American soldier and diplomat (born 1917) Read more
2006 — Stefanos Stratigos, Greek actor and director (born 1926) Read more

Holidays & observances

Chakri Day, commemorating the establishment of the Chakri dynasty. (Thailand); Christian feast day: Albrecht Dürer and Lucas Cranach (Lutheran Church).; Christian feast day: Brychan; Christian feast day: Eutychius of Constantinople; Christian feast day: Galla of Rome; Christian feast day: Marcellinus of Carthage; Christian feast day: Notker the Stammerer; Christian feast day: Blessed Pierina Morosini; Christian feast day: Pope Sixtus I; Christian feast day: April 6 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); International Day of Sport for Development and Peace; National Fisherman Day (Indonesia); New Beer's Eve (United States); Tartan Day (United States & Canada); Waltzing Matilda Day (Australia); International Asexuality Day

More from the Almanac

Sunrise & Sunset Star Transit Moon & Planting Calendars Ancient Measures

Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “April 6”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.