1912⚡ Event
RMS Titanic sinks
The RMS Titanic sinks in the North Atlantic Ocean after colliding with an iceberg, killing over 1,500 passengers and crew.
disaster
April 15 – April 21 in History
DayFacts Week 16 · 7 days
This recurring calendar span contains 109 historical entries in the DayFacts collection. The sections below preview entries from these 7 days; use the date links to open each date collection.
Selected Anniversaries
25th Anniversary
Bangladesh–India border skirmishes
25th Anniversary
Shanti Dope
25th Anniversary
Shin Ryujin
Explore the Date Pages
Historical Events (April 15 – April 21)(20)
1923⚡ Event
Insulin becomes widely available for diabetics
Commercial production of insulin expands, marking a turning point in the treatment of diabetes during the early 1920s.
medicinescience
1948⚡ Event
Organisation for European Economic Co-operation founded
The Organisation for European Economic Co-operation was established in Paris.
politicseconomics
1958⚡ Event
First West Coast MLB Game
On Walter O'Malley's initiative, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants played the first Major League Baseball game on the U.S. West Coast.
sports
1963⚡ Event
Letter from Birmingham Jail
In response to white clergymen, Martin Luther King Jr. penned the Letter from Birmingham Jail, defending nonviolent resistance against racism.
lawpolitics
1970⚡ Event
Hutt River Province Declared Independent
In response to a dispute over wheat production quotas, Leonard Casley declared his farm in Western Australia to be an independent country. He named it the Hutt River Province.
politicseconomics
1973⚡ Event
George Lucas begins writing Star Wars treatment
George Lucas began writing a 13-page film treatment that would later form the basis of the Star Wars saga.
entertainmentartsliterature
1975⚡ Event
Launch of Aryabhata Satellite
India's first satellite, Aryabhata, was launched on April 18, 1975. The launch took place from Kapustin Yar in the Soviet Union.
spacesciencetechnology
1975⚡ Event
Khmer Rouge capture Phnom Penh
The Khmer Rouge captured Phnom Penh, ending the Cambodian Civil War and establishing the socialist state of Democratic Kampuchea.
warpolitics
1975⚡ Event
South Vietnamese President Resigns
South Vietnamese president Nguyễn Văn Thiệu resigned on hearing of the fall of Xuân Lộc. This marked the last battle of the Vietnam War.
politicswar
1980⚡ Event
Robert Mugabe Becomes Prime Minister of Zimbabwe
Robert Mugabe became the first prime minister of Zimbabwe on April 18, 1980. His leadership marked the beginning of a 37-year period in power.
politics
1984⚡ Event
Advance Australia Fair Becomes National Anthem
"Advance Australia Fair", written by Scottish-born composer Peter Dodds McCormick, officially replaced "God Save the Queen" as Australia's national anthem.
politicsmusic
1984⚡ Event
Yvonne Fletcher killed outside Libyan embassy
Metropolitan Police officer Yvonne Fletcher was shot and killed during a protest outside the Libyan embassy in London. This led to an 11-day siege and a breakdown in relations between Libya and the UK.
politicslaw
1987⚡ Event
The Simpsons' First Appearance
The fictional Simpson family made their first appearance in the short "Good Night", aired in a segment of The Tracey Ullman Show.
Source: The Simpsons shortsSource link checked
entertainment
1989⚡ Event
USS Iowa Gun Turret Explosion
A gun turret exploded on board the United States Navy battleship Iowa, killing 47 sailors.
wardisaster
1996⚡ Event
Qana Shelling During Operation Grapes of Wrath
On April 18, 1996, Israeli forces shelled Qana, Lebanon, during Operation Grapes of Wrath. The attack on a United Nations compound killed at least 100 civilians.
warpolitics
1999⚡ Event
Columbine High School massacre
Students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold carried out a massacre at Columbine High School, resulting in 13 deaths before they committed suicide.
disasterlaw
2001⚡ Event
Bangladesh–India border skirmishes
India and Bangladesh engaged in a six-day conflict over their disputed border, which concluded in a stalemate.
war
2004⚡ Event
Nicoll Highway MRT station tunnel collapse
An incomplete tunnel leading to the Nicoll Highway MRT station in Singapore collapsed, causing four deaths and necessitating the station's relocation.
disastertechnology
2008⚡ Event
Danica Patrick wins Indy Japan 300
American racing driver Danica Patrick won the Indy Japan 300, becoming the first woman to win an IndyCar auto race.
sportsentertainment
Births (April 15 – April 21)(15)
1452🎂 Birth
Leonardo da Vinci born
Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci is born in Anchiano, Republic of Florence. He becomes the archetype of the Renaissance man.
artsscience
1993🎂 Birth
Chance the Rapper
Chance the Rapper is an American rapper.
musicentertainment
1998🎂 Birth
Anna Odine Strøm
Anna Odine Strøm is a Norwegian ski jumper and a two-time Olympic champion.
sports
1998🎂 Birth
Jarrett Allen
Jarrett Allen, an American basketball player, was born.
sports
1998🎂 Birth
Suppapong Udomkaewkanjana (Saint)
Suppapong Udomkaewkanjana, known as Saint, is a Thai actor and singer.
entertainmentmusic
1999🎂 Birth
Sebastian Kris Born
Sebastian Kris, Australian-New Zealand rugby league player, was born.
sports
1999🎂 Birth
Choi Hyun-suk
Choi Hyun-suk, a South Korean rapper, was born.
entertainmentmusic
2001🎂 Birth
Dalton Knecht Born
Dalton Knecht, American basketball player, was born.
sports
Deaths (April 15 – April 21)(15)
1865🕊️ Death
Abraham Lincoln dies
The 16th President of the United States dies from an assassin's bullet at Petersen House in Washington, D.C.
politicswarmilitary
2014🕊️ Death
Guru Dhanapal
Indian director and producer died on April 18, 2014. He was born in 1959.
entertainment
2015🕊️ Death
Freddie Gray Dies in Police Custody
Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old African American, died of injuries sustained while in the custody of the Baltimore Police Department.
politicslaw
2017🕊️ Death
Ugo Ehiogu
Ugo Ehiogu, an English footballer born in 1972, has died.
sports
2018🕊️ Death
Barbara Bush
Barbara Bush, former First Lady of the United States, died on April 17, 2018. She was known for her advocacy for literacy and was born in 1925.
politicslaw
2018🕊️ Death
Carl Kasell
Carl Kasell, an American radio personality, died on April 17, 2018. He was born in 1934.
entertainmentmusic
2018🕊️ Death
Nabi Tajima
Nabi Tajima, a Japanese supercentenarian born in 1900, has died.
2019🕊️ Death
Lyra McKee
Irish journalist died on April 18, 2019. She was born in 1990.
literature
2021🕊️ Death
Walter Mondale
Walter Mondale, an American politician and former Vice President, has died. He was born in 1928.
politics
2022🕊️ Death
Bilquis Edhi
Bilquis Edhi, Pakistani philanthropist and wife of Abdul Sattar Edhi, has died.
2022🕊️ Death
Henry Plumb
Henry Plumb, British politician and farmer, has died.
politics
2024🕊️ Death
Antonio Cantafora
Antonio Cantafora was an Italian film and television actor.
entertainment