This Day In History

On April 22, 1993, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum opened in Washington, DC — a building so deliberately unsettling in its design that its…

On April 21, 1926, at 2:40 in the morning, a baby girl was born at 17 Bruton Street in London’s upscale Mayfair neighborhood — and almost no one expected her to ever wear a crown. That child, Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, would go on to become the longest-reigning monarch in British history.

On April 20, 1918, Manfred von Richthofen—known around the world as the Red Baron—shot down his 80th enemy aircraft, setting a record for World War I. Within a day, his remarkable career would come to an abrupt end, cementing his place as the war’s most recognized flying ace.

The first-ever Boson Marathon was run on April 19, 1897. It’s the world’s oldest annual marathon and is one of the six World Marathon Majors. While the first race included 15 runners, recent races have seen over 30,000 participants.

On April 15, 1926, Charles Lindbergh made his first airmail flight, launching a new contract route between Chicago and St. Louis. Just over a year later, that same young pilot would become world famous—but on this morning, he was focused on carrying the mail safely and on schedule.

On April 9, 1921, Postmaster General Will H. Hays took an extraordinary step: he ordered the arming of postal workers who handled the nation’s most valuable mail. The order came after a sharp rise in armed robberies, when trains, mail cars, and postal employees had become targets for thieves looking for cash, securities, and registered mail.

On March 28, 1876, a Boston inventor received a patent that would transform the way America handled its mail. The Leavitt canceling machine didn’t just speed up a mundane postal task — it helped launch the modern era of mail processing. And it arrived at exactly the right moment.

On February 16, 1909, stamps printed on an experimental bluish paper were issued. These stamps were part of an effort to prevent paper shrinkage.

Renowned playwright, poet, and actor, William Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616, in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. Today, Shakespeare is considered the greatest English writer, England’s national poet and the Bard of Avon.

James Buchanan was born on April 23, 1791, in Cove Gap, Pennsylvania, to Irish immigrants.

Beloved child star and diplomat Shirley Temple was born on April 23, 1928, in Santa Monica, California. Temple starred in over 40 films by the time she was 12, and went on to become the first female ambassador to Czechoslovakia.

On April 23, 1635, the Boston Latin School opened its doors.  It’s America’s oldest school and first public school.