Birth of Jim Beckwourth
James Pierson Beckwith (later Beckwourth) is believed to have been born on April 26, 1798 (or 1800), in Frederick County, Virginia. He was a figure from the old West, serving as a trapper, scout, trader, rancher, and more.
American History
Library of Congress Founded
On April 24, 1800, President John Adams officially established the Library of Congress. It’s America’s oldest federal cultural institution, and one of the largest libraries in the world, with more than 171 million items.
Boston Latin School
On April 23, 1635, the Boston Latin School opened its doors. It’s America’s oldest school and first public school.
The First Earth Day
On April 22, 1970, some 20 million people took part in the first Earth Day in America. Today, the event has spread across the world and is celebrated by more than one billion people.
Spanish-American War Begins
On April 21, 1898, Spain ended diplomatic relations with America and the US Navy established a blockade of Cuba, marking the official start of the Spanish-American War. The war would last less than four months, but saw the downfall of the Spanish Empire and the rise of America as a major world power with several new possessions.
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The first battles of the American Revolutionary War were fought on April 19, 1775 at Lexington and Concord. The American colonists’s brave stand showed the British, and the world, how dedicated they were to the cause of independence.
Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride
On April 18, 1775, Paul Revere took his historic ride to warn the people of Lexington and Concord that the British were coming. It’s one of the most famous tales from the Revolutionary War, popularized and romanticized in a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
American Samoa Ceded to the U.S.
On April 17, 1900, chiefs on the island of Tutuila signed the Treaty of Cession of Tutuila, transferring control of American Samoa to the United States. The US Navy governed the island for half a century before it became self-governing, but remains an unincorporated US territory.
First Woman to Fly Across the English Channel
On April 16, 1912, Harriet Quimby became the first woman to fly across the English Channel. She had a brief, but significant aviation career, becoming a pioneer and inspiration for countless female flyers.