# What happened on April 1 in history?

**Date:** April 1  
**Events recorded:** 57  
**Years spanned:** 285 – 2026  
**Full page:** https://thisday.info/events/april/1/

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## Featured Event

**1989** — Margaret Thatcher's new local government tax, the Community Charge (commonly known as the "poll tax"), is introduced in Scotland.

[Read more on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Thatcher)

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## Events on this date

- **285** — Roman emperor Diocletian names Maximian his co-emperor ("Augustus"). ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_emperor))
- **527** — Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Byzantine_emperors))
- **1081** — Alexios I Komnenos overthrows the Byzantine emperor Nikephoros III Botaneiates, and, after his troops spend three days extensively looting Constantinople, is formally crowned on April 4. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexios_I_Komnenos))
- **1572** — In the Eighty Years' War, the Watergeuzen capture Brielle from the Seventeen Provinces, gaining the first foothold on land for what would become the Dutch Republic. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighty_Years'_War))
- **1725** — J. S. Bach's later Easter Oratorio in its first version is performed at the Nikolaikirche in Leipzig on Easter Sunday. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Sebastian_Bach))
- **1789** — In New York City, the United States House of Representatives achieves its first quorum and elects Frederick Muhlenberg of Pennsylvania as its first Speaker. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives))
- **1833** — The Convention of 1833, a political gathering of settlers in Mexican Texas to help draft a series of petitions to the Mexican government, begins in San Felipe de Austin. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_of_1833))
- **1865** — American Civil War: Union troops led by Philip Sheridan decisively defeat Confederate troops led by George Pickett, cutting the Army of Northern Virginia's last supply line during the Siege of Petersburg. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War))
- **1867** — Singapore becomes a British crown colony. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore))
- **1873** — The White Star steamer SS Atlantic sinks off Nova Scotia, killing 547 in one of the worst marine disasters of the 19th century. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Star_Line))
- **1900** — Prince George becomes absolute monarch of the Cretan State. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_George_of_Greece_and_Denmark))
- **1908** — The Territorial Force (renamed Territorial Army in 1920) is formed as a volunteer reserve component of the British Army. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territorial_Force))
- **1918** — The Royal Air Force is created by the merger of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Air_Force))
- **1922** — In newly formed Northern Ireland, six Catholics are murdered in the Arnon Street killings, one week after six others were killed in the  McMahon killings. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Ireland))
- **1924** — Adolf Hitler is sentenced to five years fortress confinement for his participation in the "Beer Hall Putsch" but spends only nine months in jail. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler))
- **1924** — The Royal Canadian Air Force is formed. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Canadian_Air_Force))
- **1933** — The recently elected Nazis under Julius Streicher organize a one-day boycott of all Jewish-owned businesses in Germany, ushering in a series of anti-Semitic acts. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazism))
- **1935** — India's central banking institution, the Reserve Bank of India, is formed. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserve_Bank_of_India))
- **1937** — Aden becomes a British crown colony. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aden))
- **1937** — The Royal New Zealand Air Force is formed as an independent service. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_New_Zealand_Air_Force))
- **1939** — Spanish Civil War: Generalísimo Francisco Franco of the Spanish State announces the end of the Spanish Civil War, when the last of the Republican forces surrender. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generalissimo))
- **1941** — Fântâna Albă massacre: Between two hundred and two thousand Romanian civilians are killed by Soviet Border Troops. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%A2nt%C3%A2na_Alb%C4%83_massacre))
- **1941** — A military coup in Iraq overthrows the regime of 'Abd al-Ilah and installs Rashid Ali al-Gaylani as Prime Minister. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1941_Iraqi_coup_d'%C3%A9tat))
- **1944** — World War II: Navigation errors lead to an accidental American bombing of the Swiss city of Schaffhausen. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II))
- **1945** — World War II: The Tenth United States Army attacks the Thirty-Second Japanese Army on Okinawa. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenth_United_States_Army))
- **1946** — The 8.6 Mw Aleutian Islands earthquake shakes the Aleutian Islands with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VI (Strong). A destructive tsunami reaches the Hawaiian Islands resulting in dozens of deaths, mostly in Hilo, Hawaii. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1946_Aleutian_Islands_earthquake))
- **1946** — The Malayan Union is established. Protests from locals led to the establishment of the Federation of Malaya two years later. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malayan_Union))
- **1947** — The only mutiny in the history of the Royal New Zealand Navy begins. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1947_Royal_New_Zealand_Navy_mutinies))
- **1948** — Cold War: Communist forces respond to the introduction of the Deutsche Mark by attempting to force the western powers to withdraw from Berlin. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War))
- **1948** — Faroe Islands gain autonomy from Denmark. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faroe_Islands))
- **1949** — The Government of Canada repeals Japanese-Canadian internment after seven years. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Canada))
- **1954** — United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower authorizes the creation of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_D._Eisenhower))
- **1955** — The EOKA rebellion against the British Empire begins in Cyprus, with the goal of unifying with Greece. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EOKA))
- **1960** — The TIROS-1 satellite transmits the first television picture from space. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_Infrared_Observation_Satellite))
- **1964** — The British Admiralty, War Office and Air Ministry are replaced by a unified Defence Council of the United Kingdom. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admiralty_(United_Kingdom)))
- **1969** — The Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the first operational fighter aircraft with Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing capabilities, enters service with the Royal Air Force. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Siddeley_Harrier))
- **1970** — President Richard Nixon signs the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act into law. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Nixon))
- **1970** — A Royal Air Maroc Sud Aviation Caravelle crashes near Berrechid, Morocco, killing 61. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Air_Maroc))
- **1971** — Bangladesh Liberation War: The Pakistan Army massacre more than a thousand people in Keraniganj Upazila, Bangladesh. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh_Liberation_War))
- **1973** — Project Tiger, a tiger conservation project, is launched in the Jim Corbett National Park, India. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Tiger))
- **1974** — The Local Government Act 1972 of England and Wales comes into effect. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Government_Act_1972))
- **1976** — Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak found Apple Computer, Inc. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jobs))
- **1979** — Iran becomes an Islamic republic by a 99% vote, officially overthrowing the Shah. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran))
- **1984** — Singer Marvin Gaye is shot to death by his father in his home in Arlington Heights, Los Angeles, California. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Gaye))
- **1986** — Communist Party of Nepal (Mashal) cadres attack a number of police stations in Kathmandu, seeking to incite a popular rebellion. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_Nepal_(Mashal)))
- **1989** — Margaret Thatcher's new local government tax, the Community Charge (commonly known as the "poll tax"), is introduced in Scotland. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Thatcher))
- **1993** — NASCAR champion Alan Kulwicki is killed in a plane crash near the Tri-Cities Regional Airport in Blountville, Tennessee. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASCAR))
- **1997** — Comet Hale–Bopp is seen passing at perihelion. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_Hale%E2%80%93Bopp))
- **1999** — Nunavut is established as a Canadian territory carved out of the eastern part of the Northwest Territories. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nunavut))
- **2001** — An EP-3E United States Navy surveillance aircraft collides with a Chinese People's Liberation Army Shenyang J-8 fighter jet. The Chinese pilot ejected but is subsequently lost. The Navy crew makes an emergency landing in Hainan, China and is detained. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_EP-3))
- **2001** — Former President of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milošević surrenders to police special forces, to be tried on war crimes charges. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Yugoslavia))
- **2001** — Same-sex marriage becomes legal in the Netherlands, the first contemporary country to allow it. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_the_Netherlands))
- **2004** — Google launches its Email service Gmail. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google))
- **2006** — Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) of the Government of the United Kingdom is enforced, but later merged into National Crime Agency on 7 October 2013. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serious_Organised_Crime_Agency))
- **2011** — After protests against the burning of the Quran turn violent, a mob attacks a United Nations compound in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, resulting in the deaths of fourteen people, including seven UN workers. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dove_World_Outreach_Center_Quran-burning_controversy))
- **2016** — The 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict begins along the Nagorno-Karabakh Line of Contact. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Nagorno-Karabakh_conflict))
- **2026** — The Artemis II lunar flyby mission launches, marking the first crewed flight above low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_II))

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## Notable births on April 1

- **2000** — **Rhian Brewster** — English footballer ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhian_Brewster))
- **1999** — **Gabe Davis** — American football player ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabe_Davis))
- **1998** — **King Combs** — American rapper ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Combs))
- **1998** — **Mitchell Robinson** — American basketball player ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitchell_Robinson))
- **1997** — **Asa Butterfield** — English actor ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asa_Butterfield))
- **1997** — **Álex Palou** — Spanish racing driver ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%81lex_Palou))
- **1996** — **Sophia Hutchins** — American socialite ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_Hutchins))
- **1995** — **Jofra Archer** — Barbadian-English cricketer ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jofra_Archer))
- **1995** — **Logan Paul** — American YouTuber, actor and wrestler ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logan_Paul))
- **1992** — **Deng Linlin** — Chinese gymnast ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deng_Linlin))

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## Notable deaths on April 1

- **2025** — **Val Kilmer** — American actor (born 1959) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val_Kilmer))
- **2025** — **Johnny Tillotson** — American singer-songwriter (born 1938) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Tillotson))
- **2024** — **Lou Conter** — American naval commander (born 1921) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Conter))
- **2024** — **Vontae Davis** — American football player (born 1988) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vontae_Davis))
- **2024** — **Joe Flaherty** — American actor, writer, and comedian (born 1941) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Flaherty))
- **2024** — **Sami Michael** — Iraqi-born Israeli writer and human rights activist (born 1926) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sami_Michael))
- **2024** — **Ed Piskor** — American comic book artist (born 1982) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Piskor))
- **2024** — **Mohammad Reza Zahedi** — Iranian senior military officer (born 1960) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Reza_Zahedi))
- **2019** — **Vonda N. McIntyre** — American science fiction author (born 1948) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vonda_N._McIntyre))
- **2018** — **Steven Bochco** — American television writer and producer (born 1943) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Bochco))

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## About this page

This is a machine-readable Markdown summary of [thisday.info/events/april/1/](https://thisday.info/events/april/1/).  
Historical data is sourced from [Wikipedia/Wikimedia](https://www.wikipedia.org) under [CC BY-SA](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/).  
Editorial framing and site content © thisday.info.