The first Earth Day is celebrated.

Earth Day, celebrated every year on April 22, is a global event dedicated to raising awareness about environmental issues and promoting sustainable practices. It began in 1970, sparked by growing public concern over pollution and ecological degradation, and has since evolved into a worldwide movement with over a billion participants across more than 190 countries. The day serves as a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to protect the planet—from reducing plastic waste and conserving energy to supporting climate action and biodiversity. Each year, Earth Day is centered around a specific theme; for example, recent themes have focused on restoring ecosystems, investing in our planet, and cutting carbon emissions. It’s more than just a celebration—it’s a call to action to rethink how we live and how our choices impact the environment.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 47 relating to Kashmir conflict is adopted.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 47, adopted on April 21, 1948, is a pivotal document in the history of the Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan. It followed the earlier Resolution 38 and was aimed at de-escalating tensions that had erupted after the partition of British India in 1947, which led to the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir becoming a contested region. Resolution 47 called for Pakistan to withdraw all its nationals and tribal fighters from the territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and for India to reduce its military presence to a minimum level necessary to maintain law and order. After these steps, the resolution proposed that a plebiscite be held under United Nations auspices to allow the people of Jammu and Kashmir to determine whether they wanted to join India or Pakistan. The resolution also established the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) to mediate and ensure compliance. However, due to mutual distrust and differing interpretations of the withdrawal process, the conditions outlined in the resolution were never fully implemented, leaving the conflict unresolved and the region divided to this day.

Louis Pasteur and Claude Bernard complete the experiment disproving the theory of spontaneous generation.

The theory of spontaneous generation was an early scientific hypothesis proposing that life could arise from non-living matter without any biological precursor. Rooted in ancient philosophy, it was widely accepted for centuries, with thinkers like Aristotle suggesting that creatures like maggots, frogs, or mice could originate from decaying meat, mud, or grain, respectively. This theory persisted largely due to observational misinterpretations—people saw life seemingly emerge from inert substances and assumed it was created spontaneously. However, the theory began to unravel with experiments by scientists like Francesco Redi in the 17th century, who demonstrated that maggots only appeared on meat when flies could access it. It was ultimately disproved by Louis Pasteur in the 19th century through his famous swan-neck flask experiments, which showed that sterilized broth remained free of microbial life unless exposed to contaminants in the air. This pivotal moment helped establish the germ theory of life and laid the foundation for modern microbiology.

In Ireland, O’Doherty’s Rebellion is launched by the Burning of Derry.

O’Doherty’s Rebellion in 1608 was a brief yet significant uprising in early 17th-century Ireland, led by Sir Cahir O’Doherty, the Gaelic lord of Inishowen in County Donegal. Initially loyal to the English Crown and even knighted for his service, O’Doherty turned against the English authorities due to mounting grievances—particularly the mistreatment he suffered at the hands of Sir George Paulet, the governor of Derry. The rebellion began with a dramatic act: the burning of the city of Derry and the killing of Paulet. Though initially successful, the uprising was quickly crushed by English forces. O’Doherty himself was killed at the Battle of Kilmacrennan, and his head was gruesomely displayed in Dublin as a warning. The rebellion, though short-lived, marked the final flicker of organized Gaelic resistance in Ulster and paved the way for the Plantation of Ulster, a major colonial project that reshaped the region’s demographic and political landscape.

The cornerstone of the current St. Peter’s Basilica is laid.
St. Peter’s Basilica, located in Vatican City, is one of the most iconic and architecturally significant churches in the world. Built over the tomb of Saint Peter—the apostle considered the first pope—the basilica stands as a symbol of the Catholic Church’s spiritual authority and grandeur. Its construction, which spanned over a century (1506–1626), brought together some of the greatest artists and architects of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, including Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Michelangelo’s majestic dome dominates the Roman skyline, while Bernini’s colonnaded St. Peter’s Square welcomes pilgrims and tourists alike. Inside, the basilica houses countless masterpieces, including Michelangelo’s “Pietà” and the ornate Baldacchino over the high altar. Beyond its religious importance, the basilica is a monumental testament to human creativity, ambition, and devotion.

The Ellis Island immigration center processes 11,747 people, more than on any other day.

Ellis Island, located in New York Harbor, served as the primary immigration station for the United States from 1892 to 1954, processing over 12 million immigrants during its peak years. Often referred to as the “Gateway to America,” it was the first stop for hopeful newcomers seeking better lives, particularly from Europe. Immigrants underwent rigorous medical and legal inspections, and while the vast majority were admitted, some faced detention or deportation. The island is historically significant not just as a point of entry, but as a symbol of American diversity and opportunity, with many U.S. citizens today tracing their ancestry back to those who passed through its halls. Now part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, Ellis Island houses a museum that preserves and shares this rich immigration legacy.

Virginia Tech shooting: Seung-Hui Cho guns down 32 people and injures 17 before committing suicide.

The 2007 Virginia Tech shooting was one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history, occurring on April 16, 2007, in Blacksburg, Virginia. A student named Seung-Hui Cho, a 23-year-old senior at the university, carried out the attack in two separate incidents on campus, first at a dormitory and later inside a classroom building. Armed with two semi-automatic pistols, Cho killed 32 people and injured 17 others before taking his own life. The massacre exposed serious gaps in campus security and mental health intervention systems, as Cho had previously exhibited disturbing behavior and was known to campus authorities. In the aftermath, the tragedy sparked nationwide debates about gun control, mental health services, and emergency response protocols on college campuses. Virginia Tech has since made extensive changes to improve campus safety and crisis management procedures.

Foundation of the short-lived Kingdom of Corsica.

The Kingdom of Corsica was a short-lived and rather quirky experiment in monarchy that existed briefly in 1736. It was established when Theodore von Neuhoff, a German adventurer and diplomat, landed on the island with promises of foreign aid and support against Genoese rule. The Corsicans, frustrated with years of oppression, proclaimed Theodore as King Theodore I, hoping he would lead them to independence. While he did manage to rally support and initiate reforms, his reign was plagued by a lack of sustained military and financial backing. Within eight months, facing pressure from Genoese forces and internal discontent, Theodore was forced to flee. He tried several times to regain the throne but failed, eventually dying penniless in London. Despite its brief existence, the Kingdom of Corsica remains a fascinating episode of idealism, opportunism, and rebellion in European history.

President Abraham Lincoln is shot in Ford’s Theatre by John Wilkes Booth; He dies the following day.

The assassination of Abraham Lincoln occurred on the night of April 14, 1865, just days after the end of the American Civil War, marking a pivotal and tragic moment in U.S. history. Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth, a well-known actor and Confederate sympathizer, while attending a play—Our American Cousin—at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Booth slipped into the presidential box and shot Lincoln in the back of the head with a .44 caliber derringer pistol. After the shooting, he leapt onto the stage and escaped, despite breaking his leg in the process. Lincoln was carried across the street to a boarding house, where he died the following morning. Booth’s motive was rooted in his outrage over the South’s defeat and Lincoln’s stance on abolition. The assassination shocked the nation and derailed the process of post-war reconciliation, plunging the country into deeper political and racial turmoil during the fragile beginnings of Reconstruction.

During the Vietnam War, The Battle of An L?c begins.

The Battle of An L?c began in early April 1972 as part of the larger North Vietnamese Easter Offensive during the Vietnam War. Situated about 90 miles north of Saigon, An L?c became a strategic target for the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN), who aimed to seize the town to pave the way for a direct assault on the South Vietnamese capital. The battle kicked off when PAVN forces launched a massive artillery barrage and quickly followed with a multi-division ground assault. Their objective was clear: overwhelm the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and cut off the main highway supply route, Highway 13. Despite being outnumbered and encircled, ARVN troops—supported heavily by U.S. air power, including B-52 bombers and close air support—mounted a fierce and determined defense. What began as a sudden offensive quickly turned into a brutal siege, marking the start of one of the most intense and pivotal battles of the war.