April 2 - The Day in History

April 2 : General Interest
2005: Pope John Paul II Dies

On this day in 2005, John Paul II, history's most well-traveled pope and the first non-Italian to hold the position since the 16th century, dies at his home in the Vatican... read more


American Revolution
1777 : Ebenezer Learned is promoted to brigadier general
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ebenezer-learned--is-promoted-to-brigadier-general

Automotive
1875 : Walter Chrysler born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/walter-chrysler-born

Civil War
1863 : Richmond riots over food shortages
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bread-riots-in-richmond
1865 : Union forces capture Petersburg line
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/union-captures-petersburg-line-and-general-hill-is-killed

Cold War
1989 : Gorbachev begins visit to Cuba
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/gorbachev-begins-visit-to-cuba

Crime
1992 : Mob boss John Gotti convicted of murder
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mob-boss-john-gotti-convicted-of-murder

Disaster
1979 : Anthrax poisoning kills 62 in Russia
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/anthrax-poisoning-kills-62-in-russia

General Interest
1513 : Ponce de Leon discovers Florida
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ponce-de-leon-discovers-florida
1917 : Jeannette Rankin assumes office
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jeannette-rankin-assumes-office
1982 : Argentina invades Falklands
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/argentina-invades-falklands

Hollywood
1972 : Charlie Chaplin prepares for return to United States after two decades
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/charlie-chaplin-prepares-for-return-to-united-states-after-two-decades

Literary
1805 : Hans Christian Andersen is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hans-christian-andersen-is-born

Music
1974 : The Sting sweeps the Oscars and ragtime composer Scott Joplin gets his due
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-sting-sweeps-the-oscars-and-ragtime-composer-scott-joplin-gets-his-due

Old West
1902 : First woman judge dies in Wyoming
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-woman-judge-dies-in-wyoming

Presidential
1917 : Wilson asks for declaration of war
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/wilson-asks-for-declaration-of-war

Sports
1977 : Red Rum wins record third Grand National
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/red-rum-wins-record-third-grand-national

Vietnam War
1972 : North Vietnamese troops capture part of Quang Tri
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/north-vietnamese-troops-capture-part-of-quang-tri
1975 : South Vietnamese evacuation begins at Qui Nhon http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/south-vietnamese-evacuation-begins-at-qui-nhon

World War I
1917 : Woodrow Wilson asks U.S. Congress for declaration of war
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/woodrow-wilson-asks-us-congress-for-declaration-of-war

World War II
1941 : "The Desert Fox" recaptures Libya
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-desert-fox-recaptures-libya