Discover what happened on April 13 in history, along with notable events that shaped sports, space exploration, and cultural milestones.
What Happened on April 13 in History?
From a life-threatening crisis in space to a historic win at Augusta and a groundbreaking Oscar moment, April 13 highlights major achievements and dramatic turning points.
APRIL 13 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1782 – Washington, NC, was incorporated as the first town to be named for George Washington.
1796 – The first elephant to arrive in the United States came from Bengal, India.
1808 – William “Juda” Henry Lane perfected the tap dance.
1860 – The first mail was delivered via Pony Express when a westbound rider arrived in Sacremento, CA from St. Joseph, MO.
1861 – After 34 hours of bombardment, the Union-held Fort Sumter surrendered to Confederates.
1870 – The Metropolitan Museum of Art was founded in New York, NY.
1902 – James C. Penney opened his first store in Kemmerer, WY.
1916 – The first hybrid, seed corn was purchased for 15 cents a bushel by Samuel Ramsay.
1933 – The first flight over Mount Everest was completed by Lord Clydesdale.
1941 – It was a warm spring day in Michigan. Temperatures reached the 80s across lower Michigan. Record highs were set in Detroit (at 87°) and Lansing (at 82°). Grand Rapids set a record high temperature when the thermometer hit 80°.
1942 – A German U-Boat was sunk off the coast of North Carolina.
1943 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC, on the 200th anniversary of President Thomas Jefferson’s birth.
1949 – Philip S. Hench and associates announced that cortizone was an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
1954 – Baseball player Hank Aaron debuted with the Milwaukee Braves.
1954 – Ernie Harwell made his debut as the announcer for the Detroit Tigers at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, MI.
1960 – The first navigational satellite, Transit 1-B, was launched into Earth’s orbit.
1962 – In the U.S., major steel companies rescinded announced price increases. The John F. Kennedy administration had been applying pressure against the price increases.
1963 – Baseball player Pete Rose, of the Cincinnati Reds, got his first hit in the major leagues.
1964 – Sidney Poitier became the first black actor to win an Oscar for Best Actor. It was for his role in the movie “Lilies of the Field.”
1970 – An oxygen tank aboard Apollo 13 exploded, putting the crew in great danger and causing major damage to the spacecraft while en route to the Moon. The explosion prevented a planned Moon landing.
1972 – The first player strike in the history of major league baseball ended. Players had walked off the field 13 days earlier.
1974 – Western Union, in cooperation with NASA and Hughes Aircraft, launched the United States’ first commercial geosynchronous communications satellite, Westar 1.
1976 – The U.S. Treasury Department reintroduced the two-dollar bill as a Federal Reserve Note on Thomas Jefferson’s 233rd birthday as part of the U.S. Bicentennial celebration.
1979 – The world’s longest doubles ping-pong match ended after 101 hours.
1981 – Washington Post reporter Janet Cooke received a Pulitzer Prize for her feature about an 8-year-old heroin addict named “Jimmy.” Cooke relinquished the prize two days later after admitting she had fabricated the story.
1985 – The single “We Are the World” hit #1 in the U.S.
1985 – “The Grand Ole Opry” debuted on television.
1992 – The Great Chicago Flood devastated much of central Chicago, IL.
1997 – Tiger Woods became the youngest person to win the Masters Tournament at the age of 21. He also set a record when he finished at 18 under par.
1998 – NationsBank and BankAmerica announced a $62.5 billion merger, creating the country’s first coast-to-coast bank.
1998 – Dolly, the world’s first cloned sheep, gave natural birth to a healthy baby lamb.
1998 – The television show “The Love Boat” sets sail again, with Robert Urich (replacing Gavin MacLeod) at the helm as Captain Jim Kennedy III.
1999 – In Pontiac, MI, Jack Kervorkian was sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison for the second-degree murder of Thomas Youk. Youk’s assisted suicide was videotaped and shown on “60 Minutes” in 1998.
2000 – Richard Gordon was charged with trying to extort $250,000 from comedian Louie Anderson in exchange for not telling the tabloid media about Anderson once asking him for sex. Gordon was held without bail pending a court hearing.
2000 – Metallica filed suit against Napster, the University of Southern California, Yale University and Indiana University for copyright infringement, unlawful use of digital audio interface device and violations of the Racketeering Influenced & Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
2005 – American terrorist Eric Rudolph pleaded guilty to the bombings at the 1996 Olympics, a gay club and a family planning clinic in Atlanta, GA, and an abortion clinic in Birmingham, AL. Rudolph was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences.
2020 – The U.S. Treasury Department began sending out $1,200 stimulus checks that were part of President Donald Trump’s COVID-19 CARES Act.
2021 – Voice actor Hank Azaria apologized for voicing Indian character Apu on “The Simpsons” for 30 years.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON APRIL 13:
Ruby Puryear Hearn – 86 years old (1940) – African-American biophysicist
Michael Stuart Brown – 85 years old (1941) – Geneticist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
Bill Conti – 84 years old (1942) – Composer and conductor
Susan Davis – 82 years old (1944) – Russian-American social worker and politician
Al Green – 80 years old (1946) – Singer-songwriter, producer, and pastor
Rae Armantrout – 79 years old (1947) – Poet and academic
Ron Perlman – 76 years old (1950) – Actor
William Sadler – 76 years old (1950) – Actor
Peabo Bryson – 75 years old (1951) – Singer
Max Weinberg – 75 years old (1951) – Musician and bandleader
Sam Bush – 74 years old (1952) – Mandolinist
Steve Camp – 71 years old (1955) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Davis Love III – 62 years old (1964) – Golfer and sportscaster
Dana Barros – 59 years old (1967) – Basketball player and coach
Michael Eisen – 59 years old (1967) – Biologist and academic
Ricky Schroder – 56 years old (1970) – Actor
Bo Outlaw – 55 years old (1971) – Basketball player
Aaron Lewis – 54 years old (1972) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Bokeem Woodbine – 53 years old (1973) – Actor
Dan Campbell – 50 years old (1976) – Football player and coach
Glenn Howerton – 50 years old (1976) – Actor
Baron Davis – 47 years old (1979) – Basketball player
Kelli Giddish – 46 years old (1980) – Actress
Quentin Richardson – 46 years old (1980) – Basketball player
Nellie McKay – 44 years old (1982) – British-American singer-songwriter, musician, and actress
Ty Dolla Sign – 44 years old (1982) – Singer, songwriter, and musician
Hunter Pence – 43 years old (1983) – Baseball player
Lorenzo Cain – 40 years old (1986) – Baseball player
John-Allison Weiss – 39 years old (1987) – Singer-songwriter
Allison Williams – 38 years old (1988) – Actress and singer
Josh Gordon – 35 years old (1991) – Football player
Melvin Gordon – 33 years old (1993) – Football player
Darrun Hilliard – 33 years old (1993) – Basketball player
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR APRIL 13:
- International Plant Appreciation Day: International Plant Appreciation Day is all about taking a moment to really see the plants around us. Not just the big, leafy ones in parks or gardens, but also the quiet little greens on windowsills, the vines crawling up fences, and the herbs sprouting in kitchen pots. They don’t ask for much...
- International FND Awareness Day: Learn and raise awareness about FND, or Functional Neurological Disorder, a poorly understood and rarely talked about disorder affecting many.
- National Silly Earring Day: National Silly Earring Day is a playful celebration that invites people to treat their ears like tiny billboards for joy. Instead of saving statement jewelry for special occasions, this day permits everyone to go big, goofy, and gloriously imaginative with what they wear. It’s less about matching an outfit and...
- International Special Librarians Day: International Special Librarians Day honors the dedicated professionals who keep niche information flowing. It recognizes librarians working in fields like law, medicine, business, and science. These specialists collect, organize, and share knowledge that fuels innovation and decisions. Their role goes beyond managing books—they guide research, support learning, and help people find...
- National Thomas Jefferson Day: Say “Happy Birthday” to Thomas Jefferson by digging into his biography and history, and learning about the contributions he made as a founding father.
- National Make Lunch Count Day: Taking a lunch break can help increase productivity, creativity, and mental well-being — step away from work, enjoy your meal, and recharge!
- National Scrabble Day: Put the phones away, break out a board, grab some friends or family and engage in one of the world’s most popular word games on National Scrabble Day.
- National Peach Cobbler Day: A warm and sweet dessert, filled with the goodness of fresh fruit and topped with a crisp crust — the perfect treat!
- National Borinqueneers Day: National Borinqueneers Day honors the brave Puerto Rican soldiers of the 65th Infantry Regiment. Known as the Borinqueneers, these men served valiantly in various conflicts, including the Korean War. Their dedication and courage earned them numerous accolades, such as the Congressional Gold Medal. This day highlights the significant contributions of Hispanic...
- National Anthem Day in Brazil: National Anthem Day in Brazil celebrates more than just a song. It honors a melody that has stirred the hearts of Brazilians for generations. The anthem, with its powerful words and moving music, represents the nation’s spirit and unity. When citizens sing it, they feel a deep connection to their...
- Orthodox Easter Monday: Orthodox Easter Monday, celebrated the day after Easter Sunday, is a significant date in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Known also as Bright Monday or Renewal Monday, this day marks a joyful transition from the solemnity of Lent and Holy Week into a period of celebration and light, reflecting the resurrection...
- Egyptian National Food Day: Egyptian National Food Day celebrates the rich flavors and traditions of Egypt's diverse cuisine. It's a day when Egyptians unite over their love for dishes that have been passed down through generations. Whether it's the hearty koshari, fragrant molokhia, or sweet basbousa, this day highlights the foods that bring families...
- National Dog Bite Prevention Week: It is hard to think something as loyal as a dog could ever harm someone. But even the sweetest pup may react when afraid or stressed. National Dog Bite Prevention Week brings this truth into focus. It reminds people that bites often come from everyday situations—startling a dog, grabbing its toy...
- Discover National Parks Fortnight: Discover National Parks Fortnight invites everyone to join in on an adventure - exploring the stunning landscapes and rich biodiversity of national parks. This fantastic outdoor-themed event spans two weeks each year. This period is the ideal opportunity to reconnect with the great outdoors and appreciate the environmental treasures within...
- FOP Awareness Month: Raising awareness for a rare condition, efforts unite to support those facing the challenges of Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.
- National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week: From 9-1-1 emergency call operators and alarm systems to answering other non-emergency forms of communication such as texts, emails and social media contacts, public safety telecommunicators have a lot on the line every day when they show up for work! As technology rapidly advances and evolves, so do the opportunities for...
- Global Days of Action on Military Spending: The Global Days of Action on Military Spending is a lively global campaign that invites people everywhere to rethink how public funds are used. It urges governments to shift resources from arms to real security, like health, education, and clean energy. When new military spending data arrives, advocates use the moment...
- National Green Week: National Green Week is an exciting initiative that brings attention to the importance of environmental sustainability. Schools and organizations across the country use this week to engage students in activities that promote greener living. The event aims to inspire young minds to adopt eco-friendly habits that can make a lasting...
- World Music Therapy Week: Helping people of all ages accomplish individualized goals, music therapy is a healthcare process that can take all sorts of forms based on the needs of the client. Approaches might include making music, listening to music, writing songs, improvisation, group discussion, or even meditation. Trained therapists use different forms of...
- Hate Week: Hate Week acts as a mass event in George Orwell’s novel 1984. Citizens gather for parades, rallies, and propaganda shows. Party speakers whip crowds into fierce emotion. They scream slogans and chant new songs. That energy binds them together. It channels collective anger toward whichever enemy the state targets. A sudden...
- Songkran Festival: Songkran, Thailand’s traditional New Year festival, is a vibrant celebration filled with energy and joy. It’s famous for its water-splashing activities, where people playfully drench each other in the streets using buckets, hoses, and water guns. This act symbolizes a fresh start and the washing away of misfortune, allowing everyone...
Powered by Days Of The Year
For additional information check out websites like: www.on-this-day.com, www.born-today.com, www.famousbirthdays.com, www.daysoftheyear.com, and www.nationaldaycalendar.com.
