Europa
1912: Sinking of the Titanic
- The British luxury liner RMS Titanic sank in the North Atlantic after hitting an iceberg, resulting in the deaths of about 1,500 people. The ship was en route from Southampton, England, to New York City.
1450: Battle of Formigny
- Near the end of the Hundred Years’ War, French forces defeated the English at Formigny, effectively ending English domination in northern France.
1989: Hillsborough Disaster
- At Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, England, a human crush during an FA Cup semifinal match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest led to 97 deaths and hundreds of injuries, marking the worst disaster in British sporting history.
2019: Notre-Dame de Paris Fire
- A major fire severely damaged the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, destroying its timber spire and much of the roof. The event prompted a global outpouring of support for restoration efforts.
1896: Closing Ceremony of the First Modern Olympic Games
- The first modern Olympic Games, held in Athens, Greece, concluded on this day, marking a significant moment in European and world sports history.
1945: Liberation of Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp
- British and Canadian troops liberated the Nazi concentration camp Bergen-Belsen in Germany during World War II.
America
1865: Death of President Abraham Lincoln
- Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, died after being shot the previous evening by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Vice President Andrew Johnson was sworn in as president a few hours later.
1912: Sinking of the Titanic
- The RMS Titanic, en route to New York City, sank in the North Atlantic after hitting an iceberg. Over 1,500 people died in the disaster, which had a profound impact on American society and maritime regulations.
1947: Jackie Robinson Breaks Baseball’s Color Line
- Jackie Robinson debuted for the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African American to play Major League Baseball in the modern era. This was a pivotal moment in the American civil rights movement.
1955: Founding of McDonald’s
- Ray Kroc opened the first franchised McDonald’s restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois, marking the beginning of the global fast-food chain.
1960: Founding of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
- At Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, Ella Baker led a conference that resulted in the creation of SNCC, a key organization in the American civil rights movement.
1986: U.S. Air Strikes on Libya
- The United States launched Operation El Dorado Canyon, bombing targets in Libya in retaliation for a terrorist attack in West Berlin that killed two U.S. servicemen.
2007: Virginia Tech Shooting
- In one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history, 33 people, including the shooter, were killed on the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Asia
1989: Start of Tiananmen Square Protests (China)
- A small group of students initiated pro-democracy protests in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square following the death of reformer Hu Yaobang. These demonstrations grew into a massive movement, ultimately leading to the Tiananmen Square Massacre in June.
1998: Death of Pol Pot (Cambodia)
- Pol Pot, the former leader of the Khmer Rouge and Prime Minister of Cambodia, died on this day. His regime was responsible for the deaths of millions during the Cambodian genocide.
2024: Iran–Israel Conflict
- Ongoing tensions and military actions between Iran and Israel, with regional and international implications, were reported on this date.
2024: Political Transition in Singapore
- Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced he would resign on May 15, 2024, to be succeeded by Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
Africa
First Conference of Independent African States (1958)
- On April 15, 1958, the First Conference of Independent African States was held. This landmark event brought together leaders from newly independent African nations to discuss strategies for decolonization and unity, laying the groundwork for future pan-African cooperation.
African Freedom Day Declared (1959)
- On April 15, 1959, African Freedom Day was declared. This day was established to mark the progress of the liberation movement and the determination of African people to free themselves from colonial rule. It later evolved into Africa Day, celebrated annually on May 25.
First Live Hearing of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (1996)
- On April 15, 1996, the first live broadcast of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s human rights violation committee hearing took place in South Africa. This was a pivotal moment in the country’s journey toward healing and justice after apartheid.
World Art Day
- April 15 is also observed as World Art Day, a global celebration of the arts, which is recognized and celebrated in many African countries.
International Micro-volunteering Day
- April 15 is International Micro-volunteering Day, promoting small, easy acts of volunteerism, including in African communities.
This day in history: 15 april