NewsInHistory Blog

The Republic of Texas won its independence with one of the most lopsided victories in the annals of warfare: the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, when Gen. Samuel (“Sam”) Houston’s Texas army defeated the larger Mexican army led by Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. The victory was a stunning upset, achieved by the element of complete surprise made possible by the arrogance of Santa Anna. read more...

When Virginia voted to secede from the Union on April 17, 1861, the decision caused much anguish and soul-searching among many of the state’s leading men, torn between their fierce love and pride for Virginia, and allegiance to the nation that their Virginia ancestors played a leading role in founding. Perhaps no single individual was more torn than Colonel Robert Edward Lee, owner of a distinguished 32-year career in the U.S. Army and of a lineage with ties to George Washington. read more...

The first Civil War deaths caused by fighting did not happen during the war’s first battle, the attack on Fort Sumter—but  actually occurred in a federal city between Union troops and civilians, when the Baltimore Riot of April 19, 1861, killed 4 soldiers and 12 civilians, with dozens more wounded. The troops were marching through Baltimore to board a train for passage to Washington, D.C., when a pro-Southern mob gathered to obstruct them. read more...

The Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, with the firing of the first mortar at 4:30 on the morning of April 12, 1861, began the Civil War. Major Robert Anderson’s Union garrison in the embattled fort surrendered the next day, and men in both the North and South rushed forward to volunteer for military service. Enthusiasm was certainly not lacking in Louisiana, as the following letter shows. read more...

Alone except for an attending nurse keeping vigil, the remarkable life of the great physicist Albert Einstein came to a quiet end in a Princeton hospital room early in the morning of April 18, 1955. In 1999 Time magazine named this brilliant scientist “Person of the Century.” His many groundbreaking scientific theories, especially his theory of relativity, dazzled his colleagues and earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921. The following two newspaper articles were published on the day of his death, providing many details of his full life and unprecedented career. read more...

Early in the morning of April 18, 1955, the man Time magazine in 1999 named the “Person of the Century”—the great physicist, Albert Einstein—died in a hospital room in Princeton, New Jersey. The 76-year-old genius spent a remarkable lifetime unraveling the secrets of the universe, revolutionizing the world of physics with his groundbreaking theory of relativity. read more...

It was early on a Wednesday morning, with most of the residents of San Francisco peacefully sleeping, when disaster suddenly struck the City by the Bay. At 5:13 a.m. on April 18, 1906, an earthquake tremor for about 20 seconds was followed by a major 7.9 magnitude earthquake that shook the city for over 40 seconds, jolting terrified residents awake as buildings collapsed around them. Worse still, the powerful quake twisted and broke gas and water lines. Huge fires erupted and burned continuously for three days. Without water, firefighters were helpless to stop the inferno. read more...

After Fort Sumter surrendered to Confederate forces on April 13, 1861, President Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 volunteers to serve for 90 days to preserve the Union. The South scrambled to respond. Realizing the Confederacy lacked an effective navy, President Jefferson Davis issued a proclamation on April 17 offering to give sanction to any armed private vessel that was willing to attack Northern ships. read more...