23 fun facts for April, 5
Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
Summary
On April 5, people around the world celebrate National Caramel Day, International Day of Conscience, and Go For Broke Day. This day also marks various historical events, including the launch of Gmail, the renaming of Istanbul, and the first televised baseball game, as well as the birthdays of notable figures like Booker T. Washington, Bette Davis, and Pharrell Williams.
23 Fun facts
- National Caramel Day (USA): April 5th is a sweet day to celebrate as it's National Caramel Day in the United States, an occasion to indulge in delicious, gooey caramel treats.
- Birthday of Booker T. Washington: Born on April 5, 1856, African American educator, author, and civil rights leader Booker T. Washington became the first leader of the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, advocating for self-help and education to advance African Americans in post-Civil War America.
- Launch of Gmail: Google launched its popular email platform, Gmail, on April 5, 2004, as an invitation-only beta service, revolutionizing email communication worldwide and increasing online storage capacity.
- First televised baseball game: On April 5, 1948, the first Major League Baseball game was televised, featuring a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Boston Braves, further catapulting the sport's popularity in the United States.
- Ratification of the Treaty of Tordesillas: On April 5, 1494, Spain and Portugal ratified the Treaty of Tordesillas, which divided territories discovered in the New World between the two countries, eventually shaping the colonization of the Americas.
- 1986 Opening Day for Major League Baseball: On April 5, 1986, Opening Day for Major League Baseball had all 26 teams play on one day for the first time in its history.
- World Maritime Day: April 5 marks World Maritime Day, celebrated by the International Maritime Organization, to raise awareness about the importance of shipping safety, maritime security, and the marine environment.
- Birthday of Spencer Tracy: American actor Spencer Tracy, known for his roles in "Inherit the Wind," "Judgment at Nuremberg," and "Father of the Bride," was born on April 5, 1900.
- Birthday of Agnetha Fältskog: Born on April 5, 1950, Swedish singer and songwriter Agnetha Fältskog is best known as a member of the iconic pop group ABBA.
- First female co-anchor of major evening news program: On April 5, 1976, Barbara Walters made history as the first female co-anchor of a major US evening news program on ABC News.
- International Day of Conscience: April 5 is International Day of Conscience, a United Nations observance encouraging people worldwide to maintain peaceful and ethical behavior, promote understanding, and advocate for global issues like poverty and climate change.
- Roman Emperor Commodus assassinated: On April 5, 192 AD, Roman Emperor Commodus was assassinated, marking the end of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty and the beginning of the tumultuous Year of the Five Emperors.
- Istanbul renamed from Constantinople: On April 5, 1930, the city of Constantinople was officially renamed Istanbul by the Turkish Postal Service Law, a move that established the city's modern identity in the Republic of Turkey.
- Birthday of Pharrell Williams: Born on April 5, 1973, American singer-songwriter and producer Pharrell Williams has achieved success as a solo artist and one half of the production duo The Neptunes, collaborating with artists such as Jay-Z, Britney Spears, and Gwen Stefani.
- Death of American outlaw Jesse James: The notorious American outlaw Jesse James was killed on April 5, 1882, in St. Joseph, Missouri, by gang member Robert Ford.
- Jean-Pierre Herve's record-breaking freefall: On April 5, 1959, French parachutist Jean-Pierre Herve broke the world record for the highest freefall without a drogue parachute, jumping from an altitude of 26,246 feet.
- Birthday of Allan Clarke: Born on April 5, 1942, Allan Clarke is a founding member and original lead singer of the English rock band The Hollies.
- First MLB game played indoors: The first Major League Baseball game played indoors at the Houston Astrodome occurred on April 5, 1965, between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees.
- Birthday of Jane Asher: English actress and author Jane Asher, known for her roles in films like "Alfie" and "Deep End," as well as her relationship with Paul McCartney, was born on April 5, 1946.
- First televised royal wedding: The wedding of Princess Margaret, sister of Queen Elizabeth II, to Antony Armstrong-Jones was the first royal wedding ever televised, taking place on April 5, 1960, with an estimated global audience of 300 million people.
- Go For Broke Day: April 5 is observed as Go For Broke Day, a day to seize opportunities and take risks in the spirit of the phrase "go for broke," which originates from Hawaiian Pidgin English.
- Birthday of Bette Davis: American actress Bette Davis, known for her roles in films like "Of Human Bondage," "Jezebel," and "All About Eve," was born on April 5, 1908.
- National Read a Road Map Day (USA): April 5 is National Read a Road Map Day in the United States, an occasion to appreciate the art of cartography and the practical use of maps for navigation and exploration.