Poor Gabriel's Almanac

Interesting things that happened April 2nd:

Birthdays on this date:

In 742 Charlemagne, first sovereign of the Christian Empire of the West
In 1805 Hans Christian Andersen, Danish storyteller
In 1834 Frederic A. Bartholdi, sculptor who created the Statue of Liberty
In 1875 Walter Chrysler, founded a car company
In 1908 Buddy Ebsen, actor (Beverly Hillbillies, Barnaby Jones), dancer
In 1910 Irene Mayer Selznick, film producer
In 1914 Sir Alec Guiness, thespian (credits-too-numerous-to-mention)
In 1920 Jack Webb, actor (Dragnet, The D.I.)
In 1928 Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, Archbishop of Chicago
In 1935 Sharon Acker, actor (Macbeth, Threshold)
In 1948 Emmylou Harris (in Alabama), singer
In 1953 Debralee Scott, actor (Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman; Police Academy)
In 1954 Ron Palillo, actor (Welcome Back Kotter)

Events worth noting:

+ International Children's Book Day
In 1513 Ponce de Leon landed near what is now St Augustine, Fla
In 1792 Congress establishes coin denominations of United States and authorizes U.S. Mint.
In 1860 First Italian Parliament met at Turin.
In 1865 Gen. A.P. Hill is killed by a Federal Picket.
+ Lee's line is broken at Petersberg.
+ Conf. Pres Jefferson Davis fled Confederate capital of Richmond, Va.
In 1866 Pres. Andrew Johnson declares an end to the war in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, NC, SC, Tennessee and Virginia.
In 1872 Samuel F.B. Morse, the developer of the electric telegraph, died.
In 1877 The first Easter Egg Roll is held on the White House lawn -- Rutherford B. Hayes is president.
In 1902 First motion picture theater opens (Los Angeles).
In 1917 Pres. Wilson asked Congress to declare war against Germany.
+ Jeannette Rankin, the 1st woman elected to US Congress, takes her seat in the US Capitol as a representative from Montana.
In 1932 Lindbergh turned over $50,000 as ransom for kidnapped son.
In 1935 Sir Robert Watson-Watt, a decendant of James Watt, is granted a patent for RADAR.
In 1956 "As the World Turns" and "The Edge of Night" premiered.
In 1958 The formation of NASA is proposed, in the wake of failures by the Army, Navy, and Air Force to keep up with the Soviet space program.
In 1959 Selection of 7 Mercury astronauts.
In 1974 Arganat Comm publishes report concerning the Yom Kippur War.
+ French president Georges Pompidou died in Paris.
In 1982 Argentina seized the disputed Falkland (Malvinas) Islands from Britain.
+ Prime Minister Begin visits Cairo.
+ TV show "Dallas" premiers.
In 1984 Soyuz T-11 is launched.
In 1986 George Corley Wallace announces retirement plans.
In 1992 Mafia boss John Gotti is convicted on 14 counts of conspiracy to commit murder and racketeering.

And remember ...

America's Heartland Development Month
Cancer Control Month
Math Education Month
National Poetry Month

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Although efforts have been taken to ensure the accuracy of this information, several errors have been found in the past. Don't place any bets on the basis of what you find here. If you spot an error, write to Poor Gabriel at poorgabriel@mystery.com .