Fact 1: Pocahontas Marries John Rolfe
On this day in history, April 5, 1614, the Native American princess Pocahontas marries English colonist John Rolfe in Jamestown, Virginia. This event was significant not only because it was a significant intercultural marriage, but also because it helped establish peaceful English-Native American relations for several years.
Fact 2: Debunked Superstitious Myth
April 5 is often feared by superstitious people because it is supposedly the day of the infamous "Curse of the Bambino." The myth started when the Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees on this day in 1920, leading to an 86-year championship drought, which was broken only in 2004. However, the fact is Ruth was actually sold on December 26, 1919, and the whole story is purely coincidental, having no connection to April 5th!
Fact 3: George Washington's Presidential Proclamation
On April 5, 1792, George Washington issued the first presidential proclamation, calling out the Pennsylvania militia to suppress the "Whiskey Rebellion," a revolt by Western farmers against a federal excise tax on whisky.
Fact 4: Songs Released on April 5
Many popular songs were released on April 5 over the years. For instance, Led Zeppelin's psychedelic rock track 'Whole lotta love' entered the UK singles chart on April 5, 1969, and quickly climbed to the top.
Fact 5: Holiday in China
April 5th in China is celebrated as "Qingming," or Tomb-Sweeping Day. It's a traditional Chinese festival during which people visit the graves of their ancestors to clean the tombstones, pray to their ancestors, and make ritual offerings.
Fact 6: Storming of the Reichstag
In 1945, on April 5, the Soviet Union’s Red Army started the final assault on Berlin, leading to the storming of Reichstag and accelerating the end of World War II in Europe.
Fact 7: The Birth of Booker T. Washington
Notable figure Booker T. Washington was born on April 5, 1856. He became an influential African American educator, author, and advisor to multiple presidents.
Fact 8: First American in space
On April 5, 1984, astronaut Robert L. Crippen, commander of the space shuttle Challenger, became the first American to perform a spacewalk, further proving the significant advancements in space technology.
Fact 9: NCAA Women's Basketball Champions
Over the years, the NCAA Women’s Division 1 Basketball Championship has often wrapped up on April 5, with teams like the Baylor Bears (2005) and South Carolina Gamecocks (2017) claiming victory on this day.
Fact 10: The First Mustang
The first Ford Mustang rolled off the assembly line on April 5, 1964, marking a significant date in automotive history. The Mustang quickly became an icon of American muscle cars.
Fact 11: Internet Pioneer's Birthday
April 5 marks the birth of one of the pioneers of the Internet, Stewart Brand, who was born on this day in 1938. He was amongst the first to recognize the potential of the internet and founded the Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link (WELL), one of the oldest virtual communities still in operation.
Fact 12: Mount Tambora Eruption
On April 5, 1815, the Indonesian volcano, Mount Tambora, started an eruptive phase that would culminate in one of the deadliest and most powerful eruptions in recorded history, impacting global climate over the next few years.
Fact 13: Death of Howard Hughes
Eccentric billionaire and famous aviator Howard Hughes died on April 5, 1976. His life has been the subject of numerous books, documentaries, and biopics.
Fact 14: The Birth of Pharrell Williams
American musician, producer, and entrepreneur Pharrell Williams celebrates his birthday on April 5. The multi-talented artist has a successful career both in music and fashion.
Fact 15: Howard Robard Hughes is flying high
On April 5, 1936, Howard Hughes set a new airspeed record by flying from Los Angeles to New York in 9 hours, 27 minutes, and 10 seconds.
Fact 16: Introduction of Visa Credit Card
April 5, 1976, marks the introduction of Visa credit card by Bank of America, ushering in a new era of cashless transactions and profoundly transforming the financial world.
Fact 17: The Launch of Gmail
On April 1, 2004, Google fooled everyone with the launch of Gmail, which many deemed to be an elaborate April Fools’ prank. On April 5, the invites-only beta launch of Gmail was confirmed to be real, marking a significant development in the world of emailing.
Fact 18: The Death of Kurt Cobain
April 5, 1994, marked the end of an era in grunge rock, with the death of the iconic Kurt Cobain, the frontman of the influential band, Nirvana.
Fact 19: Blizzard Paralyzes Southern Ontario
On April 5, 1975, a blizzard hit Southern Ontario, Canada, paralyzing the region and causing a significant number of problems. This is particularly memorable because blizzards are not common in April.
Fact 20: The Resignation of British Prime Minister
On April 5, 1992, British Prime Minister John Major announced his resignation as leader of the Conservative Party. This would commence the process for the election of a new leader.