1776 – Halifax Resolution for Independence adopted by North Carolina.
1861 – Fort Sumter in South Carolina is attacked by the Confederacy, beginning the American Civil War.
1877 – Catcher’s mask 1st used in a baseball game.
1900 – The US Congress passes the Foraker Act, establishing Puerto Rico as an unincorporated territory (effective 1 May)
1924 – WLS-AM in Chicago begins radio transmissions.
1934 – Second highest ever wind speed, 231 mph, recorded on Mt. Washington.
1938 – 1st US law requiring medical tests for marriage licenses (NY)
1945 – US President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies in office and Vice President Harry Truman is sworn in as 33rd US President.
1946 – LPGA Titleholders Championship Women’s Golf, Augusta CC: Louise Suggs wins her first major title by 2 strokes from Eileen Stulb.
1953 – 17th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Ben Hogan shatters the Masters scoring record by 5 strokes with a 274 (-14) to finish 5 strokes ahead of runner-up Ed Oliver; Hogan’s second Masters.
1954 – Bill Haley and the Comets record “Rock Around the Clock”
1955 – Polio vaccine tested by Jonas Salk announced to be ‘safe and effective’ and is given full approval by the US Food and Drug Administration.
1961 – 3rd Grammy Awards: Theme From a Summer Place, Ray Charles wins 4.
1970 – Yankees dedicate plaques to Mickey Mantle & Joe DiMaggio.
1978 – 13th Academy of Country Music Awards: Kenny Rogers and Crystal Gayle win.
1987 – Texaco files for bankruptcy.
1990 – H.J. Heinz, Chicken of the Sea and Bumble Bee Seafood say they wouldn’t buy tuna caught in nets that trap dolphins.
1991 – US announces closing of 31 major US military bases.
1999 – US President Bill Clinton is cited for contempt of court for giving “intentionally false statements” in a sexual harassment civil lawsuit.
2009 – U.S. Navy rescues captain Richard Phillips, killing three pirates and capturing a fourth.
2015 – Hillary Clinton announces she will run for the Democratic nominee for US President for the 2nd time.
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