0357 - Constantius II visited Rome for the first time.
1282 - Villagers in Palermo led a revolt against French rule in Sicily.
1635 - Virginia Governor John Harvey was accused of treason and removed from office.
1686 - The first volume of Isaac Newton's "Principia Mathamatic" was published.
1788 - Maryland became the seventh state to ratify the U.S. constitution.
1789 - A mutiny on the British ship Bounty took place when a rebel crew took the ship and set sail to Pitcairn Island. The mutineers left Captain W. Bligh and 18 sailors adrift.
1818 - U.S. President James Monroe proclaimed naval disarmament on the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain.
1896 - The Addressograph was patented by J.S. Duncan.
1902 - A revolution broke out in the Dominican Republic.
1910 - First night air flight was performed by Claude Grahame-White in England.
1914 - W.H. Carrier patented the design of his air conditioner.
1916 - The British declared martial law throughout Ireland.
1919 - The League of Nations was founded.
1920 - Azerbaijan joined the USSR.
1930 - The first organized night baseball game was played in Independence, Kansas.
1932 - The yellow fever vaccine for humans was announced.
1937 - The first animated-cartoon electric sign was displayed on a building on Broadway in New York City. It was created by Douglas Leight.
1945 - Benito Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci were executed by Italian partisans as they attempted to flee the country.
1946 - The Allies indicted Tojo with 55 counts of war crimes.
1947 - Norwegian anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl and five others set out in a balsa wood craft known as Kon Tiki to prove that Peruvian Indians could have settled in Polynesia. The trip began in Peru and took 101 days to complete the crossing of the Pacific Ocean.
1952 - The U.S. occupation of Japan officially ended when a treaty with the U.S. and 47 other countries went into effect.
1953 - French troops evacuated northern Laos.
1957 - Mike Wallace was seen on TV for the first time. He was the host of "Mike Wallace Interviews."
1959 - Arthur Godfrey was seen for the last time in the final broadcast of "Arthur Godfrey and His Friends" on CBS-TV.
1965 - The U.S. Army and Marines invaded the Dominican Republic to evacuate Americans.
1967 - Muhammad Ali refused induction into the U.S. Army and was stripped of boxing title. He sited religious grounds for his refusal.
1969 - Charles de Gaulle resigned as president of France.
1969 - In Santa Rosa, CA, Charles M. Schulz's Redwood Empire Ice Arena opened.
1974 - The last Americans were evacuated from Saigon.
1977 - Christopher Boyce was convicted of selling U.S. secrets.
1985 - The largest sand castle in the world was completed near St. Petersburg, FL. It was four stories tall.
1988 - In Maui, HI, one flight attendant was killed when the fuselage of a Boeing 737 ripped open in mid-flight.
1989 - Mobil announced that they were divesting from South Africa because congressional restrictions were too costly.
1992 - The U.S. Agriculture Department unveiled a pyramid-shaped recommended-diet chart.
1994 - Former CIA official Aldrich Ames, who had given U.S. secrets to the Soviet Union and then Russia, plead guilty to espionage and tax evasion. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
1996 - U.S. President Clinton gave a 4 1/2 hour videotaped testimony as a defense witness in the criminal trial of his former Whitewater business partners.
1997 - A worldwide treaty to ban chemical weapons took effect. Russia and other countries such as Iraq and North Korea did not sign.
1999 - The U.S. House of Representatives rejected (on a tie vote of 213-213) a measure expressing supprot for NATO's five-week-old air campaign in Yugoslavia. The House also voted to limit the president's authority to use ground forces in Yugoslavia.
2000 - Jay Leno received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2001 - A Russian rocket launched from Central Asia with the first space tourist aboard. The crew consisted of California businessman Dennis Tito and two cosmonauts. The destination was the international space station.
Music History
1940 - "Pennsylvania 6-5000," by Glenn Miller and his orchestra, was recorded.
1965 - Barbara Streisand's first TV special aired on CBS. It was titled "My Name is Barbara".
1968 - "Hair" opened on Broadway in New York.
1980 - Marshall Tucker Band bass player Tommy Caldwell died of injuries he got in a car accident in Spartanburg, SC.
1987 - On a plane that was returning to Boston, from Miami, Ozzy Osbourne bought three rounds of drinks and sang "Crazy Train" over the PA system.
1987 - For the first time, a compact disc of an album was released before its vinyl version. The album was "The Art of Excellence" by Tony Bennett.
1989 - Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea Hurley were married. They had been high school sweethearts.
1991 - Bonnie Raitt and Michael O'Keefe were married.
1999 - The Verve announced that the band members had mutually agreed to break up the band.
1999 - Marilyn Manson walked off stage during a concert in Des Moines, Iowa, when he realized that someone had put a large yellow "smiley face" on a stage prop. 23 arrests were made in the aftermath.
1999 - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2002 - Vince Neil allegedly attacked a record producer outside the Rainbow Room in West Hollywood. Neil pled guilty to the misdemeanor charge of battery on September 27, 2002.
Television History
1957 - Mike Wallace was seen on TV for the first time. He was the host of "Mike Wallace Interviews."
1959 - Arthur Godfrey was seen for the last time in the final broadcast of "Arthur Godfrey and His Friends" on CBS-TV.
1965 - Barbara Streisand's first TV special aired on CBS. It was titled "My Name is Barbara".
1975 - John Lennon appeared on "The Tonight Show."
1975 - Ringo Starr performed "No No Song" on "The Smothers Brothers Show."
1994 - The 100th episode of "The Simpsons" aired on FOX.
2000 - The final episode of "Cosby" aired on CBS.
2000 - Jay Leno received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2002 - NBC taped the "Tonight" show's celebration of its 10th year with Jay Leno.
American Bandstand History
1959 - The Rockin' R's performed "The Beat" on "American Bandstand."
1973 - Sam Neely performed "Rosalie" and "Loving You Just Crossed My Mind" on "American Bandstand."
1979 - The Farragher Bros. performed "Stay the Night" on "American Bandstand."
1984 - Bon Jovi performed "Runaway" and "She Don't Know Me" on "American Bandstand."
1984 - Mr. Mister performed "Hunters of the Night" on "American Bandstand."
Elvis Presley History
1956 - Elvis Presley's recording of "Heartbreak Hotel" hit #1 on the Billboard pop singles chart.
1956 - In Las Vegas, Elvis Presley performed a Saturday matinee for teenagers at The New Frontier Hotel.
1958 - The Elvis Presley compilation album "Elvis' Golden Records" hit #3 in the U.S.
1994 - Lisa Marie Presley announced that her marriage to musician Danny Keough was over.
1998 - The Reader's Digest compilation album "Elvis! His Greatest Hits" was certified platinum by the RIAA.
Random Elvis Quote
People don't realize what they had till it's gone. Like President Kennedy - nobody like him. Like The Beatles, there will never be anything like them. Like my man, Elvis Presley - I was the Elvis of boxing.
- Muhammad Ali
Sports History
1930 - The first organized night baseball game was played in Independence, Kansas.
1961 - The NFL chose Canton, Ohio, as the site for the Professional Football Hall of Fame.
1967 - Muhammad Ali refused induction into the U.S. Army and was stripped of boxing title. He sited religious grounds for his refusal.
1971 - Hank Aaron hit his 600th career home run.
1985 - Billy Martin was named the manager of the New York Yankees for the fourth time.
1987 - It was announced that the NBA expansion teams would be in Charlotte and Miami in 1988.
1988 - The Baltimore Orioles lost for the 21st consecutive time. It was the longest streak to start a season in major league baseball.
1993 - Dale Hunter (Washington Capitals) executed a blindside check on Pierre Turgeon (New York Islanders). On May 4 Hunter was given a 21 game suspension.
U.S. President History
1818 - U.S. President James Monroe proclaimed naval disarmament on the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain.
1980 - U.S. President Jimmy Carter accepted the resignation of Secretary of State Cyrus Vance. Vance had opposed the failed rescue mission aimed at freeing American hostages in Iran.
1996 - U.S. President Clinton gave a 4 1/2 hour videotaped testimony as a defense witness in the criminal trial of his former Whitewater business partners.
U.S. President Quotes
"Our society is illuminated by the spiritual insights of the Hebrew prophets. America and Israel have a common love of human freedom, and they have a common faith in a democratic way of life."
- U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson
Birthdays
James Monroe 1758 - 5th U.S. President, nickname: The Last Cocked Hat
- More information here - Today in U.S. President History
Charles Stuart 1795
Mifflin Gibbs 1828
Louise Homer 1871 - Opera singer
Sidney Toler 1874 - Actor ("Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum", "The Jade Mask")
Lionel Barrymore 1878 - Actor ("Captains Courageous", "It’s a Wonderful Life")
Red (Charles Frederick) Lucas 1902 - Baseball player, "The Nashvilled Narcissus"
Odette Hallowes 1912
Robert Anderson 1917 - Playwright ("Tea and Sympathy", "The Nun’s Story")
Rowland Evans 1921
(Nelle) Harper Lee 1926 - Author ("To Kill A Mockingbird")
Blossom Dearie 1926 - Musician (Blue Stars)
Carolyn Jones 1933
Jackie (John George) Brandt 1934 - Baseball player
Saddam Hussein 1937 - Iraqi leader
Madge Sinclair 1938 - Actress ("Trapper John M.D.", "Coming to America")
Ann-Margret (Olsson) 1941 - Singer, actress ("Viva Las Vegas", "Grumpy Old Men")
John Walters 1945 - Musician (Dr. Hook)
Marcia Strassman 1948 - Actress ("Welcome Back Kotter", "Another Stakeout"), singer
Pablo (Arnoldo) Torrealba 1948 - Baseball player
Bruno Kirby 1949 - Actor ("The Basketball Diaries", "When Harry Met Sally")
Paul Guilfoyle 1955 - Actor ("CSI: Crime Scene Investigation")
Jay Leno 1950 - Comedian, television talk show host ("The Tonight Show")
Jim Wiley 1950 - Hockey player
Mary McDonnell 1953 - Actress
Tony Peters 1953 - Football player
Kim Gordon 1953 - Musician (Sonic Youth)
Barry Larkin 1964 - Baseball player
Too Short 1966 - Rapper
Chris Young 1971 - Actor ("Falcon Crest", "The Great Outdoors")
Simba Khali 1971 - Actress
Big Gipp 1973 - Rapper
Elisabeth Rohm 1973 - Actress
Penelope Cruz 1974 - Actress
Nate Richert 1978 - Actor
Jessica Alba 1981 - Actress ("Dark Angel")
Deaths which occurred on April 28:
1089 Dirk de Grote bishop of Verdun/Basel/archbishop of Trier, dies
1109 Hugo van Cluny 6th abbott of Cluny/saint, dies
1770 Marie AC de Camargo Spanish/Italian/Belgian dancer, dies at 60
1799 François Giroust composer, dies at 62
1804 Hans Gram composer, dies at 49
1843 William Wallace Scottish mathematician (rights of Wallace), dies
1853 Ludwig Tieck writer, dies at 79
1860 Isaac da Costa poet/writer (Réveil, Wachter!), dies at 62
1881 Robert W Ollinger US warden/last victim of Billy the Kid, dies
1887 Carl Ferdinand Pohl composer, dies at 67
1896 Heinrich von Treitschke German historian, dies
1925 Louis F J Bouwmeester actor (Shakespeare), dies
1933 Robin Irvine actor (Easy Virtue), dies at 31
1935 Alexander Campbell Mackenzie Scottish composer, dies at 87
1936 Foead I king of Egypt (1922-36), dies
1945 Benito Mussolini Fascist leader (Italy), captured, tried, & shot
1945 Claretta Petacci mistress of Mussolini, executed
1945 Hans Bloesch writer, dies
1955 Lode Cantens Flemish playwrite (Gnomes of the City), dies at 43
1960 Anton Pancake astronomer/marxist theorist, dies at 87
1965 Ferdinand Bordewijk Dutch lawyer/writer (Character), dies at 80
1966 Ralph Bunker actor (Ghost Goes West), dies of a stroke at 77
1969 Johannes Rontgen composer, dies at 70
1970 Ed Begley actor (Mr Koppel-Leave it to Larry), dies at 69
1973 Pat Henning actor (Goodyear TV Playhouse), dies at 62
1974 Paul Page actor (Girl from Havanna, Moth), dies at 70
1975 Jan A de Jonge Dutch historian, dies at 48
1976 Eugen Roth writer, dies at 81
1977 Ricardo Cortez actor/director (Bad Company, Flesh), dies at 87
1979 Feliks Roderyk Labunski composer, dies at 86
1980 Tommy Caldwell rocker (Marshall Tucker Band), dies
1980 Dee Carroll [Betty Jean Marsh] actress (Mad Bomber, Split), dies
1981 Mickey "Toy Bulldog" Walker welterweight champion (1922-26) dies at 79
1982 Bert van Dongen [Abraham J Cohen], Dutch singer/actor, dies at 66
1982 EW "Nobby" Clark England cricketer (32 wickets in 8 Tests 1929-34), dies
1983 Ron James cricketer (New South Wales's Sheffield Shield captain 1949-50), dies
1984 Glen H Taylor US Senator/vice presidential candidate (1948), dies at 80
1984 Silvia A Warner writer, dies
1987 Ben Linder development worker, murdered by Contras in Nicaragua
1989 Olaff J de Landell [JB van Sparwoude] Dutch writer, dies at 77
1990 Jean Blazer Baney entertainer, dies
1991 Floyd B McKissick US founder (CORE), dies
1991 Ken Curtis actor (Festus-Gunsmoke), dies at 74
1992 Francis Bacon Irish/British abstract painter, dies at 82
1992 Olivier Messiaen French composer (St François d'Assise), dies at 83
1993 Jim Valvano basketball coach (North Carolina State), dies of cancer at 47
1995 Andrew Salkey author editor/broadcaster, dies at 67
1995 Henry C Rogers press Agent, dies at 81
1995 Peaches Roy Davis baseball pitcher, dies at 89
1996 Giles Grangier film director, dies at 84
1996 Henry Clarke fashion photographer, dies at 75
1996 Julio Cesar Mendez Montenegro politician, dies at 80
1996 William E Colby director of CIA (1973-76), dies
1997 Susan Seddon Boulet artist, dies of cancer at 45