Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth fatally shot by Union soldiers 160 years ago this hour (Apr 26 1865)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Apr. 26, 1865 at 26:06)

(Wednesday, April 26, 1865, approximately 3:15 a.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — John Wilkes Booth, the 26-year-old assassin of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, died this morning about five hours after the men of the 16th New York Cavalry surrounded the tobacco barn he was sleeping in at Richard H. Garrett’s farm, just south of Port Royal, Caroline County, Virginia. Continue reading Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth fatally shot by Union soldiers 160 years ago this hour (Apr 26 1865) →

Conference to form United Nations meets in San Francisco 80 years ago this hour (Apr 25 1945)

1940s


Video: 'United Nations Open Conference As San Francisco (1945)'

(Wednesday, April 25, 1945, Truman delivers address at 4:35 p.m. PWT; during World War II) — Delegates from some 50 countries gathered in San Francisco today to organize the United Nations. Continue reading Conference to form United Nations meets in San Francisco 80 years ago this hour (Apr 25 1945) →

Stimson briefs Truman on ‘most terrible weapon ever known’ 80 years ago this hour (Apr 25 1945)

1940s, U.S. Presidents, World War II

Video: 'The World At War Episode 24 HD - The Bomb (February – September 1945)' (Apr. 25, 1945, at 9:50)

(Wednesday, April 25, 1945, 12 noon EWT; during World War II) — U.S. Secretary of War Henry Stimson briefed President Harry Truman today about the possibility of an atomic weapon, outlined the history and status of the program and predicted that “within four months we shall in all probability have completed the most terrible weapon ever known in human history” (click here for a clip of Apr. 24-25, 1945, on “American Experience: Truman” at 1:40:57). Continue reading Stimson briefs Truman on ‘most terrible weapon ever known’ 80 years ago this hour (Apr 25 1945) →

U.S. and Soviet troops link up, cutting Nazi Germany in two 80 years ago this hour (Apr 25 1945)

1940s, World War II

Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary)Episode 21-Nemesis:Germany(February-May 1945)' (U.S. and Soviet troops link up at 51:49)

(Wednesday, April 25, 1945, 4:40 p.m. Central European Summer Time; on the Western Front and Eastern Front during World War II) — The Soviets, advancing from the East, and the Americans, advancing from the West, met today at the River Elbe, near Torgau in Germany, a meeting that dramatized the collapse of Nazi Germany’s defenses. Continue reading U.S. and Soviet troops link up, cutting Nazi Germany in two 80 years ago this hour (Apr 25 1945) →

Allied troops land on Gallipoli Peninsula, face fierce resistance from Ottoman forces 110 years ago this hour (Apr 25 1915)

1910s, World War I


Video: 'The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century - #3 Total War' (Apr. 25, 1915 at 2:30)

(Sunday, April 25, 1915, around 4:30 a.m. Eastern European Time; during the Gallipoli Campaign in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I) — Allied forces launched a major amphibious invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula early today, with Australian and New Zealand troops coming ashore at what is now known as Anzac Cove, and British and French forces landing at Cape Helles in an ambitious campaign to seize control of the Dardanelles Strait. Continue reading Allied troops land on Gallipoli Peninsula, face fierce resistance from Ottoman forces 110 years ago this hour (Apr 25 1915) →

‘The Game of Love’ by Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders peaks at #1 in USA 60 years ago today (Apr 24 1965)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s

(Saturday, April 24, 1965) — “The Game of Love” by Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard‘s Hot 100 singles chart for one week. Continue reading ‘The Game of Love’ by Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders peaks at #1 in USA 60 years ago today (Apr 24 1965) →