April 15th
1755
Samuel Johnson published his Dictionary of the English Language.
1817
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet opened the first free American school for the deaf in Hartford, Conn.
1850
The city of San Francisco was incorporated.
1865
Abraham Lincoln dies after being shot the previous evening by John Wilkes Booth. Andrew Johnson is then sworn in as the 17th President of the United States.
1892
The General Electric Company is formed.
1912
Titanic sank off the coast of Newfoundland on its maiden voyage after it struck an iceberg.
1924
Rand McNally publishes its first road atlas.
1945
Nazi concentration camp Bergen-Belsen was liberated by Canadian and British forces.
1947
Jackie Robinson made his Brooklyn Dodger debut and scored the game-winning run. On April 15, 1997, his number, 42, was retired.
1952
The maiden flight of the B-52 Stratofortress
1955
Ray Kroc acquired McDonald's and opened his first restaurant in Des Plaines, Ill., today the official McDonald’s Corporate Museum.
1990
Actress Greta Garbo died at age 84.
2000
Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles became the 24th major league player to reach 3,000 hits.
2001
Joey Ramone the lead singer for the Ramones died at age 49.
Birthdays
87 Michael Ansara Actor
76 Roy Clark Country musician
65 Dave Edmunds Rock musician
62 Lois Chiles Actress
59 Amy Wright Actress
43 Samantha Fox Singer
41 Ed O'Brien Rock musician (Radiohead)
39 Flex Alexander Actor
37
shvictor Cigar Asylum Inmate
35 Danny Pino Actor ("Cold Case")
27 Seth Rogen Actor
26 Alice Braga Actress
25 De'Mar Hamilton Rock musician (Plain White T's)
19 Emma Watson Actress ("Harry Potter" movies)