News
1865 - The American Civil War came to an end when the Confederate general, Robert E Lee, surrendered to the Union general, Ulysses S. Grant, at Appomatox, Virginia.
1912 - The doomed White Star liner Titanic emarked on her maiden voyage. As she left Southampton she had a near-miss with another liner, the New York.
1945 - Allied trrops liberated the first Nazi concentration camp at Buchenwald in Czechoslovakia.
1948 - The World Health Organisation was established by the UN.
1955 - The McDonald's hamburger chain was founded in Chicago.
1968 - Martin Luther King's funeral took place.
2003 - A 20ft statue of Saddam Hussein was pulled down by soldiers in Baghdad. Iraq's Ambassador to the UN declared 'the game is over', signalling that Saddam Hussein's regime had ended.
Sport
1896 - The first modern Olympic Games began in Athens.
1951 - Only three horses out of the 36 runners finished the Grand National.
1991 - The FA put forward proposals for a new Premiership division.
2001 - Tiger Woods became the first professional golfer to hold all four majors at the same time.
Entertainment
1965 - Julie Andrews won an Oscar for 'Mary Poppins'. It was her screen debut.
1968 - The 40th Academy Awards were postponed to show respect for the assassinated Martin Luther King.
1986 - Clint Eastwood was elected Mayor of Carmel, California.
1997 - Ellen DeGeneres announced she was a lesbian.
Music
1956 - Columbia Records announced all future 'pop' releases would be on the new 45rpm format.
1963 - The Beatles entered the album chart for the first time with 'Please Please Me'.
1973 - Queen signed their first recording contract.
1977 - The Clash released their eponymous debut album.
Number ones
2006 - Gnarls Barkley: 'Crazy'.
2004 - McFly: 'Five Colours In Her Hair'.
2000 - Craig David: 'Fill Me In'.
1993 - The Bluebells: 'Young at Heart'.
1983 - David Bowie: 'Let's Dance'
1978 - Kate Bush: 'Wuthering Heights'.
1968 - The Beatles: 'Lady Madonna'.
