On 2 April in poetry and history
Poets born or who died on this date, plus historical events that happened on this day across history.
610 poets with calendar dates · 6,535 events with calendar dates in the catalogue
1 birthday · 2 death anniversaries · 4 world events on 2 April
Birthdays
Death anniversaries
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Katharine Tynan Hinkson
23 January 1861 – 2 April 1931 (~70)
Died 2 April 1931 — 95 years ago on this date
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World events on this day
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Royal African Company Chartered
In 1663 the Royal African Company received a charter to trade along the west coast of Africa, with English royal backing. The company became deeply involved in gold, ivory, and especially the transatlantic slave trade. Its activities linked English finance, African coastal politics, Caribbean plantations, and colonial expansion in a system of immense human suffering.
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Fall of Richmond
On April 2, 1865, Confederate forces evacuated Richmond, Virginia, the capital of the Confederacy, after Union victories at Five Forks and Petersburg. Union troops entered the city on April 3, and the event marked the collapse of the Confederate government. The fall of Richmond was a symbolic and strategic victory for the Union, signaling the imminent end of the Civil War.
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De Havilland Comet enters airline service
In 1952 the de Havilland Comet entered commercial service with BOAC. Passengers could travel by jet airliner at unprecedented speed and altitude. The service demonstrated the promise of modern air travel, even though later crashes forced redesign and investigation.
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US Coinage Act
In 1792, the US Coinage Act established a national coinage system, designating the dollar as the unit of currency. This act was a crucial step in creating a standardized monetary system, facilitating trade and economic stability in the newly formed United States. The introduction of a national currency helped to unify the diverse economic practices of the states and laid the groundwork for future financial policies. The Coinage Act marked a significant development in the economic history of the United States.