Category: Éphémérides (anglais)

Canada’s worst modern mass shooting as a gunman kills 18 people, including a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer, across Nova Scotia.

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo becomes first player to score 100 goals in the Champions League with a hat-trick in Real Madrid’s 4-2 win over Bayern Munich.

Wayne Gretzky (New York Rangers) played his final game in the NHL. He retired as the NHL’s all-time leading scorer and holder of 61 individual records.

Quarterback Joe Montana announces his retirement from football.

John Lennon releases single “Stand by Me”.

Actress Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco were married. The religious ceremony took place April 19.

Jackie Robinson has four hits, including a three-run homer, as the Montreal Royals beat Jersey 14-1; first black man to play in professional baseball’s all-white leagues.

Superman, the world’s first super hero, appeared in the first issue of Action Comics. The cover date was June 1938.

Yankee Stadium opened in the Bronx, NY. The Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1. John Phillip Sousa’s band played the National Anthem.

San Francisco earthquake and fire kills nearly 4,000 while destroying 75% of the city.

The cornerstone of the current St. Peter’s Basilica is laid in the Vatican by Pope Julius II.

Funeral of Prince Philip, consort to Queen Elizabeth II, held under COVID-19 restrictions at Windsor Palace, England.

“Game of Thrones”, based on the fantasy novels by George R. R. Martin premieres on HBO

“Thor”, directed by Kenneth Branagh, starring Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman, premieres in Sydney, Australia.

Two Los Angeles police officers convicted in federal court of violating Rodney King’s civil rights and sentenced to prison, while two others are acquitted,

Queen Elizabeth II signs the Royal Proclamation of Canada’s constitution; ends British authority in Canada; Canada remains a constitutional monarchy and member of the Commonwealth.

George Lucas begins writing the treatment for The Star Wars.

Paul McCartney’s 1st solo album “McCartney” is released.

The Ford Motor Company unveiled its new Mustang model.

Daffy Duck’s first appearance, in Porky’s Duck Hunt.

Modern Snooker invented by Sir Neville Chamberlain.

Raúl Castro confirms he is resigning as Cuban Communist Party leader, ending his family’s six decade leadership of Cuba.

“Spider-Man 3” directed by Sam Raimi and starring Toby Maguire and Kristen Dunst premieres at the Tokyo Film Festival.

The super liner Queen Mary 2 embarks on her first Transatlantic crossing.

Washington Wizards’ Michael Jordan plays his final NBA game, in Philadelphia, where he receives a 3 minute standing ovation.

Wayne Gretzky announced his retirement from the National Hockey League (NHL).

Queen Elizabeth proclaims Canada’s new constitution

Arthur Ashe retires from professional tennis.

The Pentagon announced that troops would begin coming home from Vietnam.

The Rolling Stones first album was released in the UK, it went to No.1 two weeks later and stayed on the chart for 40 weeks, with 11 weeks at No.1.

Boston Bruins beat Toronto Maple Leafs 4 games to 1 for Stanley Cup; first NHL playoff expanded to the best-of-seven games format.

Short film “The Music Box” released in the US, starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy (1932 Academy Award Best Live Action Short Film).

The United States Senate ratifies the Rush-Bagot Treaty, establishing the border with Canada.

Paris cathedral Notre Dame catches fire, toppling its spire and destroying its roof.

Two bombs explode near the finish line at the Boston Marathon in Boston, Massachusetts, killing 3 people and injuring 264 others.

Volcanic ash from the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland leads to the closure of airspace over most of Europe.

Students in Beijing launched a series of pro democracy protests upon the death of former Communist Party leader Hu Yaobang. The protests led to the Tienanmen Square massacre.

Montreal Expos play their first baseball game in the Olympic Stadium – the Big O – after moving from Jarry Park.

NFL changes penalty flag from white to bright gold.

The first B-52 prototype was tested in the air.

Jackie Robinson becomes 1st African-American to play in US major league baseball (Dodgers).

The British passenger liner RMS Titanic sinks in the North Atlantic at 2:20 a.m., two hours and forty minutes after hitting an iceberg. Only 710 of 2,227 passengers and crew on board survive.

First ‘Impressionist’ exhibition opens in Paris, features Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro and Berthe Morisot.

Abraham Lincoln dies 9 hours after he is shot attending the play “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theatre in Washington.

Coinbase becomes the first major cryptocurrency company to trade shares on the New York stock exchange.

US President Biden says “It’s time to end America’s longest war” confirming his decision to withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan by Sept 11.

83rd US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Tiger Woods wins his 5th Masters title by 1 stroke from Xander Schauffele, Dustin Johnson & Brooks Koepka; Woods’ 15th major and first in 11 years.

Justin Trudeau, son of long-serving Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, is elected leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.

Icelandic Volcano Eyjafjallajökull begins erupting from the top crater in the centre of the glacier

The Human Genome Project is completed with 99% of the human genome sequenced to an accuracy of 99.99%.

Metallica file a lawsuit against P2P sharing phenomenon Napster. This lawsuit eventually leads the movement against file-sharing programs.

America’s first space shuttle, Columbia, returned to Earth after a three-day test flight. The shuttle orbited the Earth 36 times during the mission.

In Chicago, Illinois, videotape is first demonstrated.

Hydro-Québec founded by the Quebec Hydro-Electric Commission after the Duplessis government expropriates Montreal Light, Heat and Power Consolidated and its subsidiary, Beauharnois Light, Heat and Power Company; after public criticism of poor service and high rates.

The first Volvo car premieres in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The Atlantic passenger liner Titanic, on its maiden voyage hit an iceberg.

Canada sets denominations of currency as dollars, cents, & mills

US President Abraham Lincoln is shot in the head by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater in Washington; he dies a day later.

Gregg Popovich surpasses Lenny Wilkens to became the all-time winningest coach in NBA history with his 1,413th win.

BTS is the first K-pop band to perform on US TV show “Saturday Night Live”.

“Avengers: Age of Ultron”, directed by Joss Whedon, starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo and Jeremy Renner, premieres in Los Angeles.

NHL Pitts Penguin Mario Lemieux’s last NHL regular game.

Tiger Woods became the youngest person to win the Masters Tournament at the age of 21. He also set a record when he finished at 18 under par.

Montreal fans welcome Pete Rose in his first game as an Expo; he hits a double – his 4,000th career hit – against his former teammates, the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Rolling Stones released ‘Brown Sugar’ the first record on their own label, Rolling Stones Records, which introduces the infamous licking- tongue and lips logo.

Apollo 13 announces “Okay, Houston, we’ve had a problem here”, as Beech-built oxygen tank explodes en route to Moon

The Beatles record their single “Help”.

Sidney Poitier became the first black to win an Oscar for best actor. It was for his role in the movie “Lilies of the Field.”

The Metropolitan Museum of Art was founded in New York City.

George Frideric Handel’s oratorio “Messiah” performed for the 1st time at New Music Hall in Dublin.

Euro Disney (Disneyland Paris) opens in Marne-la-Vallee, France.

56th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Fred Couples wins his only major title, 2 strokes ahead of 1976 champion Raymond Floyd.

Terry Fox 1958-1981 dips his artificial leg into the Atlantic in St. John’s Newfoundland to start his cross-country ‘Marathon of Hope’, backed by the Canadian Cancer Society, to raise money for cancer research.

Anne Rice’s debut novel “Interview with a Vampire” is published by Knopf.

1st B-52 bombing on North Vietnam.

Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first person to orbit Earth (Vostok 1)

Maurice (Rocket) Richard scores his last NHL goal before retiring, helping his Canadiens beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2.

Bill Haley and the Comets record “Rock Around Clock”.

John Moodie from Hamilton, On, imports a Winton automobile, first gasoline-powered automobile brought to Canada.

George C Blickensderfer patents portable typewriter.

Winnipeg hit with record 33 cm of snow.

Fort Sumter in South Carolina is attacked by the Confederacy, beginning the American Civil War.

England adopted the original Union Jack as its flag.

85th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Hideki Matsuyama become first Japanese male to win a golf major.

Barack Obama and Raúl Castro meet in Panama, the 1st meeting of US and Cuban heads of state since the Cuban Revolution.

“The Avengers”, directed by Joss Whedon and starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo and Jeremy Renner, premieres in Los Angeles.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announces that Iran has successfully enriched uranium.

Philadelphia Flyers’ goalie Ron Hextall scores short-handed into an empty net in an 8-5 victory over Washington Capitals; first NHL goalie to score a playoff goal. In 1987, he was the first goalie to score a regular season goal.

The Apple I computer, created by Steve Wozniak is released

Apollo 13 is launched.

Frank Sinatra records “Strangers in the Night” single for his album of the same name. Later reaches #1 Billboard charts.

Prince Rainier III becomes ruler of Monaco.

Jackie Robinson became the first black player in major-league history. He played in an exhibition game for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Establishment of Tel Aviv by Jewish settlers.

The Shogunate is abolished in Japan.

Napoleon Bonaparte abdicates unconditionally and he is exiled to the island of Elba in the Mediterranean.

Fire destroys one-third of the town of Montreal.

First home delivery service by drone begins in Canberra, Australia by Wing, part of Google’s Alphabet company.

First-ever photo of a black hole announced, taken by The Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration in 2017 in galaxy M87, 6.5 billion times the mass of earth, 55 million light-years away.

Pittsburgh Penguins win their NHL record 17 game winning streak.

Paul McCartney officially announces the split of The Beatles.

Warner Bros. released “House of Wax.” It was the first 3-D movie to be released by a major Hollywood studio.

Act of Parliament creates Trans-Canada Airlines, now Air Canada; company will have two passenger planes and a biplane by September launch.

F. Scott Fitzgerald published “The Great Gatsby” for the first time.

The Professional Golfers Association (PGA) held its first championship tournament.

White Star liner Titanic leaves Queenstown for NY; to pass the coast of Newfoundland in four days.

Mount Tambora in the Dutch East Indies experiences a cataclysmic eruption, one of the most powerful in history, killing around 71,000 people, causes global volcanic winter.

81st US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Spaniard Sergio García beats Justin Rose of England; Garcia’s 1st major title in his 74th attempt.

“The Lion King” becomes highest grossing Broadway show after overtaking “The Phantom of the Opera”.

Wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles; Charles, Prince of Wales marries Camilla Parker Bowles in a civil ceremony at Windsor’s Guildhall.

Baghdad falls to U.S. forces, ending the invasion of Iraq, but resulting in widespread looting.

US Fed court finds Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega guilty of 8 out of 10 drug and racketeering charges.

Wayne Gretzky tallies his 177th career playoff point vs. Los Angeles, surpassing Jean Beliveau as the all-time leading scorer in Stanley Cup playoff history.

Ringo Starr releases “It Don’t Come Easy” in UK

Martin Luther King Jr., buried in Atlanta.

NASA names 1st 7 astronauts for Project Mercury.

PGA establishes Golf Hall of Fame.

Mae West made her debut on Broadway in the production of “Diamond Lil.”

Hudson Bay Company cedes its territory to Canada.

The National Gallery opened in London.