April 9

RIP Francis Bacon (1626); Gen. Robert E. Lee surrenders to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, ending the Civil War (1865); Hugh Hefner born (1926); RIP architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1959); HBD “Sex and the City” actress and activist Cynthia Nixon (1966).

April 7

English poet William Wordsworth born (1770); Jazz singer Billie Holiday born (1915); RIP Ford Motor Co. founder Henry Ford (1947); WHO established (1948); US breaks diplomatic ties with Iran during Iran hostage crisis (1980).

April 6

Renaissance artist Raphael born and dies (1483, 1520); first modern Olympics opens in Athens (1896); US declares war on Germany in World War I (1917); RIP prolific science fiction author Isaac Asimov (1992); RIP country singer Tammy Wynette (1998).

Maya Angelou

Did you know... 

... that today is the birthday of Maya Angelou (1928)? Maya, born Marguerite Ann Johnson, is an American author and poet who has been called "America's most visible black female autobiographer" by scholar Joanne M. Braxton. She is best known for her series of six autobiographical volumes, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences.

April 3

American politician Boss Tweed born (1823); Actress Doris Day born (1922); HBD Eddie Murphy (1961); First mobile phone call is made (1973); Apple releases the first iPad (2010).

April 2

Juan Ponce de León is first European in Florida (1513); Singer Marvin Gaye born (1939); Rita Johnston becomes first female premier of a Canadian province (1991); RIP Pope John Paul II (2005); RIP Winnie Mandela, activist and ex-wife of Nelson Mandela (2018).

April 1

Actress Debbie Reynolds born (1932); Apple Computer founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak (1976); Iran overthrows the Shah, officially becomes an Islamic republic (1979); Singer Marvin Gaye shot and killed by his father (1984).