April 5 is the 95th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 270 days remain until the end of the year.
We have some interesting facts & historic events all about April 5th, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.
Keep reading for more interesting facts about April 5th in history!
Table of Contents
Global Celebrations
- First contact day.
- National Go For Broke Day
- National Caramel Day
- National Deep Dish Pizza Day
- National Read a Road Map Day
- Star Trek First Contact Day
Historic Events
What Happened On This Day – April 5
1998: The world’s largest suspension bridge opens to traffic
The Akashi Kaikyō Bridge in Japan features the world’s longest central span, measuring 1991 meters (6532 feet).
1986: A bomb kills 3 people at the La Belle in West Berlin
The attack on the nightclub, which was frequented by U.S. soldiers, was later blamed on the Libyan secret service. In retaliatory strikes, at least 15 people were killed in Libya.
1955: Winston Churchill resigns as U.K. Prime Minister
Churchill was instrumental in initiating the alliance between the U.K., the U.S., and the Soviet Union against Nazi Germany. His political career spanned half a century.
1951: Ethel and Julius Rosenberg are sentenced to death
The U.S. couple was accused of passing information about nuclear weapons on to the Soviet Union. It later emerged that Ethel was not involved in her husband’s activities. Both were executed in 1953.
1895: Oscar Wilde loses his criminal libel case triggered by accusations of homosexuality
The Marquess of Queensbury had left his calling card in the Albemarle Club with the added inscription, “For Oscar Wilde posing Somdomite” (sic).
1963: The Beatles receive their 1st silver disc in 1963.
1st performance of Ludwig van Beethoven’s 2nd Symphony in D, conducted by the composer, in Vienna.
Chile declares war on Bolivia and Peru, starting the War of the Pacific.
1948: Sardar Patel Worked For Unification of India, Nizam of Hyderabad Surrenders to Sardar Patel.

1944: Don Gentile and his P-51 Mustang “Shangri-La”. On April 5th, 1944, Gentile shot down his 27th plane and broke the record of 26 kills by WWI ace Eddie Rickenbacker. By the end of the war this “Ace of Aces” achieved a total of 30 kills.

Albert Einstein on the beach.

1900: Belgian miners. 1900.

760: Martand sun temple built by Hindu King Lalit aditya, in Anantanag, Jammu & Kashmir in 760 AD, Sikandar Butshikan destroyd it in 15th century…it was such a huge one that it took a yearr to destroy… Still in ruins, neglected.

Famous Birthdays
Births On This Day, April 5
1937: Colin Powell, American general, politician, 65th United States Secretary of State
1917: Robert Bloch, American author
1912: John Le Mesurier, English actor
1908: Bette Davis, American actress
1900: Spencer Tracy, American actor
Pharrell William was born.
Rashmika Mandana was born.
Charlotte Flair was born.
Heartbreaking Deaths
Deaths On This Day, April 5
1997: Allen Ginsberg, American poet
1994: Kurt Cobain, American singer-songwriter, guitarist
1976: Howard Hughes, American engineer, director
1975: Chiang Kai-shek, Chinese military leader, politician, President of the Republic of China
1928: Roy Kilner, English cricketer
Kurt Cobain died.
Layne Staley died.
Howard Hughes died.