Apr 11

Apr 11 What Happened on April 11 in History?

Throughout history, April 11 has been a day of major political shifts, scientific milestones, and civil rights progress. Notable events include the abdication of Napoleon Bonaparte, the launch of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission, and the signing of the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1968.

Major Historical Events

Napoleon’s First Abdication (1814): Following his defeat by the Sixth Coalition, Napoleon Bonaparte signed the Treaty of Fontainebleau, abdicating as Emperor of France and beginning his first exile on the island of Elba.
Liberation of Buchenwald (1945): During the final stages of World War II, U.S. Army troops liberated the Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany, freeing thousands of prisoners, including future Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel.
The Civil Rights Act of 1968 (1968): Exactly one week after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which prohibited discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing.
Apollo 13 Launch (1970): NASA's Apollo 13 mission launched from Kennedy Space Center. Two days later, an oxygen tank explosion forced the crew to abort their planned lunar landing and fight to return safely to Earth.
Trial of Adolf Eichmann (1961): The trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann began in Jerusalem, marking a significant moment in the documentation of Holocaust atrocities.

Politics & World Leaders

William and Mary Crowned (1689): William III and Mary II were crowned joint sovereigns of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Truman Fires MacArthur (1951): President Harry S. Truman famously relieved General Douglas MacArthur of his command in the Korean War due to insubordination regarding war policy.
Uganda's Idi Amin Deposed (1979): The 8-year brutal regime of dictator Idi Amin ended as Tanzanian forces and Ugandan rebels captured the capital, Kampala.
Julian Assange Arrested (2019): WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was arrested by British police after Ecuador withdrew his asylum status at its London embassy.

Inventions & Culture

Apple I Created (1976): Steve Wozniak built the Apple I computer, which Steve Jobs would later convince him to sell, launching the Apple legacy.
Tel Aviv Founded (1909): The city of Tel Aviv was officially founded by Jewish families on a sand dune outside Jaffa.
First Radio Sports Broadcast (1921): The first-ever live sporting event was broadcast on radio, a boxing match between Johnny Ray and Johnny Dundee on Pittsburgh's KDKA.
Titanic's Last Stop (1912): The RMS Titanic departed Queenstown (now Cobh), Ireland, for its final leg toward New York City.

Notable Births