April 6 in history — What Happened Today in History
April 6 in history is full of turning points. This page walks you through what happened on April 6 in history, who was born on April 6 and who passed away on April 6, so nothing about this day slips past you.
On this page, April 6 in history is arranged as a timeline of major events in reverse order, with birthdays and deaths in their own sections, plus a short FAQ about April 6 in history at the bottom.
Major Events on April 6 in History 40
- 2026
The crew of Artemis II makes the first crewed circumlunar flight since Apollo 17 in 1972, returning humanity to the Moon's vicinity and breaking Apollo 13's record by ~4,000 miles as the furthest crewed spaceflight.
- 2018
A bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos junior ice hockey team collides with a semi-truck in Saskatchewan, Canada, killing 16 people and injuring 13 others.
- 2017
U.S. military launches 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at an air base in Syria. Russia describes the strikes as an "aggression", adding they significantly damage US-Russia ties.
- 2012
Azawad declares itself independent from the Republic of Mali.
- 2011
In San Fernando, Tamaulipas, Mexico, over 193 victims of Los Zetas were exhumed from several mass graves.
- 2010
Maoist rebels kill 76 CRPF officers in Dantewada district, India.
- 2009
A 6.3 magnitude earthquake strikes near L'Aquila, Italy, killing 307.
- 2008
The 2008 Egyptian general strike starts led by Egyptian workers later to be adopted by April 6 Youth Movement and Egyptian activists.
- 2005
Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani becomes Iraqi president; Shiite Arab Ibrahim al-Jaafari is named premier the next day.
- 2004
Rolandas Paksas becomes the first president of Lithuania to be peacefully removed from office by impeachment.
- 1998
Nuclear weapons testing: Pakistan tests medium-range missiles capable of reaching India.
- 1997
In Greene County, Tennessee, the Lillelid murders occur.
All entries for April 6（+28）
- 1994
The Rwandan genocide begins when the aircraft carrying Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana and Burundian president Cyprien Ntaryamira is shot down.
- 1992
The Bosnian War begins.
- 1985
Sudanese President Gaafar Nimeiry is ousted from power in a coup d'état led by Field Marshal Abdel Rahman Swar al-Dahab.
- 1984
Members of Cameroon's Republican Guard unsuccessfully attempt to overthrow the government headed by Paul Biya.
- 1974
In Brighton, United Kingdom, ABBA wins the 1974 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with "Waterloo", the first of a joint-record seven Swedish wins.
- 1974
The first California Jam festival takes place at the Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California. Co-headlined by Deep Purple and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The festival set what were then records for the loudest amplification system ever installed, the highest paid attendance, and highest gross in history.
- 1973
Launch of Pioneer 11 spacecraft.
- 1973
The American League of Major League Baseball begins using the designated hitter.
- 1972
Vietnam War: Easter Offensive: American forces begin sustained air strikes and naval bombardments.
- 1970
Newhall massacre: Four California Highway Patrol officers are killed in a shootout.
- 1968
In the downtown district of Richmond, Indiana, a double explosion kills 41 and injures 150.
- 1968
Pierre Elliott Trudeau wins the Liberal Party leadership election, and becomes Prime Minister of Canada soon afterward.
- 1965
Launch of Early Bird, the first commercial communications satellite to be placed in geosynchronous orbit.
- 1958
Capital Airlines Flight 67 crashes in Tittabawassee Township, Michigan, near Freeland Tri-City Airport, killing 47.
- 1957
The flag carrier airline of Greece for decades, Olympic Airways, is founded by Aristotle Onassis following the acquisition of "TAE - Greek National Airlines".
- 1948
The Finno-Soviet Treaty is signed in Moscow.
- 1947
The first Tony Awards are presented for theatrical achievement.
- 1945
World War II: Sarajevo is liberated from German and Croatian forces by the Yugoslav Partisans.
- 1945
World War II: The Battle of Slater's Knoll on Bougainville comes to an end.
- 1941
World War II: Nazi Germany launches Operation 25 (the invasion of Kingdom of Yugoslavia) and Operation Marita (the invasion of Greece).
- 1936
Tupelo–Gainesville tornado outbreak: Another tornado from the same storm system as the Tupelo tornado hits Gainesville, Georgia, killing 203.
- 1930
At the end of the Salt March, Gandhi raises a lump of mud and salt and declares, "With this, I am shaking the foundations of the British Empire."
- 1929
Huey P. Long, Governor of Louisiana, is impeached by the Louisiana House of Representatives.
- 1926
Varney Airlines makes its first commercial flight (Varney is the root company of United Airlines).
- 1918
Finnish Civil War: The battle of Tampere ends.
- 1917
World War I: The United States declares war on Germany.
- 1911
During the Battle of Deçiq, Dedë Gjon Luli Dedvukaj, leader of the Malësori Albanians, raises the Albanian flag in the town of Tuzi, Montenegro, for the first time after George Kastrioti (Skanderbeg).
- 1909
Robert Peary and Matthew Henson become the first people to reach the North Pole; Peary's claim has been disputed because of failings in his navigational ability.
Famous Birthdays on April 6 in History 25
- 2009
Shaylee Mansfield, deaf American actress and YouTuber
- 2009
Valentina Tronel, French child singer
- 2002
Andrea Botez, Canadian-American chess player, commentator, Twitch streamer and YouTuber
- 2002
Leyre Romero Gormaz, Spanish tennis player
- 2001
Oscar Piastri, Australian racing driver
- 2001
Moritz Seider, German ice hockey player
- 2000
Shaheen Afridi, Pakistani cricketer
- 2000
Maxence Lacroix, French footballer
- 1998
Nicolás González, Argentine footballer
- 1998
Peyton List, American actress and model
- 1998
Spencer List, American actor
- 1998
Nahuel Molina, Argentine footballer
All entries for April 6（+13）
- 1997
Mingyu, South Korean singer and rapper
- 1996
Al-Musrati, Libyan footballer
- 1995
Darya Lebesheva, Belarusian tennis player
- 1994
Adrián Alonso, Mexican actor
- 1992
Ken, South Korean singer
- 1992
Julie Ertz, American soccer player
- 1992
Huh Chan-mi, South Korean singer
- 1990
Lachlan Coote, Australian rugby league player
- 1990
Charlie McDermott, American actor
- 1990
Andrei Veis, Estonian footballer
- 1988
Jucilei, Brazilian footballer
- 1988
Leigh Adams, Australian footballer
- 1988
Daniele Gasparetto, Italian footballer
Notable Deaths on April 6 in History 25
- 2026
Nick Pope, British UFO writer (born 1965)
- 2025
Clem Burke, American drummer (born 1954)
- 2025
Jay North, American actor (born 1951)
- 2024
Joseph E. Brennan, American politician, 70th Governor of Maine (born 1934)
- 2022
Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Russian and Soviet politician (born 1946)
- 2022
Jill Knight, British politician (born 1923)
- 2021
Hans Küng, Swiss Catholic priest, theologian, and author (born 1928)
- 2021
Alcee Hastings, American politician (born 1936)
- 2020
Al Kaline, American baseball player, broadcaster and executive (born 1934)
- 2019
Michael O'Donnell, British physician, journalist, author and broadcaster (born 1928)
- 2017
Don Rickles, American actor and comedian (born 1926)
- 2016
Merle Haggard, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1937)
All entries for April 6（+13）
- 2015
Giovanni Berlinguer, Italian lawyer and politician (born 1924)
- 2015
James Best, American actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1926)
- 2015
Ray Charles, American singer-songwriter and conductor (born 1918)
- 2015
Dollard St. Laurent, Canadian ice hockey player (born 1929)
- 2014
Mary Anderson, American actress (born 1918)
- 2014
Jacques Castérède, French pianist and composer (born 1926)
- 2014
Liv Dommersnes, Norwegian actress (born 1922)
- 2014
Mickey Rooney, American soldier, actor, and dancer (born 1920)
- 2014
Chuck Stone, American soldier, journalist, and academic (born 1924)
- 2014
Massimo Tamburini, Italian motorcycle designer, co-founded Bimota (born 1943)
- 2013
Hilda Bynoe, Grenadian physician and politician, 2nd Governor of Grenada (born 1921)
- 2013
Bill Guttridge, English footballer and manager (born 1931)
- 2013
Bigas Luna, Spanish director and screenwriter (born 1946)
That is the story of April 6 in history. Bookmark this page and come back next year on April 6 to relive these world-changing moments — or take a random trip through time and see what happened on another day in history.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on April 6 in history?
The biggest event on April 6 in history is: 2026 — The crew of Artemis II makes the first crewed circumlunar flight since Apollo 17 in 1972, returning humanity to the Moon's vicinity and breaking Apollo 13's record by ~4,000 miles as the furthest crewed spaceflight.. In total, 40 major events are recorded for this day.
Who was born on April 6?
25 famous people were born on April 6 in history, the best known being 2009 — Shaylee Mansfield, deaf American actress and YouTuber.
Who died on April 6?
25 notable people died on April 6 in history, including 2026 — Nick Pope, British UFO writer (born 1965).
Why should I read about April 6 in history?
Exploring April 6 in history helps you grasp the day's place in history in just a few minutes: events, birthdays and deaths in one read — perfect for students, teachers and curious minds.
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