Bay of Pigs Invasion April 17, 1961 The Bay of Pigs Invasion is led by Cuban exiles, trained, armed, and directed by the U.S., in an effort to overthrow Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro. It failed. The invading force was quickly defeated by the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces under the command of Castro.

Texas City Disaster April 16, 1947 The French ship SS Grandcamp, loaded with 2,200 tons ammonium nitrate, catches fire and explodes in a Texas City, Texas port, leading to a chain of fires and explosions, including a chemical plant, killing over 500 people and virtually destroying the town. All but one member of the 28...

Sinking of the Titanic April 15, 1912 At 2:20 a.m. the "unsinkable" RMS Titanic sinks killing 1,517 of the 2,238 people aboard. The Titanic had struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic shortly before midnight while on her maiden voyage from Southampton, UK, to New York City. Masabumi Hosono, the only Japanese ...

Lincoln Shot April 14, 1865 U.S. President Abraham Lincoln is shot and mortally wounded in Ford's Theater by John Wilkes Booth.

Iraq Attempts to Assassinate George Bush April 13, 1993 The government of Iraq attempts to assassinate former U.S. President George H. W. Bush with a car bomb while he was visiting Kuwait City. Saddam denied involvement, but had previously promised to hunt down and punish Bush, even after he left office. A 175-pound ca...