John F. Kennedy
Famous Military Veterans
Marilyn Monroe
Anthony Weiner
My Ghost Story
I Survived
Babe Ruth
Johnny Cash
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I Survived
On This Day
Discover events that happened On This Day including famous birthdays and notable deaths. Each day we highlight famous people, past and present, who have impacted our world. Browse sections by selecting the links below or click the calendar to view events on another day.
April 5
Events on This Day
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1614
399 years ago
Pocahontas marries John Rolfe, a tobacco planter, to promote peace between colonial Virginia's settlers and Indian tribes.
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1887
126 years ago
Anne Sullivan succeeds in teaching deaf-blind Helen Keller that every object has a name. Keller later refers to this day as "[her] soul's birthday."
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2006
7 years ago
Katie Couric announces she will host The CBS Evening News, making her the first female to solo anchor the evening news on a major network.
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1994
19 years ago
Kurt Cobain, lead singer of Nirvana, commits suicide in his Seattle home.
April 5
Born on This Day
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Bette Davis
- In these groups:
- Scream Queens
- Best Actress Oscar Winners
- Famous Arians
Bette Davis
Actress, Pin-up / 1908 - 1989
Bette Davis is remembered as one of Hollywood's legendary leading ladies, famous for her larger-than-life persona and for her nearly 100 film appearances.
Born: April 5, 1908
Birthplace: Lowell, Massachusetts, United States
Occupation: Actress, Pin-up -
Arthur Hailey
- In these groups:
- Famous Arians
- Famous People Named Arthur
- Famous Fiction Authors
Arthur Hailey
Author / 1920 - 2004
Novelist Arthur Hailey wrote successful books-turned-movies Hotel (1965) and Airport (1968).1920 | 84 years old
Author -
Gregory Peck
- In these groups:
- Famous Irish-Americans
- Best Actor Oscar Winners
- Honorary Oscar Recipients
Gregory Peck
Actor / 1916 - 2003
Gregory Peck is best known for his larger-than-life film roles, particularly as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird.
1916 | 87 years old
Actor -
Colin Powell
- In these groups:
- Famous Military Veterans
- Famous Arians
- Famous Military Leaders
Colin Powell
Military Leader, Diplomat / 1937 -
Colin Powell was the first African American appointed as the U.S. Secretary of State, and the first, and so far the only, to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Born: April 5, 1937
Age: 76 years old
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Occupation: Military Leader, Diplomat -
Spencer Tracy
- In these groups:
- Famous Irish-Americans
- Sparks On The Set
- Best Actor Oscar Winners
Spencer Tracy
Film Actor, Theater Actor / 1900 - 1967
Spencer Tracy was one of Hollywood's greatest film stars. He appeared in 75 films from 1930 to 1967 and was nominated for five Academy Awards, two of which he won.
1900 | 67 years old
Film Actor, Theater Actor -
Booker T. Washington
- In these groups:
- Famous Academics
- Famous Teachers
- Famous Arians
Booker T. Washington
Educator, Civil Rights Activist / 1856 - 1915
Educator Booker T. Washington was one of the foremost African-American leaders of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, founding the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, now known as Tuskegee University.
1856 | 59 years old
Educator, Civil Rights Activist
April 5
Died on This Day
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Sam Walton
- In these groups:
- Eagle Scouts
- Famous Arians
- Famous People Born in 1918
Sam Walton
Entrepreneur / 1918 - 1992
Sam Walton was an American businessman best known for founding the retail chain Wal-Mart, which grew to be the world’s largest corporation.
Died: April 5, 1992
Age: 74 years old
Place: Little Rock, Arkansas , United States
Occupation: Entrepreneur -
Douglas MacArthur
- In these groups:
- Famous Aquarians
- Famous Military Leaders
- Famous Generals
Douglas MacArthur
General / 1880 - 1964
Douglas MacArthur was an American general best known for his command of Allied forces in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
1964 | 84 years old
General -
Allen Ginsberg
- In these groups:
- Famous Geminis
- Columbia University Alumni
- Famous Activists
Allen Ginsberg
Activist, Poet / 1926 - 1997
Allen Ginsberg is one of the 20th century's most influential poets, regarded as a founding father of the Beat Movement and known for works like "Howl."
1997 | 70 years old
Activist, Poet -
Kurt Cobain
- In these groups:
- The 27 Club
- Mysterious Deaths
- Famous Lefties
Kurt Cobain
Singer / 1967 - 1994
A talented, troubled grunge performer, Kurt Cobain became a rock legend with his band Nirvana in the 1990s and committed suicide at his Seattle home in 1994.
Died: April 5, 1994
Age: 27 years old
Place: Seattle, Washington , United States
Occupation: Singer -
Charlton Heston
- In these groups:
- Best Actor Oscar Winners
- Honorary Oscar Recipients
- The Ed Sullivan Show Guests
Charlton Heston
Film Actor / 1923 - 2008
Charlton Heston was an American film actor best known for his roles in Antony and Cleopatra, The Ten Commandments, Ben Hur and Planet of the Apes (1968).
2008 | 84 years old
Film Actor -
Howard Hughes
- In these groups:
- Famous Recluses
- Famous Dropouts
- Famous Capricorns
Howard Hughes
Entrepreneur / 1905 - 1976
Howard Hughes produced and directed movies in the '30s. He had a playboy lifestyle and love of aviation. After a plane accident in 1946, he became reclusive.
1976 | 70 years old
Entrepreneur
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profile name: Arthur Hailey profile occupation: Author
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profile name: Gregory Peck profile occupation: Actor
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profile name: Colin Powell profile occupation: Military Leader, Diplomat
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profile name: Spencer Tracy profile occupation: Film Actor, Theater Actor
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profile name: Booker T. Washington profile occupation: Educator, Civil Rights Activist
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profile name: Sam Walton profile occupation: Entrepreneur
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profile name: Douglas MacArthur profile occupation: General
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profile name: Allen Ginsberg profile occupation: Activist, Poet
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profile name: Kurt Cobain profile occupation: Singer
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profile name: Charlton Heston profile occupation: Film Actor
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profile name: Howard Hughes profile occupation: Entrepreneur
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profile name: Pocahontas profile occupation: Folk Hero
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profile name: John Rolfe profile occupation: Political Leader
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profile name: Anne Sullivan profile occupation: Educator
profile id: 9361967
profile name: Helen Keller profile occupation: Activist
profile id: 9542060
profile name: Katie Couric profile occupation: Talk Show Host
profile id: 9248164
profile name: Winston Churchill profile occupation: Prime Minister
profile id: 40341
profile name: Walter Huston profile occupation: Theater Actor
profile id: 39911
profile name: Saint Francis Xavier profile occupation: Missionary
profile id: 39076
profile name: Philip IV profile occupation: Political Leader
profile id: 38851
profile name: Léon Blum profile occupation: Political Leader
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Upcoming Birthdays
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Walter HustonWalter Huston
Film Actor, Theater Actor / 1884 - 1950
Walter Huston was a character actor whose career in theater and films ranged from musical comedy to high drama.April 6, 1884
Theater Actor -
Saint Francis Xavier
- In these groups:
- Famous Arians
- Famous Missionaries
- Famous People Named Francis
Saint Francis Xavier
Missionary / 1506 - 1552
Saint Francis Xavier was the greatest Roman Catholic missionary of modern times who was instrumental in the establishment of Christianity in many parts of Asia.April 7, 1506
Missionary -
Philip IV
- In these groups:
- Pucker Uppers
- Famous Lookalikes
- Famous Arians
Philip IV
Military Leader, Political Leader, King / 1605 - 1665
Philip IV was the King of Spain and Portugal during the decline of Spain as a great world power in the 1600's.
April 8, 1605
Political Leader -
Léon Blum
- In these groups:
- Famous Arians
- Famous Literary Critics
- Famous People Named Léon
Léon Blum
Literary Critic, Political Leader, Writer / 1872 - 1950
French politician and writer Léon Blum made a name as a brilliant literary and drama critic then entered politics in the French Socialist Party.
April 9, 1872
Political Leader
Famous Arians
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Jane Leeves
- In these groups:
- Famous Arians
- Famous Actresses
- Famous Film Actresses
Jane Leeves
Film Actress, Theater Actress, Television Actress / 1961 -
British-American actress Jane Leeves played Daphne on the Emmy Award-winning NBC sitcom Frasier, and began playing Joy on TV Land's Hot in Cleveland in 2010.
April 18, 1961
Film Actress, Theater Actress, Television Actress -
James A. Lovell, Jr.
- In these groups:
- Famous Military Veterans
- Famous Arians
- Famous Astronauts
James A. Lovell, Jr.
Astronaut / 1928 -
Jim Lovell is a former U.S. astronaut who commanded NASA's nearly disastrous Apollo 13 flight to the moon.
March 25, 1928
Astronaut
