Today in History - History - April 1st

1836Charles Darwin aboard HMS Beagle reaches Cocos Islands

1939US recognizes Franco government in Spain at end of Spanish civil war. Pope Pius XII congratulates Generalissimo Franco's victory in Spain

527Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne

199019th Nabisco Dinah Shore Golf Championship won by Betsy King

1936Charles "Lucky" Luciano" is arrested in Arkansas on a criminal warrant from New York

1938Joe Louis KOs Harry Thomas in 5 for heavyweight boxing title

1964John Lennon is reunited with his father Freddie after 17 years

1854Hard Times begins serialisation in Charles Dickens magazine, Household Words.

1990Wrestlemania VI, 67,678 in Toronto, Ultimate Warrior beats Hulk Hogan

1981CNN airs a videotape that shows that Tamara Rand predicted that Reagan is in danger from someone named Jack Humley (a hoax)

1815Otto Von Bismarck, Germany, chancellor (1866-90)

1920Toshiro Mifune, Tsing-tao China, writer/actor (Shogun)

1984Marvin Gaye, singer (Sexual Healing), shot to death by his father Marvin Gaye Sr in LA at 44

1950Charles R. Drew, surgeon/developer of blood bank concept, dies at 45