
View Historical Events by Day: What Happened on April 2 in History?
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on April 2nd. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
Note: Sources for the historical content shown, include research and reviews of relevant Online History Resources or printed material. When possible, we show a link to a source which provides additional or unique perspective about the event.
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David I becomes King of Scotland.
Richard the Lionheart is released from captivity in Germany after paying a ransom.
Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León claims Florida for Spain after landing on Florida's east coast near present-day St. Augustine. He named the land, with lavish landscape and beautiful beaches, "La Florida" or "place of flowers" Ponce de Leon had traveled from Puerto Rico where he established the first European settlement, Caparra, near what is now San Juan. More
The US Congress Coinage Act of 1792 establishes a national mint located in Philadelphia and Congress chose decimal coinage in parts of 100, and set the name of the Coinage as the U.S. dollar to the already familiar and widely used Spanish silver dollar and its fractional parts (half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth). This resulted in coins of the following metals and denominations: Copper: half cent and cent. Silver: half dime, dime, quarter, half dollar, and dollar. Gold: quarter eagle ($2.50), half eagle ($5), and eagle ($10). The Flowing Hair dollar, designed by Robert Scot, was initially produced in 1794, and again in 1795. In October 1795 the design was replaced by the Draped Bust dollar. More
Pope John Paul II dies, leading to the election of Pope Benedict XVI.