King Baldwin I, the first Latin of Jerusalem, died on April 2, 1118, during a military campaign in Egypt. He named his bother Eustace III of Boulogne, as successor before he died but his nobles pushed for his cousin, Baldwin II of Edessa, to take the throne.
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On This Day in History: April 2
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.
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The Second Council of the Lateran, (Tenth ecumenical council) presided over by Pope Innocent II, began on April 2, 1139 at the Lateran Basilica in Rome. The Council officially ended the schism created by the election of Anacletus II who had died in 1138
The Treaty of Olomouc is signed,on April 2, 1479, bringing an end to the 10-year War between Matthias Corvinus of Hungary and Vladislaus II of Bohemia. The Treaty was formally ratified in July 21 of the same year.
Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León lands on Florida's east coast on April 2, 1513, near present-day St. Augustine and claims Florida for Spain. 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 was passed on April 2, 1792, establishing a national mint located in Philadelphia. 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
The Richmond Bread Riot, took place in the Confederate capital of Richmond on April 2, 1863, after a group of hungry Richmond women took their complaints to Virginia Governor John L. Letcher, and he refused to see them. The anger led to attacks on commercial establishments. Troops were deployed and it was eventually stopped with more than sixty protesters arrested and tried'
The riot was the most destructive in a series of civil disturbances throughout the South during the third year of the American Civil War. The Confederate economy was showing signs of serious strain and the Confederate Congress had passed the Impressment Act, which allowed the military to seize private property, supplies, and enslaved labor for the war effort. The act was viewed as unreasonable and confiscatory leading to rampant speculation and Inflation.
Confederate President Jefferson Davis, leaves the Confederate Capital city of Richmond, Virginia on April 2, 1865, by railroad with his cabinet, and official archives, followed by the retiring Confederate troops who ignited supplies, resulting in massive fires that destroyed approximately one-fourth of the city.
The following day, on April 3, 1865, the Union forces, took control of Richmond Virginia and President Abraham Lincoln toured the fallen city on April 4–5, 1865. The fall of Richmond effectively signaled the end of the Confederacy, as it forced General Robert E. Lee to retreat further, leading to his surrender a few days later at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.
Argentine forces launched "Operation Rosario," on April 2, 1982, invading the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and forcing the surrender of the small British garrison in Port Stanley. Leading to a 74-day, undeclared war as Britain dispatched a naval task force, resulting in Argentina's surrender on June 14, 1982, with 649 Argentine and 255 British lives lost.
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Pope John Paul II died on April 2, 2005, at age 84, leading to the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI on April 19, 2005.
The 2009 G20 London Summit, held on April 2, 2009, brought together world leaders to address the global financial crisis. It was Chaired by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, resulting in a significant trillion pledge to stimulate the global economy, restore credit, and strengthen financial regulations, to help halt the recession.