Major Events
- 1250 The Seventh Crusade is defeated in Egypt, Louis IX of France captured
- 1598 Edict of Nantes grants political rights to French Huguenots
- 1860 1st Pony Express rider reaches Sacramento, California
- 1868 Abyssinian War ends as British and Indian troops capture Magdala and Ethiopian Emperor Tewodros II commits suicide
- 1970 Apollo 13 announces "Okay, Houston, we've had a problem here", as Beech-built oxygen tank explodes en route to Moon
- More April 13 Events
Apr 13 in Film & TV
- 1964 36th Academy Awards: "Tom Jones" (Best Film), Patricia Neal (Hud) and Sidney Poitier (Lilies Of The Field) win; Poitier first Black actor in a leading role to win a competitive Oscar
Apr 13 in Music
- 1742 George Frideric Handel's oratorio "Messiah" performed for the 1st time at New Music Hall in Dublin
Apr 13 in Sport
- 1962 Stan Musial scores his 1,869th run, a new NL record
Did You Know?
John Dryden, aged 36, appointed the first English Poet Laureate by King Charles II
Catherine de' Medici
Guy Fawkes
Thomas Jefferson
Butch Cassidy
Stanislaw Ulam
Christopher Hitchens
Don Adams
Jonathan Brandis
Ron Perlman
Al Green
Lou Bega
Garry Kasparov
Davis Love III
Fun Fact About April 13
New Zealander Colin Bosher shears a record 565 sheep in 1 work day
Famous Weddings
- 2002 "Law & Order" actor Benjamin Bratt (38) weds actress-model Talisa Soto (35) in San Francisco, California
- 2009 Actor Michael Biehn (52) weds actress Jennifer Blanc (35)
- 2017 "New Girl" actress Hannah Simone (36) weds musician Jesse Giddings in a secret ceremony
Famous Divorces
- 1992 Nelson Mandela announces he will seek divorce from Winnie Madikizela
More April 13 Weddings
Jean de La Fontaine
Annie Jump Cannon
François Tombalbaye
Muriel Spark
Günter Grass
Mary QuantArticles, Photos and Quiz
Hallelujah! Music That Moved a King
Few can fail to be moved by Handel's Messiah oratorio, culminating in the Hallelujah Chorus. It was even said to have brought a king to his feet.
April 13, 1742
Ethiopian Emperor Commits Suicide
British soldiers discover the body of Emperor Tewodros II after he committed suicide following the Battle of Magdala
April 13, 1868
