April 2

April 2 is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 273 days remaining until the end of the year. Throughout history, this date has been marked by significant global events, ranging from pivotal battles and legislative milestones to the births and deaths of influential cultural, scientific, and political figures.

Events

1513 – Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León becomes the first documented European to sight the coast of Florida, claiming the territory for the Spanish Crown.

1792 – The Coinage Act is passed by the United States Congress, establishing the United States Mint and regulating the coinage of the United States.

1801 – During the Napoleonic Wars, the Battle of Copenhagen takes place, resulting in a decisive British naval victory under Admiral Sir Hyde Parker and Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson over the Dano-Norwegian fleet.

1917 – World War I: United States President Woodrow Wilson delivers a joint session of Congress, asking for a declaration of war against the German Empire (which would be officially declared on April 6).

1930 – Haile Selassie is officially crowned Emperor of Ethiopia, a position he would hold until 1974, becoming a defining figure in modern African history and the Rastafari movement.

1982 – The Falklands War begins as Argentine military forces invade and occupy the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean.

1989 – The multinational computer hardware and electronics company Asus is founded in Taipei, Taiwan.

2015 – Gunmen affiliated with the militant group Al-Shabaab attack Garissa University College in Kenya, resulting in the deaths of 148 people and injuring dozens more.

Births

1725 – Giacomo Casanova, Italian adventurer, author, and notorious libertine (d. 1798).

1805 – Hans Christian Andersen, Danish author, poet, and fairy tale writer best known for works such as "The Little Mermaid" and "The Ugly Duckling" (d. 1875).

1840 – Émile Zola, French journalist, playwright, and novelist who was a leading figure in the literary school of naturalism (d. 1902).

1939 – Marvin Gaye, American singer-songwriter and musician who helped shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s (d. 1984).

1977 – Michael Fassbender, German-Irish actor known for his roles in films such as 12 Years a Slave, Shame, and the X-Men franchise.

Deaths

1657 – Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary and Croatia, and King of Bohemia (b. 1608).

1872 – Samuel Morse, American painter and inventor who co-developed the single-wire telegraph system and Morse code (b. 1791).

1914 – Paul Heyse, German author, poet, and dramatist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1910 (b. 1830).

1928 – Theodore William Richards, American chemist and the first American to receive the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his accurate determination of atomic weights (b. 1868).

2005 – Pope John Paul II, born Karol Józef Wojtyła, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his death (b. 1920).

Holidays and observances

World Autism Awareness Day – An internationally recognized day designated by the United Nations to encourage member states to take measures to raise awareness about people with autistic spectrum disorders throughout the world.

International Children's Book Day – Sponsored by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), this day is celebrated on or around Hans Christian Andersen's birthday to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children's books.

Malvinas Day (Día del Veterano y de los Caídos en la Guerra de Malvinas) – A public holiday in Argentina commemorating the veterans and fallen soldiers of the Falklands War.

Thai Heritage Conservation Day – An annual observance in Thailand dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the nation's cultural and historical heritage, coinciding with the birthday of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.