Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
April 15 Wednesday, April 15, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on April 15 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
8
Holidays
US history 161 years ago
President Abraham Lincoln dies after being shot the previous evening by actor John Wilkes Booth. Three hours later, Vice President Andrew Johnson is sworn in as president.
Abraham Lincoln dies from a gunshot wound inflicted by actor John Wilkes Booth, and Vice President Andrew Johnson is sworn in as his successor hours later.
History
What happened on April 15
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 769Religion
The Lateran Council ends by condemning the Council of Hieria and anathematizing its iconoclastic rulings.
The Lateran Council concludes, condemning the Council of Hieria and anathematizing its iconoclastic decrees.
- 1071European history
Bari, the last Byzantine possession in southern Italy, is surrendered to the Norman Robert Guiscard.
Bari surrenders to Norman leader Robert Guiscard, marking the end of Byzantine rule in southern Italy.
- 1071Religion
The sharif of Mecca changes the khutbah from the Shiite Fatimid caliph in Cairo to the Sunni Abbasid Caliph in Bagdhad.
The sharif of Mecca alters the khutbah to recognize the Sunni Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad instead of the Shiite Fatimid caliph in Cairo.
- 1191European history
Henry VI, King of Germany, is crowned Holy Roman Emperor by pope Celestine III.
Henry VI, King of Germany, is crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Celestine III in Rome.
- 1277War
The Mamluk Sultanate defeats the Mongols in the battle of Elbistan.
The Mamluk Sultanate defeats the Mongol army at the Battle of Elbistan.
- 1450War
Battle of Formigny: Toward the end of the Hundred Years' War, the French attack and nearly annihilate English forces, ending English domination in Northern France.
The French defeat English forces at the Battle of Formigny, ending English dominance in northern France.
- 1632European history
Battle of Rain: Swedes under Gustavus Adolphus defeat the Holy Roman Empire during the Thirty Years' War.
Gustavus Adolphus leads Swedish forces to victory over the Holy Roman Empire in the Battle of Rain.
- 1642War
Irish Confederate Wars: A Confederate Irish militia is routed in the Battle of Kilrush when it attempts to halt the progress of a Royalist Army.
A Confederate Irish militia is routed at the Battle of Kilrush while attempting to halt the advance of a Royalist Army.
- 1715US history
The Pocotaligo Massacre triggers the start of the Yamasee War in colonial South Carolina.
A group of Native Americans attack a British supply convoy near Pocotaligo, sparking the Yamasee War against colonial authorities.
- 1738Culture
Serse, an Italian opera by George Frideric Handel, receives its premiere performance in London, England.
Serse, an Italian opera by George Frideric Handel, premieres in London.
- 1865US history
President Abraham Lincoln dies after being shot the previous evening by actor John Wilkes Booth. Three hours later, Vice President Andrew Johnson is sworn in as president.
Abraham Lincoln dies from a gunshot wound inflicted by actor John Wilkes Booth, and Vice President Andrew Johnson is sworn in as his successor hours later.
- 1989Disaster
Hillsborough disaster: A human crush occurs at Hillsborough Stadium, home of Sheffield Wednesday, in the FA Cup Semi-final, resulting in the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans.
A human crush at Hillsborough Stadium during an FA Cup semi-final kills 96 people.
Born today
Famous birthdays on April 15
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 65
Dawn Wright
American geographer and oceanographer
Dawn Wright, an American geographer and oceanographer who pioneered the application of GIS technology to ocean science and created the first GIS data model for the oceans, turns 64 today.
Born
1961
Turns 65
today
Leonhard Euler
Swiss mathematician and physicist
1707 – 1783
A. Philip Randolph
American activist
1889 – 1979
Elizabeth Catlett
African-American sculptor and illustrator
1915 – 2012
Claudia Cardinale
Italian actress
1938 – 2025
Alla Pugacheva
Russian singer-songwriter and actress
b. 1949 · 77
Maisie Williams
English actress
b. 1997 · 29
Music
The number one songs on April 15
Across the years Full chart history
Also #1 on this day
- 2026"Rein Me In"— Sam Fender and Olivia Dean
- 2025"Ordinary"— Alex Warren
- 2024"Texas Hold 'Em"— Beyoncé
- 2023"Miracle"— Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding
- 2022"As It Was"— Harry Styles
- 2021"Montero (Call Me by Your Name)"— Lil Nas X
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport April 15, 1896
Closing ceremony of the Games of the I Olympiad in Athens, Greece.
The closing ceremony marks the end of the first modern Olympic Games in Athens.
Read the story
🔬 Science April 15, 2019
Scientists release the first direct image of a black hole's event horizon.
The Event Horizon Telescope collaboration unveils an image of the supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy M87, located 55 million light-years from Earth. The image shows a bright ring of light surrounding the black hole's shadow.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Day of the Sun (North Korea)
International
The Day of the Sun (Korean: 태양절) is an annual public holiday in North Korea on 15 April, the birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, founder and Eternal President of North Korea
Father Damien Day (Hawaii)
International
Damien De Veuster, popularly known as Father Damien or Saint Damien of Molokai, was a Belgian Catholic priest in the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
Hillsborough Disaster Memorial (Liverpool, England)
International
The Hillsborough disaster was a fatal crowd crush at a football match at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, on 15 April 1989
Jackie Robinson Day (United States)
International
Jackie Robinson Day is a traditional event which occurs annually on April 15 in Major League Baseball (MLB), commemorating and honoring the day Jackie Robinson made his major league debut
National American Sign Language Day (United States)
International
American Sign Language (ASL) is a natural language that serves as the predominant sign language of deaf communities in the United States and most of Anglophone Canada
Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year; India)
International
Pohela Boishakh is the Bengali New Year celebrated by the Bengali people worldwide and as a holiday on 14 April in Bangladesh and 15 April or 14 April in the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, Jha
❝
The ocean is the ultimate library, holding answers to questions we haven't even thought to ask yet.
— Dawn Wright · born April 15, 1961