Post Courtesy of Infoplease
1500
Pedro Alvares Cabral discovered Brazil and claimed it for Portugal.
1509
Henry VIII became king of England.
1616
The Spanish poet Cervantes died in Madrid. (Some sources say April 23.)
1864
Congress authorized the inscription “In God We Trust” on coins minted as U.S. currency.
1889
The land rush in Oklahoma began when it was opened to settlers.
1970
The first Earth Day was observed.
1994
Richard M. Nixon died of a stroke at the age of 81.
2000
Armed immigration agents took Elian Gonzalez from the Miami home of his relatives to reunite him with his father.
