What Happened in April 1852

Historical Events

  • Apr 19 California Historical Society is founded

Roget's Thesaurus

Apr 29 1st edition of Peter Roget's Thesaurus published in Great Britain

Dmitri Donskoi

Apr 30 Anton Rubinstein's opera "Dmitri Donskoi" premieres in St Petersburg, Russia


Famous Birthdays

  • Apr 1 Edward Austin Abbey, American painter (Quest of the Holy Grail mural at Boston Public Library), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1911)
  • Apr 12 Ferdinand von Lindemann, German mathematician (Proving π ["pi"] is a transcendental number), born in Hanover, German Confederation (now Germany) (d. 1939)

Frank Winfield Woolworth (1852-1919)

Apr 13 American businessman, retail pioneer (Five-and-Dimes; self-service display cases) and founder of F. W. Woolworth Co, born in Rodman, New York [1]

  • Apr 14 Henrique Oswald, Brazilian composer, born in Rio de Janeiro (d. 1931)
  • Apr 17 Cap Anson, American Baseball HOF first baseman (NL batting champion 1881, 88; 8 × NL RBI leader; Chicago White Stockings/Colts) and manager (Philadelphia A's, Chicago White Stockings/Colts, NY Giants), born in Marshalltown, Iowa (d. 1922)
  • Apr 18 George Clausen, English painter, born in London (d. 1944)
  • Apr 22 Guillaume IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg (1905-12), born in Biebrich Palace, Wiesbaden, Duchy of Nassau (d. 1912)
  • Apr 23 Edwin Markham, American poet (1st winner of American Acad of Poets Award 1937), born in Oregon City, Oregon (d. 1940)
  • Apr 30 Charley Jones, American MLB Baseball outfielder, and one of the first sluggers, 1875-88 (Cincinnati Reds; Boston Red Caps, and 3 other teams), born in Alamance County, North Carolina (d. 1911)

Famous Deaths

  • Apr 2 Theodor Althaus, writer, dies
  • Apr 9 John Howard Payne, American actor, playwright (Fair Warning), author and creator of the hit song "Home! Sweet Home!", dies at 60
  • Apr 19 Vasily Zhukovsky, Russian folk poet and translator (Homerus), dies at 69
  • Apr 21 Ivan Nabokov, Russian general (b. 1787)
  • Apr 24 Vasily Zhukovsky, Russian poet (b. 1783)