On this day

4 April in history.

5 moments from 1581 to 1975: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

Paul G. Allen at Flying Heritage Collection

1975

Microsoft is founded. Two young friends, Bill Gates and Paul Allen, set up a small software partnership in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It grew into one of the world's biggest companies.

Wikipedia: Microsoft

Photo: Miles Harris / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

More from 4 April

  1. Replica of the Elizabethan galleon, The Golden Hind, captained by Francis Drake in 16th Century, Southwark, London, UK

    1581

    Drake is knighted

    Queen Elizabeth I knighted Francis Drake aboard his ship, the Golden Hind, after he sailed all the way around the world.

    Wikipedia: Francis DrakeWikipedia: Golden Hind

    Photo: Jose L. Marin / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.5)

  2. description: Georges Cuvier *source: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/ *license: public domain

    1796

    The first talk on fossils

    Georges Cuvier gave a lecture in Paris showing that some animals had once lived and then vanished, helping start the science of fossils.

    Wikipedia: Georges CuvierWikipedia: Paleontology

    Photo: Georges_Cuvier.jpg : Unknown derivative work: Bea o / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  3. Dog show

    1873

    The Kennel Club is founded

    The world's oldest kennel club was set up in Britain to keep records of dog breeds and run fair dog shows.

    Wikipedia: Royal Kennel Club

    Photo: The original uploader was Jurriaan Schulman at English Wikipedia . / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

  4. Susanna M. Salter (March 2, 1860 – March 17, 1961), mayor of Argonia, Kansas and the first woman elected to any political office in the United States

    1887

    The first woman mayor in America

    Voters in the small town of Argonia, Kansas, elected Susanna Salter. Some men had put her name forward as a joke, but she won easily.

    Wikipedia: Susanna M. Salter

    Photo: Unknown photographer / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Moments chosen for discovery, creativity and courage. Each one links to a source where you can read more; photos are credited to their owners.