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 2 Thursday, April 2, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on April 2 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
5
Holidays
1801
War 225 years ago
French Revolutionary Wars: In the Battle of Copenhagen a British Royal Navy squadron defeats a hastily assembled, smaller, mostly-volunteer Dano-Norwegian Navy at high cost, forcing Denmark out of the Second League of Armed Neutrality.
A British Royal Navy squadron defeats a hastily assembled Dano-Norwegian fleet in Copenhagen harbor, forcing Denmark to withdraw from the Second League of Armed Neutrality.
History
What happened on April 2
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1107War
Seljuq sultan Muhammad I Tapar begins the siege of Shahdiz, a fortress of the Nizari Ismailis.
Muhammad I Tapar, Seljuq sultan, initiates the siege of Shahdiz, a fortress controlled by the Nizari Ismailis.
- 1285Religion
Election of Pope Honorius IV following the death of Pope Martin IV.
Pope Honorius IV is elected to succeed Pope Martin IV.
- 1513US history
Having spotted land on March 27, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León comes ashore on what is now the U.S. state of Florida, landing somewhere between the modern city of St. Augustine and the mouth of the St. Johns River.
Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León comes ashore in what is now Florida, claiming the land for Spain and naming it "La Florida" after the Easter season.
- 1725Culture
J. S. Bach's cantata Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden, BWV 6, is first performed in Leipzig on Easter Monday.
Johann Sebastian Bach's cantata "Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden" receives its premiere performance in Leipzig.
- 1755UK history
Commodore William James captures the Maratha fortress of Suvarnadurg on the west coast of India.
British naval officer Commodore William James captures the formidable Maratha fortress of Suvarnadurg on India's western coast, strengthening the East India Company's maritime position.
- 1801War
French Revolutionary Wars: In the Battle of Copenhagen a British Royal Navy squadron defeats a hastily assembled, smaller, mostly-volunteer Dano-Norwegian Navy at high cost, forcing Denmark out of the Second League of Armed Neutrality.
A British Royal Navy squadron defeats a hastily assembled Dano-Norwegian fleet in Copenhagen harbor, forcing Denmark to withdraw from the Second League of Armed Neutrality.
- 1885Canadian history
Canadian Cree warriors attack the village of Frog Lake, killing nine.
Canadian Cree warriors attack the village of Frog Lake, killing nine settlers and two Mounties.
- 1912US history
The ill-fated RMS Titanic begins sea trials.
The RMS Titanic undergoes its sea trials in Belfast Lough before embarking on its ill-fated maiden voyage.
- 1930World history
After the mysterious death of Empress Zewditu, Haile Selassie is proclaimed emperor of Ethiopia.
Haile Selassie is proclaimed emperor of Ethiopia following the mysterious death of Empress Zewditu.
- 2006Disaster
Over 60 tornadoes break out in the United States; Tennessee is hardest hit with 29 people killed.
Tennessee遭受严重打击，有29人死亡，成为美国多州发生超过60场龙卷风灾害中最受影响的地区。
- 2012Disaster
UTair Flight 120 crashes after takeoff from Roshchino International Airport in Tyumen, Russia, killing 33 and injuring 10.
UTair Flight 120 crashes shortly after takeoff, killing 33 and injuring 10.
- 2025Politics
Liberation Day tariffs: U.S. President Donald Trump announces sweeping worldwide tariffs.
President Trump announces widespread global tariffs, marking what some call the start of a trade war.
Born today
Famous birthdays on April 2
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 79
Tua Forsström
Finnish writer
Tua Forsström, Finland-Swedish poet whose collection "Efter att ha tillbringat en natt bland hästar" won the Nordic Council Literature Prize in 1998, turns 79 today.
Born
1947
Turns 79
today
Francisco de Paula Santander
Colombian general and politician, 4th President of the Republic of the New Granada
1792 – 1840
Max Ernst
German painter, sculptor, and poet
1891 – 1976
Pete Incaviglia
American baseball player and coach
b. 1964 · 62
David Ferrer
Spanish tennis player
b. 1982 · 44
Renée Good
American writer, poet and shooting victim
1988 – 2026
Zach Bryan
American singer-songwriter
b. 1996 · 30
Music
The number one songs on April 2
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on April 2, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport April 2, 2011
India wins the Cricket World Cup for the second time in history under the captaincy of MS Dhoni.
India wins the Cricket World Cup under MS Dhoni's leadership, marking their second championship victory.
Read the story
🔬 Science April 2, 1995
Java 1.0 is unveiled
Sun Microsystems releases a programming language that will become the backbone of enterprise computing and Android.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
5 celebrated today
International Children's Book Day (International)
International
International Children's Book Day (ICBD) is a yearly event sponsored by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), an international non-profit organization
Thai Heritage Conservation Day (Thailand)
International
Public holidays in Thailand are regulated by the government, and most are observed by both the public and private sectors
Unity of Peoples of Russia and Belarus Day (Belarus)
International
National holidays in Belarus are classified into state holidays and other holidays and commemorative days, including religious holidays
World Autism Awareness Day (International)
International
World Autism Awareness Day or World Autism Acceptance Day is an internationally recognized day that encourages member states of the United Nations to take measures to raise global awareness of autism
Malvinas Day (Argentina)
International
Malvinas Day, officially Day of the Veterans and Fallen of the Malvinas War, is a public holiday in Argentina, observed each year on 2 April