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 22 Wednesday, April 22, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on April 22 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
4
Holidays
2020
Crime 6 years ago
Four police officers are killed after being struck by a truck on the Eastern Freeway in Melbourne while speaking to a speeding driver, marking the largest loss of police lives in Victoria Police history.
Four police officers are killed when struck by a truck on Melbourne's Eastern Freeway during a traffic stop, marking the largest loss of police lives in Victoria Police history.
History
What happened on April 22
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 960European history
Basil II is crowned co-Emperor of the Byzantine Empire.
Basil II is crowned co-Emperor alongside his uncle Bardas Phocas.
- 1073Religion
Election of Pope Gregory VII following the death of Pope Alexander II.
Hildebrand, later known as Pope Gregory VII, is elected pope after the death of Pope Alexander II.
- 1500World history
Portuguese navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral lands in Brazil (discovery of Brazil).
Portuguese navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral lands on the coast of present-day Brazil, claiming the territory for Portugal and establishing the first European contact with the region.
- 1529World history
Treaty of Zaragoza divides the eastern hemisphere between Spain and Portugal along a line 297.5 leagues (1,250 kilometres (780 mi)) east of the Moluccas.
The Treaty of Zaragoza divides the eastern hemisphere between Spain and Portugal at a line 1,250 kilometers east of the Moluccas.
- 1836US history
Texas Revolution: A day after the Battle of San Jacinto, forces under Texas General Sam Houston identify Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna among the captives of the battle when some of his fellow soldiers mistakenly give away his identity.
Sam Houston's forces capture Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna after his identity is revealed by mistake.
- 1898US history
Spanish-American War: President William McKinley calls for 125,000 volunteers to join the National Guard and fight in Cuba, while Congress more than doubles regular Army forces to 65,000.
President McKinley calls for 125,000 volunteers to join the National Guard as Congress more than doubles the regular Army to 65,000 for the Spanish-American War.
- 1944WWII
World War II: Operation Persecution is initiated: Allied forces land in the Hollandia (currently known as Jayapura) area of New Guinea.
Allied forces initiate Operation Persecution by landing in the Hollandia area of New Guinea.
- 1954US history
Red Scare: Witnesses begin testifying and live television coverage of the Army-McCarthy hearings begins.
Witnesses testify before Congress during the Army-McCarthy hearings, with live television coverage drawing national attention.
- 2005Politics
Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi apologizes for Japan's war record.
Junichiro Koizumi apologizes for Japan's wartime actions, addressing the country's role in World War II.
- 2016World history
The Paris Agreement is signed, an agreement to help fight global warming.
World leaders sign the Paris Agreement, committing to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
- 2020Crime
Four police officers are killed after being struck by a truck on the Eastern Freeway in Melbourne while speaking to a speeding driver, marking the largest loss of police lives in Victoria Police history.
Four police officers are killed when struck by a truck on Melbourne's Eastern Freeway during a traffic stop, marking the largest loss of police lives in Victoria Police history.
- 2025World history
At least 26 people are killed in a terrorist attack on a group of tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba claimed responsibility for the attack.
A terrorist attack in Pahalgam kills at least 26 tourists; TRF claims responsibility.
Born today
Famous birthdays on April 22
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 60
Jeffrey Dean Morgan
American actor
Jeffrey Dean Morgan, the American actor acclaimed for playing Negan in The Walking Dead and its spin-off Dead City, turns 59 today.
Born
1966
Turns 60
today
Antoine of Navarre
1518 – 1562
Otto Rank
Austrian-American psychologist and academic
1884 – 1939
Richard Glücks
German SS officer and major contributor to the concentration camp system and the Holocaust
1889 – 1945
Giorgio Agamben
Italian philosopher and academic
b. 1942 · 84
Janet Evanovich
American author
b. 1943 · 83
Regine Velasquez
Filipino singer and actress
b. 1970 · 56
Music
The number one songs on April 22
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on April 22, 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 22, 1876
The first National League baseball game is played at the Jefferson Street Grounds in Philadelphia.
The first National League baseball game takes place at the Jefferson Street Grounds in Philadelphia.
Read the story
🔬 Science April 22, 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
4 celebrated today
Discovery Day (Brazil)
International
Discovery Day is the name of several holidays commemorating the discovery of land, gold, and other significant national discoveries
Earth Day (International observance) and its related observance: International Mother Earth Day
International
Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection
Holocaust Remembrance Day (Serbia)
International
A Holocaust memorial day or Holocaust remembrance day is an annual observance to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust, the genocide of six million Jews and of millions of other Holocaust victims
From 2018 onwards, a national day of commemoration for the murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence (United Kingdom)
International
Stephen Adrian Lawrence was an 18-year-old black British student from Woolwich, southeast London, England who was murdered in a racially motivated attack while waiting for a bus on Well Hall Road in E