What Happened on April 30

Historical Events

311 – Roman Emperor Galerius issues Edict of Toleration, ending persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire
1492 – Christopher Columbus is given royal commission by Spanish monarchs Isabella I and Ferdinand II to equip his fleet to the New World
1506 – Philip of Burgundy and England sign trade agreement
1789 – George Washington is inaugurated as the first President of the United States of America at Federal Hall in NYC
1947 – Boulder Dam renamed in honor of Herbert Hoover
1958 – Ted Williams is 10th major league player to get 1,000 extra-base hits

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Famous Birthdays

1919 – Valeer van Kerkhove, Flemish writer (De Bungalow), born in Sleidinge, Belgium (d. 1982)
1949 – Phil Garner, American baseball player and manager (Astros), born in Jefferson City, Tennessee
1959 – Stephen Harper, 22nd Prime Minister of Canada (2006-15), born in Toronto, Ontario
1963 – Steve Smith, NHL defenseman (Chicago Blackhawks), born in Glasgow, Scotland
1977 – Pell James, American actress, born in Virginia
1980 – Sam Heughan, Scottish actor (Outlander), born in Balmaclellan, Scotland

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Famous Deaths

65 – Lucan, Roman poet (Bellum Civile), forced to commit suicide after taking part in attempt to overthrow Emperor Nero dies at 25
1942 – Catherine Murphy Urner, American composer, dies at 51
1970 – Jacob Presser, Dutch historian and writer (Ashes in the Wind), dies at 71
1973 – Josie Sedgwick, American actress (The Best Man, Queen of the Round-Up), dies of stroke at 75
1974 – Agnes Moorehead, American actress (Endora in Bewitched), dies of uterine cancer at 73
2005 – Ron Todd, TGWU General Secretary (1985 – 1992) (b. 1927)

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