April 6 birthdays & history

Famous people born on April 6

• 1963Rafael Correa, Ecuadorian economist and politician, 54th President of Ecuador
• 1928James Watson, American biologist, geneticist, and zoologist, Nobel Prize laureate
• 1812Alexander Herzen, Russian philosopher and author
• 1969Paul Rudd, American actor
• 1949Horst Ludwig Störmer, German physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
• 1741Nicolas Chamfort, French author and playwright
• 1820Nadar, French photographer, journalist, and author
• 1975Zach Braff, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter
• 1773James Mill, Scottish historian, economist, and philosopher
• 1942Barry Levinson, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter

What happened on April 6

• 1652Dutch sailor Jan van Riebeeck landed at Table Bay in southern Africa, establishing a settlement that later became known as Cape Town.
• 1808John Jacob Astor founded the American Fur Company, the profits from which made him the first multi-millionaire in the United States.
• 1830Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and others formally organized the Church of Christ, starting the Latter Day Saint movement.
• 1830Church of Christ, the original church of the Latter Day Saint movement, is organized by Joseph Smith and others at either Fayette or Manchester, New York.
• 1860The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, later renamed Community of Christ, is organized by Joseph Smith III and others at Amboy, Illinois.
• 1909Robert Peary and Matthew Henson become the first people to reach the North Pole; Peary's claim has been disputed because of failings in his navigational ability.
• 1926Varney Air Lines made its first commercial flight, later forming the basis of United Airlines.
• 1947The first Tony Awards are presented for theatrical achievement.
• 1948The Finno-Soviet Treaty is signed in Moscow.
• 1974ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest representing Sweden with the song "Waterloo".
• 2005Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani was elected by the National Assembly as the first non-Arab president of Iraq.
• 2026During the Artemis II mission, the Orion made its closest approach to the far side of the Moon and reached its greatest distance from Earth .

Also observed on April 6

• Chakri Day, commemorating the establishment of the Chakri dynasty. (Thailand)
• International Day of Sport for Development and Peace
• National Fisherman Day (Indonesia)
• New Beer's Eve (United States)
• Tartan Day (United States & Canada)
• Waltzing Matilda Day (Australia)