On This Day April 25th

 OTD

April 25th is the one-hundred-fifteenth day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 250 days remain until the end of the year.

 

Events

404 BC – Admiral Lysander and King Pausanias of Sparta blockade Athens and bring the Peloponnesian War to a successful conclusion.

1607 – Eighty Years' War: The Dutch fleet destroys the anchored Spanish fleet at Gibraltar.

1707—In the War of the Spanish Succession, a coalition of Britain, the Netherlands, and Portugal was defeated by a Franco-Spanish army at Almansa (Spain).

1792 – Highwayman Nicolas J. Pelletier becomes the first person executed by guillotine.

1846 – Thornton Affair: Open conflict begins over the disputed border of Texas, triggering the Mexican-American War.

1901 – New York becomes the first U.S. state to require automobile license plates.

1945—World War II: Liberation Day (Italy): The National Liberation Committee for Northern Italy called for a general uprising against the German occupation and the Italian Social Republic.

1954 – Bell Telephone Laboratories publicly demonstrate the first practical solar cell.

1983 – Cold War: American schoolgirl Samantha Smith is invited to visit the Soviet Union by its leader Yuri Andropov after he read her letter in which she expressed fears about nuclear war.

1983 – Pioneer 10 travels beyond Pluto's orbit.

2005 – The final piece of the Obelisk of Axum is returned to Ethiopia after being stolen by the invading Italian army in 1937.

2007 – Boris Yeltsin's funeral: The first to be sanctioned by the Russian Orthodox Church for a head of state since the funeral of Emperor Alexander III in 1894.

 

Birthdays

1214 – Louis IX of France (d. 1270)

1599 – Oliver Cromwell, English general and politician, Lord Protector of Great Britain (d. 1658)

1723 – Giovanni Marco Rutini, Italian composer (d. 1797)

1843 – Princess Alice of the United Kingdom (d. 1878)

1874 – Guglielmo Marconi, the Italian businessman and inventor, developed Marconi's law, a Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1937)

1908 – Edward R. Murrow, American journalist (d. 1965)

1917 – Ella Fitzgerald, American singer (d. 1996)

1969 – Joe Buck, American sportscaster

1989 – Michael van Gerwen, Dutch darts player.

 

Holiday Highlight

World Penguin Day

World Penguin Day, a celebration that originated at McMurdo Station, an American research center on Ross Island, holds great significance. Here, researchers discovered the annual migration of Adélie penguins, which led to the creation of this day. World Penguin Day serves as a platform to honor these creatures and raise awareness about their plight. It's a day that encourages us to delve deeper into the world of penguins and understand their challenges, unique environment, and invaluable contribution to our ecosystem.

Penguins differ considerably in size, from the giant emperor penguin, reaching heights of over three feet and seven inches, to the little blue penguin, about 13 inches tall. Historically, giant penguins existed that grew almost six feet high and weighed over 176 pounds. Penguins are highly adaptive to aquatic life, with wings that have evolved into flippers and excellent swimming abilities, where species like the emperor penguin can reach depths of 1,800 feet. Penguins are disguised to protect themselves against predators from above and below. Their glossy feathers hold air in them that helps to both keep them warm and help them stay afloat. These extraordinary creatures are spread all over the Southern Hemisphere, from Antarctica to the Galápagos Islands; penguins are famous for their dedicated chick-hatching endeavors, cute waddles, and incredible survival instincts, such as huddling to stay warm during icy winters.

While our admiration for penguins has led to the creation of popular movies and books, such as “Penguins of Madagascar” and ”Mr. Popper’s Penguins,” their future is under threat. Penguins are facing the risk of extinction, and this situation demands immediate action. We must collectively reduce our carbon footprint, prevent pollution, and preserve their habitats. The time to act is now.

 

Holidays And Observance

Celebrate Teen Literature Day

DNA Day

East Meets West Day

Hairstylist Appreciation Day

International Financial Independence Awareness Day

International Girls in Information and Telecommunication Technologies Day

License Plates Day

Love Your Thighs Day

Malaria Awareness Day

National Crayola Day

National Mani-Pedi Day

National Plumbers Day

National Teach Children to Save Day

National Telephone Day

National Zucchini Bread Day

Parental Alienation Awareness Day (PAAD)

Red Hat Society Day

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

Technologies Day

Thank You, Thursday

World Malaria Day

World Penguin Day

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