On this date

the first American society for the abolition of slavery was formed in Philadelphia.

the British liner RMS Titanic collided with an iceberg in the North Atlantic at 11:40 p.m. ship’s time and began sinking. (The ship went under two hours and 40 minutes later with the loss of 1,514 lives.)

the John Steinbeck novel “The Grapes of Wrath” was first published by Viking Press.

Ampex Corp. demonstrated the first practical videotape recorder at the National Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters Convention in Chicago.

the first test flight of America’s first operational space shuttle, the Columbia, ended successfully with a landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Americans got word of a U.S. air raid on Libya (Because of the time difference, it was the early morning of April 15 where the attack occurred.).

Turner Classic Movies made its cable debut; the first film it aired was Ted Turner’s personal favorite, “Gone with the Wind.”

Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp. announced they were combining.

Adam Scott became the first Australian to win the Masters, beating Angel Cabrera on the second hole of a playoff on a rainy day at Augusta National.

Pope Francis, at the end of a 90-minute Good Friday procession, read a prayer he had composed that alternated between expressing shame for humanity’s failings and hope that “hardened hearts” would become capable of forgiving and loving.

Associated Press