NEA DATEBOOK

TODAY’S HISTORY: In 1521, explorer Ferdinand Magellan was killed in the Philippines.

In 1865, the steamboat Sultana exploded in the Mississippi River near Memphis, Tennessee, killing some 1,700 passengers.

In 2018, the leaders of North and South Korea signed the Panmunjom Declaration, officially pledging to work toward ending the Korean conflict.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Samuel Morse (1791-1872), Morse code co-inventor; Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), soldier/18th U.S. president; Rogers Hornsby (1896-1963), baseball player; Enos Slaughter (1916-2002), baseball player; Jack Klugman (1922-2012), actor; Coretta Scott King (1927-2006), activist; Casey Kasem (1932-2014), radio/TV personality; Sandy Dennis (1937-1992), actress; August Wilson (1945-2005), playwright; Herm Edwards (1954- ), football coach; Ari Graynor (1983- ), actress; Patrick Stump (1984- ), singer-songwriter; Lizzo (1988- ) rapper/singer-songwriter.

TODAY’S FACT: In 1667, blind and impoverished poet John Milton sold the copyright to his masterpiece, “Paradise Lost,” for 10 pounds (roughly $2,870.76 in 2024 U.S. currency).

TODAY’S SPORTS: In 1956, 32-year-old boxer Rocky Marciano retired with a perfect 49-0 record, the only heavyweight champion to do so.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “Once I started to value and respect my characters, I could really hear them. I just let them start talking.” — August Wilson

TODAY’S NUMBER: 1,776 — architectural height (in feet) of One World Trade Center in New York City. Construction on the site began on this day in 2006.

TODAY’S MOON: Between full moon (April 23) and last quarter moon (May 1).