Old clock in sand with the words: It Happend in April

Browse Historical Events by Day: What Happened on April 2nd?

Discover major events and cultural milestones that happened on this day — organized by year. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.

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1124 CE, April 2

David I becomes King of Scotland.

1194 CE, April 2

Richard the Lionheart is released from captivity in Germany after paying a ransom.

1513 CE, April 2

Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León claims Florida for Spain after landing on Florida's east coast near present-day St. Augustine. He named the land, with lavish landscape and beautiful beaches, "La Florida" or "place of flowers" Ponce de Leon had traveled from Puerto Rico where he established the first European settlement, Caparra, near what is now San Juan. More

2005 CE, April 2

Pope John Paul II dies, leading to the election of Pope Benedict XVI.

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