April 11: Holidays, Historical Events, Famous Birthdays & Zodiac Sign
On April 11, 1856, a Costa Rican drummer boy named Juan Santamaría set a hostel ablaze at the Second Battle of Rivas, sacrificing himself to rout American mercenaries and becoming a national hero.
About April 11
Costa Rica honors that very drummer boy each April 11 as Juan Santamaría Day. During the 1856 Second Battle of Rivas, the young soldier volunteered to torch a building where William Walker's filibustering forces were barricaded. Though he perished in the attempt, his act helped repel the invasion, cementing his legacy as the nation's foremost patriot. Meanwhile, World Parkinson's Day shares the date, recognizing the birthday of James Parkinson, the English surgeon who first described the disease in 1817.
This day has also witnessed monumental political transformations. In 1689, William III and Mary II were jointly crowned sovereigns of Great Britain, cementing constitutional monarchy. Exactly 225 years later, the Tokugawa shogunate effectively ended when Tokugawa Yoshinobu surrendered Edo Castle to imperial forces, opening modern Japan. And in 1814, the Treaty of Fontainebleau compelled Napoleon Bonaparte to abdicate unconditionally for the first time, reshaping European power.
The cultural and scientific footprint of April 11 is equally sweeping. Johann Sebastian Bach's majestic St Matthew Passion premiered in Leipzig on this day in 1727. Fast forward to 1970, and NASA launched Apollo 13, a mission destined to become one of history's most gripping tales of survival. Six years later, Steve Wozniak created the Apple I, planting the seed of the personal computer revolution from a California garage.
Holidays & Observances on April 11
- Juan Santamaría Day, anniversary of his death in the Second Battle of Rivas. (Costa Rica)
- International Louie Louie Day
- World Parkinson's Day
Fun & National Days on April 11
- National Pet Day — Spoil your furry, scaly, or feathered companion with an extra-long walk or their favorite treat.
- National Cheese Fondue Day — Melt some Gruyère and Emmental, grab crusty bread, and commune over a bubbling pot of cheese.
- Barbershop Quartet Day — Gather three friends and harmonize in four-part glory—no instruments required, just enthusiasm.
- Submarine Day — Dive into naval history or simply build a towering submarine sandwich loaded with your favorite fixings.
- Baby Massage Day
- National Eight-Track Tape Day
- National Poutine Day (Canada)
- National Ranch Water Day
- Slow Art Day
On This Day in History
- 491 — Flavius Anastasius took the Byzantine throne as Anastasius I, beginning a reign marked by fiscal reform and religious tension.
- 1689 — William III and Mary II were crowned joint sovereigns of Great Britain as the Scottish Parliament endorsed the English decision, securing constitutional monarchy.
- 1713 — France and Britain signed the Treaty of Utrecht, ending the War of the Spanish Succession; Philip V kept Spain's throne but renounced all French claims.
- 1727 — Johann Sebastian Bach's St Matthew Passion received its premiere at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, a towering achievement of sacred music.
- 1814 — The Treaty of Fontainebleau ended the War of the Sixth Coalition, forcing Napoleon Bonaparte to abdicate unconditionally for the first time.
- 1868 — Former shōgun Tokugawa Yoshinobu surrendered Edo Castle to imperial forces, effectively dissolving the Tokugawa shogunate and ushering in modern Japan.
- 1881 — Spelman College opened in Atlanta as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, establishing a vital institution of higher education for African American women.
- 1909 — The city of Tel Aviv was founded, laying the groundwork for what would become Israel's vibrant commercial and cultural center.
- 1968 — President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968, prohibiting discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing across America.
- 1970 — NASA launched Apollo 13, a lunar mission that would be aborted by a mid-flight explosion and transformed into a legendary rescue effort.
- 1976 — The Apple I computer was created by Steve Wozniak, a handmade prototype that launched a technological revolution from a modest garage.
- 1979 — Ugandan dictator Idi Amin was deposed as Tanzanian forces and Ugandan exiles toppled one of Africa's most brutal regimes.
Famous Birthdays on April 11
- 1755 — James Parkinson, English surgeon who first described paralysis agitans—now Parkinson's disease—making his birthday World Parkinson's Day.
- 1862 — Charles Evans Hughes, American statesman who served as Secretary of State and Chief Justice, shaping early 20th-century U.S. law and diplomacy.
- 1869 — Gustav Vigeland, Norwegian sculptor famed for Oslo's Vigeland Park and designed the Nobel Peace Prize medal.
- 1908 — Masaru Ibuka, Japanese engineer who co-founded Sony and helped pioneer consumer electronics that transformed postwar global technology.
- 1932 — Joel Grey, American actor, singer, and dancer who won an Oscar and Tony for his electrifying role as the Emcee in Cabaret.
- 1953 — Andrew Wiles, English mathematician who proved Fermat's Last Theorem after seven years of secret work, solving a 350-year-old puzzle.
- 1960 — Jeremy Clarkson, Outspoken English journalist and broadcaster who became a global household name through Top Gear and The Grand Tour.
- 1987 — Joss Stone, English soul singer-songwriter renowned for her powerful voice and debut album The Soul Sessions at just sixteen.