1492: Christopher Columbus signs a contract with Spanish monarchs King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I to find the “Indies” with the stated goal of converting people to Catholicism. This promises him 10% of all riches found and the governorship of any lands encountered.

1895: Treaty of Shimonoseki is signed ending the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-95)

1917: Vladimir Lenin issues his radical “April Theses” calling for Soviets to take power during the Russian Revolution [OS Apr 4]

1961: 1,400 Cuban exiles land in the Bay of Pigs in a doomed attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro

1982: Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and Queen Elizabeth II sign the “Proclamation of the Constitution Act”, establishing the “Charter of Rights and Freedoms” as part of the country’s new Constitution

2012: The 8th century St. Cuthbert Gospel, Europe’s oldest intact book, is purchased by the British Library for 9 million pounds

Source: Onthisday.com