April 1.
527. Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew, Justinian, his co-ruler and successor. Justinian goes on to become one of the most overrated monarchs in history (in this writer's opinion), Justinian the Great.
1826. Samuel Morey patents the internal combustion engine.
1867. Singapore becomes a British colony.
1924. Adolf Hitler is sentenced to 5 years in jail after the Beer Hall Putsch. He serves only nine months, however, during which he writes
Mein Kampf.
1948. The Soviet-controlled East German military sets up a land blockade to Berlin, preventing the other former Allied powers from accessing the theoretically jointly controlled/occupied city. The Soviet plan was to make the western-controlled sectors of Berlin dependent on the Soviets for food/fuel, and their effective control. As a result, the western powers, in one of the first face-offs of the brewing Cold War, begin an airlift. The Soviets continually denigrate the airlift, stating that it cannot possibly work. The airlift requires nearly 4,000 tons of supplies per day, more than ten times the tonnage needed (and ultimately unable to be delivered) to German Sixth Army forces surrounded at Stalingrad. Nonetheless, by the spring of 1949 it becomes clear that the airlift is working. By April 1949 the city was receiving more supplies by air than it had previously received by rail. The Soviets dropped the blockade once it became clear that they had lost. A lasting legacy of the blockade were the three major airports in Berlin, which lasted in service for many decades afterwards.
1976. Apple Computer is formed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.
1979. Iran becomes an Islamic Republic by a 98% vote, officially overthrowing the Shah.