On This Day for 4/15 - The Titanic sinks, the first McDonald's is opened, and more

Don't miss an issue of On This Day! Simply add [customerservice@eb.com]( to your address book. On This Day April 15 Discover the Fastest Route to Britannica - [EB.com]( Born This Day [Mona Lisa; oil on wood panel by Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1503-–06; in the Louvre, Paris.]( [Leonardo da Vinci]( Italian artist [Leonardo da Vinci]( whose genius epitomized the [Renaissance]( humanist ideal and whose Last Supper (1495–98) and [Mona Lisa]( (circa 1503–19) are widely influential paintings, was born on this day in 1452. Who else was born today? Find out with the newest version of [our best-selling software! >>]( On This Day [The Titanic.]( 1912: Sinking of the Titanic On this day in 1912, the British luxury passenger liner [Titanic]( sank en route to New York City from Southampton, Hampshire, England, after striking an iceberg during its maiden voyage; some 1,500 people died. Explore more key moments in history for just $39.95 [Learn more >>]( [Sign up now]( for our monthly newsletter, showcasing articles hand-picked by our editors! More Events On This Day 2005: [Smoke from the first explosion clearing as a second detonation can be seen (background) in the bomb attacks on the Boston Marathon, April 15, 2013.]( the finish line of the [Boston Marathon]( two homemade [bombs]( were detonated in the crowd of spectators; 3 people were killed and more than 260 were wounded in the [terrorist]( attack. 2003: [Explosions illuminating the skies of Baghdad during the U.S.-led air bombardment of the city, March 2003.](. President [George W. Bush]( declared that the government of [Saddam Hussein]( in [Iraq]( had fallen as a result of the [Iraq War]( and the following day asked the [United Nations]( to lift sanctions against Iraq. 2000: [Big tree (Sequoiadendron giganteum).](. President [Bill Clinton]( established the Giant Sequoia National Monument, a preserve near [Sequoia National Park]( covering more than 500 square miles (1,300 square km) of [Sequoia National Forest]( in the [Sierra Nevada]( of California. 1980: [Jean-Paul Sartre, photograph by Gisèle Freund, 1968.]( novelist and playwright [Jean-Paul Sartre]( who was a leading exponent of [existentialism]( died. 1955: [The first McDonald's restaurant opened by Ray Kroc, now a museum in Des Plaines, Illinois, U.S.]( fast-food pioneer [Ray Kroc]( opened the first [McDonald's]( franchise, launching an enterprise that would eventually become the world's largest fast-food chain, in [Des Plaines]( Illinois. 1947: [Jackie Robinson, 1946.]( Robinson]( who broke [baseball]( racial barrier, played in his first major league game for the [Brooklyn Dodgers]( at Ebbets Field. 1926: [Charles Lindbergh]( Aircraft, one of the companies that later developed into [American Airlines]( flew its first mail route, between Chicago and St. Louis, Missouri, with [Charles A. Lindbergh]( as the pilot. 1920: [Bartolomeo Vanzetti (left) and Nicola Sacco (right)]( men were murdered in South Braintree, Massachusetts, leading to the [Sacco-Vanzetti case]( and the still-controversial conviction of two Italian immigrants. A Great Gift Idea from The Britannica Store [1768 Encyclopaedia Britannica Replica Set]( The handsome three-volume reproduction is so beautifully executed that it's almost indistinguishable from the 1768 original, right down to the natural age spots and watermarks on the pages. A must-have for collectors of history or vintage books, the set lends an unmistakable air of prestige to any home or office. [Get yours today]( Our Best-Selling Software! the world's most trusted and authoritative information for [only $39.95](. Britannica on Facebook a fan]( on Facebook and get updated Britannica content in your news feed! Britannica on Twitter @Britannica]( and enjoy daily tweets relating to the news stories of the day! [Home]( [Advocacy for Animals]( [Newsletters]( [Feedback]( [Help]( [Delicious]( Was this message forwarded to you? [Click here]( and we'll start sending you the On This Day newsletters. Please note that if you do not open or click on any On This Day email during any consecutive 30-day period, we reserve the right to remove your address from the active mailing list. This policy does not apply to RSS feeds. This message has been sent to {EMAIL}. To unsubscribe [click here](. To unsubscribe by postal mail, send your request to: Encyclopaedia Britannica 325 N. LaSalle St. - Suite 200 Chicago, IL 60654 US ATTN: Customer Service - On This Day © 2018 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. [Privacy Policy]( — [Help](