On This Day for 4/22 - The first Earth Day is celebrated, construction on the Bastille begins, and more

Don't miss an issue of On This Day! Simply add [customerservice@eb.com]( to your address book. On This Day April 22 Discover the Fastest Route to Britannica - [EB.com]( Biography of the Day [Miguel de Cervantes; engraving by Mackenzie, 1600.]( [Miguel de Cervantes]( Spanish author [Miguel de Cervantes]( who died on this day in Madrid in 1616, has long been regarded as the most important figure in [Spanish literature]( largely for his novel Don Quixote, a classic of Western literature. Who else was born today? Find out with the newest version of [our best-selling software! >>]( On This Day [A crowd gathers to celebrate Earth Day at the Capitol, Washington, D.C.]( 1970: First Earth Day First celebrated on this day in 1970 in the U.S., [Earth Day]( by American politician and conservationist [Gaylord Anton Nelson]( spark the [environmental movement]( and quickly grew into an international event. 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 2016: More than 170 countries signed the [Paris Agreement on climate change]( a landmark treaty that sought to control and reduce [greenhouse gas]( concentrations in the atmosphere; it took effect in November 2016. 1994: [Richard M. Nixon]( U.S. president [Richard M. Nixon]( died. 1937: [Jack Nicholson]( actor [Jack Nicholson]( of the most prominent motion-picture actors of his generation, especially noted for his versatile portrayals of unconventional, alienated outsiders—was born. 1915: During [World War I]( German forces introduced the systematized use of [chemical warfare]( when they released chlorine gas along a 4-mile (6-km) front at the Second Battle of [Ypres](. 1904: [J. Robert Oppenheimer…]( theoretical physicist and science administrator [J. Robert Oppenheimer]( who served as director of the [Los Alamos laboratory]( in New Mexico during development of the [atomic bomb]( was born. 1889: [Guthrie, Oklahoma Territory, five days after the Oklahoma land rush of April 22, 1889.]( noon, by federal decree, white settlers were allowed into [Indian Territory]( sparking a land rush involving tens of thousands in what became [Oklahoma Territory](. 1870: [Vladimir Ilich Lenin, 1918.]( Ilich Lenin]( founded the [Bolshevik]( political faction (1912–17), inspired and led the [Bolshevik Revolution]( (1917), headed (1917–24) the [Soviet state]( and founded the organization known as the [Comintern]( (Communist International)—was born. 1724: [Immanuel Kant, pencil portrait by Hans Veit Schnoor von Carolsfeld.…]( philosopher [Immanuel Kant]( was born in Königsberg, Prussia (now [Kaliningrad]( Russia). 1500: Portuguese explorer [Pedro Álvares Cabral]( while on a voyage tracing [Vasco da Gama]( 1497–99 water route to India, sighted the mainland of South America near the present-day city of Pôrto Seguro, Brazil. 1370: [colored engraving of the storming of the Bastille]( began on the [Bastille]( the medieval fortress that came to symbolize French despotism. 1073: [Pope Gregory VII, engraving by H. Kaeseberg, 1754.]( VII]( (later canonized) was elected by acclamation to succeed [Alexander II]( as pope. 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]( 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. Share: Was this message forwarded to you? [Click here]( and we'll start sending you the On This Day newsletters. 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](