April 6

Caesar Wins at Thapsus

The Republic's last defenders fall in Africa

On the sunbaked plains of North Africa, Julius Caesar's veteran legions crushed the combined forces of Metellus Scipio and Cato the Younger at the Battle of Thapsus. The victory was decisive and brutal -- Caesar's troops, ignoring his calls for mercy, slaughtered thousands of enemy soldiers. Cato, the Republic's most famous champion, chose suicide rather than submission. With this battle, Caesar effectively ended all organized resistance to his rule over Rome.

Leo Robin Was Born

The man behind the melodies we hum

In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Leo Robin was born into a world that he would fill with unforgettable songs. As a lyricist and composer, he crafted some of the twentieth century's most enduring popular music, including the Oscar-winning 'Thanks for the Memory' and the iconic 'Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend.' His words were sung by Bob Hope, Marilyn Monroe, and countless others, weaving themselves into the fabric of American culture.

Intelsat I

Launch of Early Bird, the first commercial communications satellite to be placed in geosynchronous orbit.