TODAY IN HISTORY - APRIL 6TH

1712 – The New York Slave Revolt of 1712 begins near Broadway.

1808 – John Jacob Astor incorporates the American Fur Company, that would eventually make him America's first millionaire.

1830 – Church of Christ, the original church of the Latter Day Saint movement, is organized by Joseph Smith and others at either Fayette or Manchester, New York.

1841 – U.S. President John Tyler is sworn in, two days after having become President upon William Henry Harrison's death.

1861 – First performance of Arthur Sullivan's debut success, his suite of incidental music for The Tempest, leading to a career that included the famous Gilbert and Sullivan operas.

1865 – American Civil War: The Battle of Sailor's Creek: Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia fights and loses its last major battle while in retreat from Richmond, Virginia during the Appomattox Campaign.

1888 – Thomas Green Clemson dies, bequeathing his estate to the State of South Carolina to establish Clemson Agricultural College.

1892 – Donald Wills Douglas, Sr., American businessman, founded the Douglas Aircraft Company (d. 1981) is born.

1896 – In Athens, the opening of the first modern Olympic Games is celebrated, 1,500 years after the original games are banned by Roman emperor Theodosius I.

1920 – Jack Cover, American pilot and physicist, invented the Taser gun (d. 2009) is born.

1926 – Varney Airlines makes its first commercial flight (Varney is the root company of United Airlines).

1929 – Huey P. Long, Governor of Louisiana, is impeached by the Louisiana House of Representatives.

1936 – Tupelo–Gainesville tornado outbreak: Another tornado from the same storm system as the Tupelo tornado hits Gainesville, Georgia, killing 203.

1947 – The first Tony Awards are presented for theatrical achievement.

1970 – Newhall massacre: Four California Highway Patrol officers are killed in a shootout.

1973 – The American League of Major League Baseball begins using the designated hitter.

1974 – Hudson Fysh, Australian pilot and businessman, co-founded Qantas Airways Limited (b. 1895) dies.

1998 – Travelers Group announces an agreement to undertake the $76 billion merger between Travelers and Citicorp, and the merger is completed on October 8, of that year, forming Citibank.

2012 – Thomas Kinkade, American painter and illustrator (b. 1958) dies.

2014 – Mickey Rooney, American soldier, actor, and dancer (b. 1920) dies.

2015 – Ray Charles, American singer-songwriter and conductor (b. 1918) dies.

2016 – Merle Haggard, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (b. 1937) dies.