Sparta spanks Athens, the Double Helix is announced, and Henry VIII introduces a new wife-swapping service

Here are some notable historical events that happened on April 25:

1. 404 BC – The Peloponnesian War ended: This marked the defeat of Athens by Sparta, concluding the 27-year long war which had devastated much of the Greek world.
2. 1792 – The first use of the guillotine: Nicolas Jacques Pelletier became the first person executed by guillotine in France, setting a precedent for what would become a symbol of the French Revolution.
3. 1859 – Start of the construction of the Suez Canal: This was a pivotal moment in maritime history, significantly reducing the sailing distance between Europe and Asia.
4. 1915 – The Gallipoli Campaign began: This was a significant campaign of World War I where the Allies tried to control the sea route from Europe to Russia. The battle was marked by a huge loss of life and is commemorated as ANZAC Day in Australia and New Zealand.
5. 1945 – Liberation of Nazi concentration camps: Both the United States and the Soviet Union liberated numerous concentration camps, including Dachau and Sachsenhausen, as they invaded Germany during the final stages of World War II.
6. 1953 – Discovery of DNA’s double helix announced: James Watson and Francis Crick, along with Rosalind Franklin’s contributions, had their findings on the structure of DNA published, which became foundational for genetic science.
7. 1974 – Carnation Revolution in Portugal: This virtually bloodless coup ended the Estado Novo regime, a long-standing authoritarian government in Portugal, and led to democratic reforms and the decolonization of Portuguese colonies in Africa.
8. 1982 – Israel completes its withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula: This act was in accordance with the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty, returning the territory to Egypt and marking a significant step in Middle Eastern diplomacy.
9. 2015 – Nepal Earthquake: A devastating earthquake measuring 7.8 in magnitude struck Nepal, resulting in widespread destruction and significant loss of life.

Wow! Those are some amazing events! You probably think that’s every wild event that happened on April 25. Hold your horses, hay-eater. Here are ten more.

1. April 25, 1536: Henry VIII Unveils New Wife Swapping Service Called “Ye Olde Tinder”, Claims It Will Revolutionize Dating Among Royalty.
2. April 25, 1776: George Washington Admits He Can’t Lie; Ironically Loses at Poker Night with the Continental Congress.
3. April 25, 1831: World’s First Vegetarian Vows to Only Eat Plants, Mistakenly Eats Silk Flowers, Declares Them “Surprisingly Crunchy”.
4. April 25, 1895: Victorian Scientists Declare Time Travel Possible, But Only Between 2:30 and 3:00 PM on Tuesdays.
5. April 25, 1920: League of Nations Proposes Banning Wars; Small Print Also Bans Whistling on Sundays and Enjoyment of Mime Performances.
6. April 25, 1955: Sputnik Satellite Accidentally Broadcasts Russian Laundry Instructions, Causing Widespread Confusion and Cleaner Clothes Worldwide.
7. April 25, 1976: Disco Declared a Form of Government in Sweden; Lawmakers Required to Wear Sequins and Handle All Diplomatic Disco Dances.
8. April 25, 1989: Scientists Discover Cats Can Speak But Choose Not To; Feline Representative Whispers “No Comment”.
9. April 25, 2000: Y2K Bug Finally Shows Up, Apologizes for Being Late, Blames It on a Bad GPS and Century-Old Directions.
10. April 25, 2010: Conspiracy Theorists Convene to Deny Existence of April 25th; Argue It’s a Government Plot to Add More Workdays.