There is no doubt about the fact that history is one of the important areas of study. With centuries of incidents and events, it is a witness to mankind’s progress and catastrophe. Thus, April 22 is an important date to remember in history. Various incidents occurred on this day. Here is a look at a few of the incidents:
1838- Sirius, an English steamship is the first transatlantic steam passenger ship
On April 22, 1838, Sirius docked in New York. It was the first ship to sail through the Atlantic entirely under steam. However, initially, the construction happened for services in the Irish Sea. The British and American Steam Navigation Company chartered this ship. Consequently, Sirius sailed from London to New York in 1838. Along with this, it also introduced the technical innovation of a condenser to recover freshwater.
1864- First appearance of the US coin, “In God We Trust”
April 22 is an important landmark in the history of US currency. There was the first use of a US mints two-cent coin. The Mint of the United States produced it for circulation from 1864 to 1872. James B. Longacre designed the coin. As a result, it was the first coin with the inscription, “In God We Trust.” Subsequently, the two-cent coins remain inexpensive according to the standards of the American coinage in the nineteenth century.
1963- Lester B. Pearson becomes the 14th Prime Minister of Canada
Lester Pearson was a scholar, soldier as well as a diplomat. On April 22, 1963, he became the fourteenth prime minister of Canada. Before this, he also won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957. It was for his efforts to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis through the organization of the United Nations Emergency Force. Thus, he served as the prime minister between the years 1963-1968. During his governance, he introduced universal health care, the Canada student loan program, the Canada Pension Plan, and several other programs.
1970- Gaylord Nelson observes Earth Day for the first time
An American politician and environmentalist, Gaylord Nelson celebrated Earth Day for the first time on April 22. As a result of this celebration, there was a new and widespread wave about environmental activism. In September 1995, Nelson also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This was to recognize and honor his work towards the environment. Hence, over 193 countries recognize and celebrate Earth Day annually on April 22.
2020- Sudan declared Female Genital Mutilation a criminal offense
An important event took place on this day. Evidently, a significant and much-needed step to stop the violation of human rights. Sudan banned female genital mutilation. The law declared it to be a criminal offense. Doctors and health workers committing this crime would have to face the penalty. It also stated that the place or clinic where this operation was carried out, would be shut down. Female genital mutilation is a major issue that suppressed young girls and women around the world. With this new step, there is a hope to ensure the safety and protection of human rights.
