Today in History: Thomas Jefferson, Edict of Nantes & More
April 13 marks a dual celebration of affection and intellect as **International Kissing Day** and **International Scrabble Day**. Beyond these lighthearted observances, this date has served as a backdrop for revolutionary decrees, the birth of a superpower’s founding father, and the debut of one of the world’s most celebrated musical masterpieces.
Monuments of History and Art
In 1598, King Henry IV of France signed the **Edict of Nantes**, a landmark decree granting religious freedom to Protestant Huguenots and ending decades of civil religious strife. Nearly 150 years later, in 1742, Dublin audiences witnessed the premiere of George Frideric Handel’s “The Messiah,” an oratorio that would become a cornerstone of Western choral music.
The day also marks the birth of **Thomas Jefferson** in 1743. As the primary author of the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the third President of the United States, Jefferson’s influence remains a pillar of modern democracy.
Cultural Milestones
The art world saw a significant expansion on this day in 1870 with the opening of the **Metropolitan Museum of Art** in New York City. Decades later, in 1964, Hollywood reached a historic turning point when **Sidney Poitier** became the first Black man to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Lilies of the Field.
In the world of literature, April 13 celebrates the birth of Irish playwright **Samuel Beckett** (1906), the Nobel laureate behind Waiting for Godot. Conversely, the fashion world mourned the loss of Dame **Mary Quant** in 2023, the visionary designer who revolutionized the 1960s with the miniskirt.
Turning Points in Portugal and the World
For Portugal, April 13 is rich with political and social evolution. In 1846, Lisbon celebrated the inauguration of the **D. Maria II National Theatre**. In 1987, the **Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration** was signed in Beijing, setting the stage for the 1999 peaceful transfer of Macau’s sovereignty to China.
More recently, the day has been marked by geopolitical tension and humanitarian tragedy. In 2015, the world grieved the loss of 400 migrants in a Mediterranean shipwreck. In 2017, the U.S. deployed its most powerful non-nuclear weapon, the “Mother of All Bombs,” against ISIS in Afghanistan. Most recently, in 2024, Iran launched a significant missile and drone attack against Israel, while seizing the Portuguese-flagged cargo ship MSC Aries near the Strait of Hormuz.
In Memoriam
The world lost several titans of literature and film on this date, including Jean de La Fontaine (1695), Günter Grass (2015), Eduardo Galeano (2015), Milos Forman (2018), and Mario Vargas Llosa (2025). Their works continue to challenge and inspire readers across the globe.
“The Church must preach active non-violence and conscientious objection as the most effective and more Christian-based means to force the solution of unjust situations.” — António Ferreira Gomes (1906-89), former Bishop of Porto.
Image: Pexels – Thomas Newland
