On April 1 in history:

1700 – April Fool’s Day was made popular by the English. It is believed that April Fool’s Day dates back to 1582 when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian, resulting in the new year starting on Jan. 1 instead of March 25. “Those who continued to celebrate the end of New Year Week on April 1 were referred to as fools,” according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.

1924 – Nazi leader Adolf Hitler was sentenced to five years in Landsberg Prison, where he worked on his autobiography titled “Mein Kampf.”

1963 – ABC television network premiered the soap opera “General Hospital.”

1970 – Richard Nixon signed legislation banning all cigarette ads on television and radio.

1984 – Marvin Gaye, American singer-songwriter known for his hits “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” and “I Heard It Through The Grapevine,” was shot and killed by his father.

April 1 celebrity birthdays:

1961 – Susan Boyle, contestant on “Britain’s Got Talent” and singer known for her debut album “I Dreamed a Dream,” which was one of the UK’s best-selling debut albums.

1977 – Jon Gosselin, reality television star from the TLC production “Jon and Kate Plus 8.”

1983 – Matt Lanter, actor and model best known for his role as Liam Court on “90210.”

1986 – Hillary Scott, lead singer of the hit country group Lady Antebellum.