April 3

Calendar position and general notes

The date's ordinal position—93rd or 94th—depends on whether February contains 28 or 29 days. The same nominal date can correspond to different days of the week or to different dates in other calendar systems, so historical references sometimes specify the calendar used. April 3 may also be presented with local observances, anniversaries, or fixed holidays in various countries.

Notable events

• 1882 — Outlaw Jesse James was killed by Robert Ford, a widely reported event that ended one of the most notorious criminal careers of the American Old West.
• 1968 — Civil-rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I've Been to the Mountaintop" address in Memphis, Tennessee, a speech remembered for its tone and timing on the eve of his assassination.
• 1973 — Engineer Martin Cooper of Motorola made the first public handheld cellular phone call, a milestone in mobile communications that helped launch the modern era of wireless telephony.

Births and deaths

Several prominent cultural figures were born on April 3. Examples include actor Marlon Brando (born 1924), who became a major influence on screen acting, and comedian and actor Eddie Murphy (born 1961). The date also marks the death of figures such as Jesse James (died 1882), noted above.

Uses and significance

Beyond historical anniversaries, April 3 can serve as a reference point for commemorations, academic timelines, and genealogical records. It is sometimes chosen for local festivals or remembrance days, depending on national calendars and traditions. When consulting older documents, researchers should verify whether dates were recorded under the Julian calendar or another system to avoid misdating events.