On this day

April 5, 1941

Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.

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Notable Births

1941Michael Moriarty, American-Canadian actor[†]

Michael Moriarty is an American-Canadian actor. He received an Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award for his role as a Nazi SS officer in the 1978 miniseries Holocaust and a Tony Award in 1974 for his performance in the play Find Your Way Home. He starred as Executive Assistant District Attorney Benjamin Stone for the first four seasons (1990–1994) of the television show Law & Order. Moriarty is also known for his roles in films such as Bang the Drum Slowly, Who'll Stop the Rain, Q: The Winged Serpent, The Stuff, Pale Rider, Troll, Courage Under Fire, and Shiloh.

Dave Swarbrick

1941Dave Swarbrick, English singer-songwriter and fiddler (died 2016)[†]

David Cyril Eric Swarbrick was an English traditional folk musician and songwriter who primarily played the violin. He was one of the most highly regarded musicians produced by the second British folk revival, contributing to some of the most important groups and projects of the 1960s, and he became a much sought-after session musician, which led him throughout his career to work with many of the major figures in folk and folk rock music.

Notable Deaths

Parvin E'tesami

1941Parvin E'tesami, Persian poet (born 1907)[†]

Rakhshandeh E'tesami, better known as Parvin E'tesami, was a 20th-century Iranian Persian poet.

Nigel Gresley

1941Nigel Gresley, Scottish-English engineer (born 1876)[†]

Sir Herbert Nigel Gresley was a British railway engineer. He was one of Britain's most famous steam locomotive engineers, who rose to become Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). He was the designer of some of the most famous steam locomotives in Britain, including the LNER Class A1 and LNER Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific engines. An A1 Pacific, Flying Scotsman, was the first steam locomotive officially recorded over 100 mph in passenger service, and an A4, No. 4468 Mallard, still holds the record for being the fastest steam locomotive in the world (126 mph).

Franciszek Kleeberg

1941Franciszek Kleeberg, Polish general (born 1888)[†]

Franciszek Kleeberg was a Polish general. He served in the Austro-Hungarian Army before joining the Polish Legions in World War I and following the Polish Independence later the Polish Army. During the German Invasion of Poland he commanded Independent Operational Group Polesie. He never lost a battle in the Invasion of Poland, although he was eventually forced to surrender after his forces ran out of ammunition. Imprisoned in Oflag IV-B Koenigstein, he died in a hospital in Dresden on 5 April 1941 and was buried there.