1. In 1861, Union troops under the command of General Benjamin Butler seized control of Fort Adams in Newport, Rhode Island, as part of the Civil War effort. The fort would remain an important military installation throughout the war.

2. On April 13, 1964, the Rhode Island State College (now the University of Rhode Island) hosted an open house for its new research vessel, the R/V Endeavor. The ship would go on to serve as a research platform for oceanography and marine biology for over three decades.

3. In 1775, the British sloop-of-war HMS Falcon captured the schooner Stephen, which was carrying gunpowder and other supplies to the American rebels. The incident was part of the tense buildup to the Battle of Lexington and Concord, which would ignite the American Revolution.

4. On April 13, 1863, Rhode Island Governor William Sprague issued a proclamation calling for a statewide day of fasting and prayer. The governor cited the ongoing Civil War as a reason for the observance, and called on Rhode Islanders to pray for the success of Union forces and the restoration of peace.

5. The Rhode Island Red, a breed of chicken known for its hardiness and egg-laying abilities, was first developed in Little Compton, Rhode Island, in the late 1800s. Today, the Rhode Island Red is one of the most popular breeds of chicken worldwide.