1. In 1638, Swedish colonists established the first permanent European settlement in Delaware at Fort Christina (now Wilmington). The colony, known as New Sweden, lasted until it was taken over by the Dutch in 1655.

2. On April 8, 1776, Delaware delegates to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia voted unanimously to declare independence from Great Britain. Delaware was the first state to ratify the United States Constitution in 1787, earning it the nickname "The First State."

3. On this day in 1916, Delaware native and inventor Clarence W. Hickman was born. Hickman is known for his work with rocket propulsion systems and was instrumental in developing the technology used to launch the first American satellite, Explorer 1.

4. In 1957, Delaware Senator J. Allen Frear Jr. introduced the School Lunch Act, which inspired President Dwight D. Eisenhower to sign the National School Lunch Act later that year. The legislation provided funding for free or reduced-cost school lunches for children from low-income families.

5. On April 8, 1990, the Wilmington Blue Rocks minor league baseball team played its inaugural game at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium. The team, a Class A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, has since become a beloved fixture in Delaware sports.