On This Day — April 4

Famous events, births, and deaths from April 4 in history, plus the public holidays, religious observances, sports, and national days happening on this date today.

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55 events · 278 births · 124 deaths recorded for April 4.

🕰️ Notable Events on April 4

2013 — More than 70 people are killed in a building collapse in Thane, India. Wikipedia ↗
2002 — The Angolan government and UNITA rebels sign a peace treaty ending the Angolan Civil War. Wikipedia ↗
1996 — Comet Hyakutake is imaged by the USA Asteroid Orbiter Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous. Wikipedia ↗
1994 — Marc Andreessen and Jim Clark found Netscape Communications Corporation under the name Mosaic Communications Corporation. Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Senator John Heinz of Pennsylvania and six others are killed when a helicopter collides with their airplane over an elementary school in Merion, Pennsylvania. Wikipedia ↗
1991 — The current flag of Hong Kong is adopted for post-colonial Hong Kong during the Third Session of the Seventh National People's Congress. Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Governor Evan Mecham of Arizona is convicted in his impeachment trial and removed from office. Wikipedia ↗
1984 — President Ronald Reagan calls for an international ban on chemical weapons. Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Space Shuttle Challenger makes its maiden voyage into space. Wikipedia ↗
1981 — The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force mounts an attack on H-3 Airbase and destroys about 50 Iraqi aircraft. Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of Pakistan is executed. Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Prince Norodom Sihanouk resigns as leader of Cambodia and is placed under house arrest. Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Microsoft is founded as a partnership between Bill Gates and Paul Allen in Albuquerque, New Mexico Wikipedia ↗
1975 — A United States Air Force Lockheed C-5A Galaxy transporting orphans, crashes near Saigon, South Vietnam shortly after takeoff, killing 172 people. Wikipedia ↗
1973 — The World Trade Center in New York is officially dedicated. Wikipedia ↗
1973 — A Lockheed C-141 Starlifter, dubbed the Hanoi Taxi, makes the last flight of Operation Homecoming. Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Dr. Denton Cooley implants the first temporary artificial heart. Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated by James Earl Ray at a motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Apollo program: NASA launches Apollo 6. Wikipedia ↗
1968 — A.E.K. Athens B.C. becomes the first Greek team to win the European Basketball Cup. Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence" speech in New York City's Riverside Church. Wikipedia ↗
1965 — The first model of the new Saab Viggen fighter aircraft is unveiled. Wikipedia ↗
1964 — The Beatles occupy the top five positions on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. Wikipedia ↗
1960 — France agrees to grant independence to the Mali Federation, a union of Senegal and French Sudan. Wikipedia ↗
1958 — The CND peace symbol is displayed in public for the first time in London. Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Twelve nations sign the North Atlantic Treaty creating the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Wikipedia ↗
1945 — World War II: American troops liberate Ohrdruf forced labor camp in Germany. Wikipedia ↗
1945 — World War II: American troops capture Kassel. Wikipedia ↗
1945 — World War II: Soviet troops liberate Hungary from German occupation and occupy the country itself. Wikipedia ↗
1944 — World War II: First bombardment of oil refineries in Bucharest by Anglo-American forces kills 3000 civilians. Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Faisal II becomes King of Iraq. Wikipedia ↗
1933 — U.S. Navy airship, USS Akron, is wrecked off the New Jersey coast due to severe weather. Wikipedia ↗
1925 — The Schutzstaffel (SS) is founded in Germany. Wikipedia ↗
1913 — First Balkan War: Greek aviator Emmanouil Argyropoulos becomes the first pilot to die in the Hellenic Air Force when his plane crashes. Wikipedia ↗
1905 — In India, an earthquake hits the Kangra Valley, killing 20,000, and destroying most buildings in Kangra, McLeod Ganj and Dharamshala. Wikipedia ↗
1887 — Argonia, Kansas elects Susanna M. Salter as the first female mayor in the United States. Wikipedia ↗
1873 — The Kennel Club is founded, the oldest and first official registry of purebred dogs in the world. Wikipedia ↗
1866 — Alexander II of Russia narrowly escapes an assassination attempt by Dmitry Karakozov in the city of Saint Petersburg. Wikipedia ↗
1865 — American Civil War: A day after Union forces capture Richmond, Virginia, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln visits the Confederate capital. Wikipedia ↗
1859 — Bryant's Minstrels debut "Dixie" in New York City in the finale of a blackface minstrel show. Wikipedia ↗
1850 — A large part of the English village of Cottenham burns to the ground in suspicious circumstances. Wikipedia ↗
1850 — Los Angeles is incorporated as a city. Wikipedia ↗
1841 — William Henry Harrison dies of pneumonia, becoming the first President of the United States to die in office, and setting the record for the briefest administration. Vice President John Tyler succeeds Harrison as President. Wikipedia ↗
1818 — The United States Congress adopts the flag of the United States with 13 red and white stripes and one star for each state (then 20). Wikipedia ↗
1814 — Napoleon abdicates for the first time and names his son Napoleon II as Emperor of the French. Wikipedia ↗
1812 — United States President James Madison enacts a ninety-day embargo on trade with the United Kingdom. Wikipedia ↗
1796 — Georges Cuvier delivers the first paleontological lecture. Wikipedia ↗
1768 — In London, Philip Astley stages the first modern circus. Wikipedia ↗
1721 — Sir Robert Walpole becomes the first British prime minister. Wikipedia ↗
1660 — Declaration of Breda by King Charles II of Great Britain. Wikipedia ↗
1581 — Francis Drake is knighted for completing a circumnavigation of the world. Wikipedia ↗
1460 — Basel University is founded. Wikipedia ↗
1287 — King Wareru founds the Ramanya Kingdom, and proclaims independence from the Pagan Kingdom. Wikipedia ↗
1147 — First historical record of Moscow. Wikipedia ↗
Roman consul Agrippa Menenius Lanatus celebrated a triumph for a military victory over the Sabines. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on April 4

1996 — Austin Mahone, American singer-songwriter and actor Wikipedia ↗
1994 — Shunsuke Nishikawa, Japanese actor Wikipedia ↗
1994 — Risako Sugaya, Japanese singer and actress Wikipedia ↗
1993 — Samir Carruthers, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1993 — Cerys Hale, Welsh rugby player Wikipedia ↗
1993 — Frank Kaminsky, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Lucy May Barker, English actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Christina Metaxa, Cypriot singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Jack Cooley, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Justin O'Neill, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Jamie Lynn Spears, American actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Marlon Stöckinger, Filipino race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Vurnon Anita, Dutch footballer Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Steven Finn, English cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Chris Herd, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Frank Fielding, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Sami Khedira, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
1987 — McDonald Mariga, Kenyan footballer Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Cameron Maybin, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Marcos Vellidis, Greek footballer Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Eunhyuk, South Korean singer-songwriter and dancer Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Cameron Barker, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Maurice Manificat, French skier Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Aiden McGeady, Scottish-born Irish footballer Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Alexander Tettey, Norwegian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Rudy Fernández, Spanish basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Ricardo Vilar, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Sean May, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Arkady Vyatchanin, Russian swimmer Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Evgeny Artyukhin, Russian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Ben Gordon, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Doug Lynch, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Natalie Pike, Scottish-English model and actress Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Amanda Righetti, American actress Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Justin Cook, American voice actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Magnus Lindgren, Swedish chef (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Currensy, American rapper Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Eduardo Luís Carloto, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Casey Daigle, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Anna Pyatykh, Russian triple jumper Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Ned Vizzini, American author and screenwriter (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Johnny Borrell, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Trevor Moore, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Eric Steinbach, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Björn Wirdheim, Swedish race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Heath Ledger, Australian actor (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Roberto Luongo, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Natasha Lyonne, American actress Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Andy McKee, American guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Jason Ellison, American baseball player and scout Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Alan Mahon, Irish footballer Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Stephan Bonnar, American mixed martial artist Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Keith Bulluck, American football player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Adam Dutkiewicz, American guitarist, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Stephen Mulhern, English magician and television host Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Omarr Smith, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Nathan Blacklock, Australian rugby player Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Sébastien Enjolras, French race car driver (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Emerson Ferreira da Rosa, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1976 — James Roday, American actor, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Delphine Arnault, French businesswoman Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Thobias Fredriksson, Swedish skier Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Joyce Giraud, Puerto Rican-American model, television actress and producer, Miss Puerto Rico 1994 Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Pamela Ribon, American actress, screenwriter, and author Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Miranda Lee Richards, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Scott Rolen, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Kevin Weekes, Canadian ice hockey player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Chris Banks, American football player (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1973 — David Blaine, American magician and producer Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Loris Capirossi, Italian motorcycle racer Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Peter Hoekstra, Dutch footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Chris McCormack, Australian triathlete and coach Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Kelly Price, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Jim Dymock, Australian rugby league player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Jill Scott, American singer-songwriter and actress Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Magnus Sveningsson, Swedish bass player Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Yanic Perreault, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Josh Todd, American singer-songwriter and actor Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Malik Yusef, American actor, producer, and poet Wikipedia ↗
1971 — John Zandig, American wrestler and promoter Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Georgios Amanatidis, Greek footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Greg Garcia, American director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Barry Pepper, Canadian actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Jason Stoltenberg, Australian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Yelena Yelesina, Russian high jumper Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Piotr Anderszewski, Polish pianist and composer Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Karren Brady, English journalist and businesswoman Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Jesús Rollán, Spanish water polo player (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Edith Masai, Kenyan-German runner Wikipedia ↗
1967 — George Mavrotas, Greek water polo player and politician Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Nancy McKeon, American actress Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Mike Starr, American bass player (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Christos Tsekos, Greek basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Vinny Burns, English guitarist and producer Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Robert Downey Jr., American actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Branco, Brazilian footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Dr. Chud, American drummer and singer Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Anthony Clark, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1964 — David Cross, American actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Đặng Thân, Vietnamese writer and poet Wikipedia ↗
1963 — A. Michael Baldwin, American actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Jack Del Rio, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Dale Hawerchuk, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Graham Norton, Irish actor and talk show host Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Craig Adams, English bass player and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Kailasho Devi, Indian social worker and politician Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Hildi Santo-Tomas, American interior decorator Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Jonathan Agnew, English cricketer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Jane Eaglen, English soprano Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Hugo Weaving, Nigerian-Australian actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Phil Morris, American actor and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Peter Baltes, German bass player Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Cazuza, Brazilian singer-songwriter (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Rodney Eade, Australian footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Paul Downton, English cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Aki Kaurismäki, Finnish director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Graeme Kelling, Scottish guitarist (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Nobuyoshi Kuwano, Japanese singer and trumpet player Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Evelyn Hart, Canadian ballerina Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Tom Herr, American baseball player and manager Wikipedia ↗
1956 — David E. Kelley, American screenwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Robert Bertrand, Canadian politician Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Henry Fotheringham, South African cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Simcha Jacobovici, Canadian director, producer, journalist, and author Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Sammy Wilson, Northern Irish politician, 31st Lord Mayor of Belfast Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Chen Yi, Chinese violinist and composer Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Rosemarie Ackermann, German high jumper Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Pat Burns, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Gregg Hansford, Australian motorcycle racer (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Cherie Lunghi, English actress and dancer Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Karen Magnussen, Canadian figure skater and coach Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Gary Moore, Northern Irish singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Villy Søvndal, Danish educator and politician, Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs Wikipedia ↗
1951 — John Hannah, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Hun Sen, Cambodian soldier and politician, 33rd Prime Minister of Cambodia Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Christine Lahti, American actress and director Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Junior Braithwaite, Jamaican-American singer (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Shing-Tung Yau, Chinese-American mathematician and academic Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Abdullah Öcalan, Turkish activist Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Berry Oakley, American bass player (d. 1972) Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Dan Simmons, American author Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Derek Thompson, Northern Irish actor Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Pick Withers, English drummer Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Wiranto, Indonesian general and politician Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Ray Fosse, American baseball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗