On This Day — August 4

🕰️ Notable Events on August 4

• 2007 — NASA's Phoenix spacecraft is launched. Wikipedia ↗
• 2006 — A massacre is carried out by Sri Lankan government forces, killing 17 employees of the French INGO Action Against Hunger (known internationally as Action Contre la Faim, or ACF). Wikipedia ↗
• 1995 — Operation Storm begins in Croatia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — A federal judge sentences Los Angeles Police Department officers Stacey Koon and Laurence Powell to 30 months in prison for violating motorist Rodney King's civil rights. Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — The Federal Communications Commission rescinds the Fairness Doctrine which had required radio and television stations to present controversial issues "fairly". Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — The Republic of Upper Volta changes its name to Burkina Faso. Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs legislation creating the United States Department of Energy. Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — The Japanese Red Army takes more than 50 hostages at the AIA Building housing several embassies in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The hostages include the U.S. consul and the Swedish Chargé d'affaires. The gunmen win the release of five imprisoned comrades and fly with them to Libya. Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — A bomb explodes in the Italicus Express train at San Benedetto Val di Sambro, Italy, killing 12 people and wounding 22. Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Vietnam War: At the apartment of French intermediary Jean Sainteny in Paris, American representative Henry Kissinger and North Vietnamese representative Xuân Thuỷ begin secret peace negotiations. The negotiations will eventually fail. Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — The Constitution of the Cook Islands comes into force, giving the Cook Islands self-governing status within New Zealand. Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Civil Rights Movement: Civil rights workers Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman and James Chaney are found dead in Mississippi after disappearing on June 21. Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Gulf of Tonkin incident: U.S. destroyers USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy report coming under attack in the Gulf of Tonkin. Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — The Supreme Court of Japan is established. Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — An earthquake of magnitude 8.0 hits northern Dominican Republic. One hundred are killed and 20,000 are left homeless. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — The Holocaust: A tip from a Dutch informer leads the Gestapo to a sealed-off area in an Amsterdam warehouse, where they find and arrest Jewish diarist Anne Frank, her family, and four others. Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Prime Minister of Greece Ioannis Metaxas suspends parliament and the Constitution and establishes the 4th of August Regime. Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Diplomatic relations between Mexico and the Soviet Union are established. Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — World War I: The German 12th Army occupies Warsaw during the Gorlice-Tarnów Offensive and the Great Retreat of 1915. Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — In response to the German invasion of Belgium, Belgium and the British Empire declare war on Germany. The United States declares its neutrality. Wikipedia ↗
• 1892 — The father and stepmother of Lizzie Borden are found murdered in their Fall River, Massachusetts home. She was tried and acquitted for the crimes a year later. Wikipedia ↗
• 1889 — The Great Fire of Spokane, Washington destroys some 32 blocks of the city, prompting a mass rebuilding project. Wikipedia ↗
• 1873 — American Indian Wars: While protecting a railroad survey party in Montana, the United States 7th Cavalry, under Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer clashes for the first time with the Cheyenne and Lakota people near the Tongue River; only one man on each side is killed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1863 — Matica slovenská, Slovakia's public-law cultural and scientific institution focusing on topics around the Slovak nation, is established in Martin. Wikipedia ↗
• 1854 — The Hinomaru is established as the official flag to be flown from Japanese ships. Wikipedia ↗
• 1824 — The Battle of Kos is fought between Turkish and Greek forces. Wikipedia ↗
• 1821 — The Saturday Evening Post is published for the first time as a weekly newspaper. Wikipedia ↗
• 1796 — French Revolutionary Wars: Napoleon leads the French Army of Italy to victory in the Battle of Lonato. Wikipedia ↗
• 1791 — The Treaty of Sistova is signed, ending the Ottoman-Habsburg wars. Wikipedia ↗
• 1790 — A newly passed tariff act creates the Revenue Cutter Service (the forerunner of the United States Coast Guard). Wikipedia ↗
• 1789 — France: members of the National Constituent Assembly take an oath to end feudalism and abandon their privileges. Wikipedia ↗
• 1783 — Mount Asama erupts in Japan, killing about 1,400 people. The eruption causes a famine, which results in an additional 20,000 deaths. Wikipedia ↗
• 1704 — War of the Spanish Succession: Gibraltar is captured by an English and Dutch fleet, commanded by Admiral Sir George Rooke and allied with Archduke Charles. Wikipedia ↗
• 1701 — Great Peace of Montreal between New France and First Nations is signed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1693 — Date traditionally ascribed to Dom Perignon's invention of champagne; it is not clear whether he actually invented champagne, however he has been credited as an innovator who developed the techniques used to perfect sparkling wine. Wikipedia ↗
• 1578 — Battle of Al Kasr al Kebir: The Moroccans defeat the Portuguese. King Sebastian of Portugal is killed in the battle, leaving his elderly uncle, Cardinal Henry, as his heir. This initiates a succession crisis in Portugal. Wikipedia ↗
• 1532 — The Duchy of Brittany is united to the Kingdom of France. Wikipedia ↗
• 1327 — First War of Scottish Independence: James Douglas leads a raid into Weardale and almost kills Edward III of England. Wikipedia ↗
• 1265 — Second Barons' War: Battle of Evesham: The army of Prince Edward (the future king Edward I of England) defeats the forces of rebellious barons led by Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, killing de Montfort and many of his allies. Wikipedia ↗
• 598 — Goguryeo-Sui War: Emperor Wéndi of Sui orders his youngest son, Yang Liang (assisted by the co-prime minister Gao Jiong), to conquer Goguryeo (Korea) during the Manchurian rainy season, with a Chinese army and navy. Wikipedia ↗
• Titus ends the siege of Jerusalem after destroying Herod's Temple. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on August 4

• 1995 — Bruna Marquezine, Brazilian actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — Pauli Pauli, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Daniele Garozzo, Italian fencer Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Dylan Sprouse, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Cole Sprouse, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Thiago Cardoso, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Izet Hajrović, Bosnian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Hikmet Balioğlu, Turkish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Siim Tenno, Estonian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Wang Hao, Chinese chess player Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Jessica Mauboy, Australian singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Carly Foulkes, Canadian model and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Jang Keun-suk, South Korean actor and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Marreese Speights American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Tomoya Warabino, Japanese actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Nick Augusto, American drummer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Leon Camier, English motorcycle racer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Cicinho, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Iosia Soliola, New Zealand-Samoan rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — David Williams, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Crystal Bowersox, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Robbie Findley, American soccer player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Mark Milligan, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Ha Seung-jin, South Korean basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Antonio Valencia, Ecuadorean footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Terry Campese, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Mardy Collins, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Greta Gerwig, American actress, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Erica Carlson, Swedish actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Marques Houston, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Richard Dawson, English cricketer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Robin Peterson, South African cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Jeremy Adduono, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Luke Allen, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Kurt Busch, American race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Agnė Eggerth, Lithuanian sprinter Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Ibán Espadas, Spanish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Jon Knott, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Karine Legault, Canadian swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Sandeep Naik, Indian politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Siri Nordby, Norwegian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Ricardo Serrano, Spanish cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Per-Åge Skrøder, Norwegian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Satoshi Hino, Japanese voice actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Frankie Kazarian, American wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Luís Boa Morte, Portuguese footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Andrew McLeod, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Trevor Woodman, English rugby player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Nikos Liberopoulos, Greek footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Jutta Urpilainen, Finnish politician, Deputy Prime Minister of Finland Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Daniella van Graas, Dutch model and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Eva Amaral, Spanish singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Xavier Marchand, French swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Marek Penksa, Slovak footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Marcos Roberto Silveira Reis, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Stefan Brogren, Canadian actor, director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Bethan Benwell, English linguist, author, and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Jeff Gordon, American race car driver and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — John August, American director and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Bret Baier, American journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Steve House, American mountaineer Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Steven Jack, South African cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Kate Silverton, English journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Mark Bickley, Australian footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Max Cavalera, Brazilian singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Troy O'Leary, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Daniel Dae Kim, South Korean-American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Lee Mack, English comedian, actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Michael Marsh, American sprinter Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Adam Afriyie, English businessman and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Dennis Lehane, American author, screenwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Fredrik Reinfeldt, Swedish soldier and politician, 42nd Prime Minister of Sweden Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Michael Skibbe, German footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Andrew Bartlett, Australian social worker and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Roger Clemens, American baseball player and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Paul Reynolds, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (A Flock of Seagulls) Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Barack Obama, American lawyer and politician, 44th President of the United States, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Chuck C. Lopez, American jockey Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Spanish academic and politician, 5th Prime Minister of Spain Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Bernard Rose, English director, screenwriter, and cinematographer Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Tim Winton, Australian author and playwright Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Robbin Crosby, American guitarist and songwriter (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — John Gormley, Irish politician, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Ian Broudie, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Allison Hedge Coke, American-Canadian poet and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Mary Decker, American runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Silvan Shalom, Tunisian-Israeli sergeant and politician, 30th Deputy Prime Minister of Israel Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Rupert Farley, British actor and voice actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Brooks D. Simpson, American historian and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Valdis Valters, Latvian basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — John Wark, Scottish footballer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Gerry Cooney, American boxer and promoter Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Alberto Gonzales, American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 80th United States Attorney General Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Billy Bob Thornton, American actor, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Anatoliy Kinakh, Ukrainian engineer and politician, 11th Prime Minister of Ukraine Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Steve Phillips, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — François Valéry, Algerian-French singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Hiroyuki Usui, Japanese footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — James Arbuthnot, English lawyer and politician, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Moya Brennan, Irish singer-songwriter and harp player Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Gábor Demszky, Hungarian sociologist, lawyer, and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Peter Goodfellow, English geneticist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Caldwell Jones, American basketball player and coach (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — N. Rangaswamy, Indian lawyer and politician, 9th Chief Minister of Puducherry Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — John Riggins, American football player, sportscaster, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Johnny Grubb, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Klaus Schulze, German keyboard player and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Aleksei Turovski, Estonian zoologist and ethologist Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Paul McCarthy, American painter and sculptor Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Alan Mulally, American engineer and businessman Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Richard Belzer, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Doudou Ndoye, Senegalese lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Vicente Álvarez Areces, Spanish politician, 6th President of the Principality of Asturias Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Barbara Saß-Viehweger, German politician, lawyer and civil law notary Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Bjørn Wirkola, Norwegian ski jumper and footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Cleon Jones, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — David Lange, New Zealand lawyer and politician, 32nd Prime Minister of New Zealand (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Martin Jarvis, English actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Andy Smillie, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Ted Strickland, American psychologist and politician, 68th Governor of Ohio Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Robin Harper, Scottish academic and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Larry Knechtel, American bass player and pianist (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Frances Stewart, English economist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Timi Yuro, American singer-songwriter (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Jack Cunningham, Baron Cunningham of Felling, English politician, Minister for the Cabinet Office Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Frankie Ford, American R&B/rock & roll singer (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Ellen Schrecker, American historian and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — David Bedford, English keyboard player, composer, and conductor (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Giorgos Zographos, Greek singer and actor (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Carol Arthur, American actress and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Hans-Walter Eigenbrodt, German footballer and coach (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Michael J. Noonan, Irish farmer and politician, 25th Minister of Defence for Ireland (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Dallas Green, American baseball player and manager (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Frances E. Allen, American computer scientist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Liang Congjie, Chinese environmentalist, founded Friends of Nature (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Naren Tamhane, Indian cricketer (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Ali al-Sistani, Iranian-Iraqi cleric and scholar Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Kishore Kumar, Indian singer-songwriter and actor (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Vellore G. Ramabhadran, Mridangam artiste from Tamil Nadu, India (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Christian Goethals, Belgian race car driver (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Gerard Damiano, American director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Nadežka Mosusova, Serbian composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — George Irving Bell, American physicist, biologist, and mountaineer (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Perry Moss, American football player and coach (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Luis Aponte Martínez, Puerto Rican cardinal (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Herb Ellis, American guitarist (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Maurice Richard, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Helen Thomas, American journalist and author (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Michel Déon, French novelist, playwright, and critic (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Brian Crozier, Australian-English historian and journalist (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — John Fitch, American race car driver and engineer (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Warren Avis, American businessman, founded Avis Rent a Car System (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Wesley Addy, American actor (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Robert Hayden, American poet and educator (d. 1980) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Johann Niemann, German lieutenant (d. 1943) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Aleksandr Danilovich Aleksandrov, Russian mathematician, physicist, and mountaineer (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — David Raksin, American composer and educator (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Raoul Wallenberg, Swedish architect and diplomat (d. 1947) Wikipedia ↗
• 1910 — Anita Page, American actress (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on August 4 (Calendar.cx)