On This Day — February 4

🕰️ Notable Events on February 4

• 2015 — A TransAsia Airways aircraft with 58 people on board, en route from the Taiwanese capital Taipei to Kinmen, crashes into the Keelung River just after take-off, killing at least 31 people. Wikipedia ↗
• 2004 — Facebook, a mainstream online social networking site, is founded by Mark Zuckerberg. Wikipedia ↗
• 2003 — The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is officially renamed Serbia and Montenegro and adopts a new constitution. Wikipedia ↗
• 1999 — Unarmed West African immigrant Amadou Diallo is shot 41 times by four plainclothes New York City police officers on an unrelated stake-out, inflaming race relations in the city. Wikipedia ↗
• 1998 — The 5.9 Mw Afghanistan earthquake shakes the Takhar Province with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (Very strong). With 2,323 killed, and 818 injured, damage is considered extreme. Wikipedia ↗
• 1997 — En route to Lebanon, two Israeli Sikorsky CH-53 troop-transport helicopters collide in mid-air over northern Galilee, Israel killing 73. Wikipedia ↗
• 1996 — Major snowstorm paralyzes Midwestern United States, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and ties all-time record low temperature at −26 °F (−32.2 °C) Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — A coup d'état is led by Hugo Chávez against Venezuelan President Carlos Andrés Pérez. Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — A Chicago Transit Authority elevated train rear-ends another and derails, killing 11 and injuring 180, the worst accident in the agency's history. Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — In Guatemala and Honduras an earthquake kills more than 22,000. Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Haicheng earthquake (magnitude 7.3 on the Richter scale) occurs in Haicheng, Liaoning, China. Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — The Symbionese Liberation Army kidnaps Patty Hearst in Berkeley, California. Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — M62 coach bombing: The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) explodes a bomb on a bus carrying off-duty British Armed Forces personnel in Yorkshire, England. Nine soldiers and three civilians are killed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Yasser Arafat takes over as chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization. Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Lunar Orbiter program: Lunar Orbiter 3 lifts off from Cape Canaveral's Launch Complex 13 on its mission to identify possible landing sites for the Surveyor and Apollo spacecraft. Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — All Nippon Airways Flight 60 plunges into Tokyo Bay, killing 133. Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — The Angolan War of Independence and the greater Portuguese Colonial War begin. Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Ceylon (later renamed Sri Lanka) becomes independent within the British Commonwealth. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — World War II: Santo Tomas Internment Camp is liberated from Japanese authority. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — World War II: The Yalta Conference between the "Big Three" (Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin) opens at the Livadia Palace in the Crimea. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — World War II: The British Indian Army and Imperial Japanese Army begin a series of battles known as the Battle of Pokoku and Irrawaddy River operations. Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — The United Service Organization (USO) is created to entertain American troops. Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Second Sino-Japanese War: Harbin, Manchuria, falls to Japan. Wikipedia ↗
• 1899 — The Philippine-American War begins with the Battle of Manila. Wikipedia ↗
• 1861 — American Civil War: In Montgomery, Alabama, delegates from six break-away U.S. states meet and form the Confederate States of America. Wikipedia ↗
• 1859 — The Codex Sinaiticus is discovered in Egypt. Wikipedia ↗
• 1846 — The first Mormon pioneers make their exodus from Nauvoo, Illinois, westward towards Salt Lake Valley. Wikipedia ↗
• 1825 — The Ohio Legislature authorizes the construction of the Ohio and Erie Canal and the Miami and Erie Canal. Wikipedia ↗
• 1820 — The Chilean Navy under the command of Lord Cochrane completes the 2-day long Capture of Valdivia with just 300 men and 2 ships. Wikipedia ↗
• 1810 — The Royal Navy seizes Guadeloupe. Wikipedia ↗
• 1801 — John Marshall is sworn in as Chief Justice of the United States. Wikipedia ↗
• 1797 — The Riobamba earthquake strikes Ecuador, causing up to 40,000 casualties. Wikipedia ↗
• 1794 — The French legislature abolishes slavery throughout all territories of the French First Republic. It will be reestablished in the French West Indies in 1802. Wikipedia ↗
• 1789 — George Washington is unanimously elected as the first President of the United States by the U.S. Electoral College. Wikipedia ↗
• 1758 — Macapá, Brazil is founded. Wikipedia ↗
• 1703 — In Edo (now Tokyo), 46 of the Forty-seven Ronin commit seppuku (ritual suicide) as recompense for avenging their master's death. Wikipedia ↗
• 1555 — John Rogers is burned at the stake, becoming the first English Protestant martyr under Mary I of England. Wikipedia ↗
• 1454 — In the Thirteen Years' War, the Secret Council of the Prussian Confederation sends a formal act of disobedience to the Grand Master. Wikipedia ↗
• 1169 — A strong earthquake struck the Ionian coast of Sicily, causing tens of thousands of injuries and deaths, especially in Catania. Wikipedia ↗
• 960 — The coronation of Zhao Kuangyin as Emperor Taizu of Song, initiating the Song dynasty period of China that would last more than three centuries. Wikipedia ↗
• 634 — Battle of Dathin: Rashidun forces under Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan defeat an outnumbered Byzantine force near Gaza in Palestine. Wikipedia ↗
• 211 — Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies at Eboracum (modern York, England) while preparing to lead a campaign against the Caledonians. He leaves the empire in the control of his two quarrelling sons. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on February 4

• 1996 — Tevita Pangai Junior, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Bae Noo-ri, South Korean actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Jack Wighton, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Jake Friend, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Kevin Naiqama, Australian-Fijian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Carly Patterson, American gymnast and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Darren O'Dea, Irish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Lucie Šafářová, Czech tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Maximilian Götz, German race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Mahmudullah Riyad, Bangladeshi cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Sandeep Acharya, Indian singer (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Mauricio Pinilla, Chilean footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Lee Stempniak, American ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Chris Sabin, American wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Ivars Timermanis, Latvian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Tomas Vaitkus, Lithuanian cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Jason Kapono, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Johan Vansummeren, Belgian cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Raimonds Vaikulis, Latvian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Giorgio Pantano, Italian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Gavin DeGraw, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Natalie Imbruglia, Australian singer-songwriter and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Oscar De La Hoya, American boxer Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — James Hird, Australian footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Manny Legace, Canadian ice hockey player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Dara Ó Briain, Irish comedian and television host Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Giovanni Silva de Oliveira, Brazilian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Rob Corddry, American actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Eric Garcetti, American lieutenant and politician, 42nd Mayor of Los Angeles Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Gabrielle Anwar, English actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Sergei Grinkov, Russian figure skater (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Tony Butterfield, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Viatcheslav Ekimov, Russian cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Pirmin Zurbriggen, Swiss skier Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Clint Black, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Stephen Hammond, English banker and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Stewart O'Nan, American novelist Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Denis Savard, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Siobhan Dowd, English author and activist (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Adrienne King, American actress, dancer, and painter Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Jonathan Larson, American composer and playwright (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Christian Schreier, German footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Lawrence Taylor, American football player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Tomasz Pacyński, Polish journalist and author (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Don Davis, American composer and conductor Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Mikuláš Dzurinda, Slovak politician, Prime Minister of Slovakia Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Jenny Shipley, New Zealand educator and politician, 36th Prime Minister of New Zealand Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Thomas Silverstein, American prisoner, founder and former leader of the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Patrick Bergin, Irish actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Phil Ehart, American rock drummer and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Michael Beck, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Rasim Delić, Bosnian general (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Alice Cooper, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Rod Grams, American journalist and politician (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Mienoumi Tsuyoshi, Japanese sumo wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Dennis C. Blair, American admiral and politician, 3rd Director of National Intelligence Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Dan Quayle, American sergeant, lawyer, and politician, 44th Vice President of the United States Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Florence LaRue, American singer and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Alberto João Jardim, Portuguese journalist and politician, 2nd President of the Regional Government of Madeira Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Wanda Rutkiewicz, Lithuanian-Polish mountaineer (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Ken Thompson, American computer scientist and programmer, co-developed the B programming language Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Ron Rangi, New Zealand rugby player (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Jiří Raška, Czech skier and coach (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — John Steel, English drummer Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — George A. Romero, American director and producer (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Stan Lundine, American lawyer and politician, Lieutenant Governor of New York Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Frank J. Dodd, American businessman and politician, president of the New Jersey Senate (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — David Newman, American director and screenwriter (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — David Brenner, American comedian, actor, and author (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Claude Nobs, Swiss businessman, founded the Montreux Jazz Festival (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Wallis Mathias, Pakistani cricketer (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Martti Talvela, Finnish opera singer (d. 1989) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Collin Wilcox, American actress (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Isabel Martínez de Perón, Argentinian dancer and politician, 41st President of Argentina Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Tibor Antalpéter, Hungarian volleyball player and diplomat, Hungarian Ambassador to the United Kingdom (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Arthur E. Chase, American businessman and politician (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Jim Loscutoff, American basketball player (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Paul Burlison, American rockabilly guitarist (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Oscar Cabalén, Argentinian race car driver (d. 1967) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Osmo Antero Wiio, Finnish journalist, academic, and politician (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Rolf Landauer, German-American physicist and academic (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Gyula Grosics, Hungarian footballer and manager (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Dave Sands, Australian boxer (d. 1952) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Russell Hoban, American author and illustrator (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Stanley Karnow, American journalist and historian (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Christopher Zeeman, English mathematician and academic (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Conrad Bain, Canadian-American actor (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — James Dibble, Australian journalist (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Betty Friedan, American author and feminist (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Lotfi Zadeh, Iranian-American mathematician and computer scientist and founder of fuzzy logic (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Janet Waldo, American actress and voice artist (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Ida Lupino, English-American actress and director (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Luigi Pareyson, Italian philosopher and author (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Yahya Khan, Pakistan general and politician, 3rd President of Pakistan (d. 1980) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — William Talman, American actor and screenwriter (d. 1968) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Norman Wisdom, English singer-songwriter and actor (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Alfred Andersch, German-Swiss author and publisher (d. 1980) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Rosa Parks, American civil rights activist (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Richard Seaman, English race car driver (d. 1939) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Ola Skjåk Bræk, Norwegian banker and politician, Norwegian Minister of Industry (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Erich Leinsdorf, Austrian-American conductor (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Byron Nelson, American golfer and sportscaster (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Julian Bell, English poet and academic (d. 1937) Wikipedia ↗
• 1906 — Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German pastor and theologian (d. 1945) Wikipedia ↗
• 1906 — Clyde Tombaugh, American astronomer and academic, discovered Pluto (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1904 — MacKinlay Kantor, American author and screenwriter (d. 1977) Wikipedia ↗
• 1903 — Alexander Imich, Polish-American chemist, parapsychologist, and academic (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1902 — Charles Lindbergh, American pilot and explorer (d. 1974) Wikipedia ↗
• 1902 — Hartley Shawcross, Baron Shawcross, German-English lawyer and politician, Attorney General for England and Wales (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — Jacques Prévert, French poet and screenwriter (d. 1977) Wikipedia ↗
• 1897 — Ludwig Erhard, German soldier and politician, 2nd Chancellor of West Germany (d. 1977) Wikipedia ↗
• 1896 — Friedrich Glauser, Austrian-Swiss author (d. 1938) Wikipedia ↗
• 1896 — Friedrich Hund, German physicist and academic (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1895 — Nigel Bruce, English actor (d. 1953) Wikipedia ↗
• 1892 — E. J. Pratt, Canadian poet and academic (d. 1964) Wikipedia ↗
• 1891 — M. A. Ayyangar, Indian lawyer and politician, 2nd Speaker of the Lok Sabha (d. 1978) Wikipedia ↗
• 1883 — Reinhold Rudenberg, German-American inventor and a pioneer of electron microscopy (d. 1961) Wikipedia ↗
• 1881 — Eulalio Gutiérrez, Mexican general and politician, President of Mexico (d. 1939) Wikipedia ↗
• 1881 — Fernand Léger, French painter and sculptor (d. 1955) Wikipedia ↗
• 1877 — Eddie Cochems, American football player and coach (d. 1953) Wikipedia ↗
• 1875 — Ludwig Prandtl, German physicist and engineer (d. 1953) Wikipedia ↗
• 1873 — Étienne Desmarteau, Canadian shot putter and discus thrower (d. 1905) Wikipedia ↗
• 1872 — Gotse Delchev, Bulgarian and Macedonian revolutionary activist (d. 1903) Wikipedia ↗
• 1871 — Friedrich Ebert, German lawyer and politician, 1st President of Germany (d. 1925) Wikipedia ↗
• 1865 — Abe Isoo, Japanese minister and politician (d. 1949) Wikipedia ↗
• 1862 — Édouard Estaunié, French novelist (d. 1942) Wikipedia ↗
• 1849 — Jean Richepin, French poet, author, and playwright (d. 1926) Wikipedia ↗
• 1848 — Jean Aicard, French poet, author, and playwright (d. 1921) Wikipedia ↗
• 1831 — Oliver Ames, American financier and politician, 35th Governor of Massachusetts (d. 1895) Wikipedia ↗
• 1799 — Almeida Garrett, Portuguese journalist and author (d. 1854) Wikipedia ↗
• 1778 — Augustin Pyramus de Candolle, Swiss botanist, mycologist, and academic (d. 1841) Wikipedia ↗
• 1740 — Carl Michael Bellman, Swedish poet and composer (d. 1795) Wikipedia ↗
• 1725 — Dru Drury, English entomologist and author (d. 1804) Wikipedia ↗
• 1688 — Pierre de Marivaux, French author and playwright (d. 1763) Wikipedia ↗
• 1677 — Johann Ludwig Bach, German violinist and composer (d. 1731) Wikipedia ↗
• 1676 — Giacomo Facco, Italian violinist and composer (d. 1753) Wikipedia ↗
• 1646 — Hans Erasmus Aßmann, German poet and politician (d. 1699) Wikipedia ↗
• 1575 — Pierre de Bérulle, French cardinal and theologian, founded the French school of spirituality (d. 1629) Wikipedia ↗
• 1505 — Mikołaj Rej, Polish poet and author (d. 1580) Wikipedia ↗
• 1495 — Francesco II Sforza, Duke of Milan (d. 1535) Wikipedia ↗
• 1495 — Jean Parisot de Valette, Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller (d. 1568) Wikipedia ↗
• 1465 — Frans van Brederode, Dutch rebel (d. 1490) Wikipedia ↗
• 1447 — Lodovico Lazzarelli, Italian poet (d. 1500) Wikipedia ↗

🕯️ Notable Deaths on February 4

• 2017 — Steve Lang, Canadian bass player (b. 1949) Wikipedia ↗
• 2017 — Bano Qudsia, Pakistani writer (b. 1928) Wikipedia ↗
• 2016 — Edgar Mitchell, American captain, pilot, and astronaut (b. 1930) Wikipedia ↗
• 2015 — Wes Cooley, American soldier and politician (b. 1932) Wikipedia ↗
• 2015 — Fitzhugh L. Fulton, American colonel and pilot (b. 1925) Wikipedia ↗
• 2014 — Keith Allen, Canadian-American ice hockey player, coach, and manager (b. 1923) Wikipedia ↗
• 2014 — Eugenio Corti, Italian soldier, author, and playwright (b. 1921) Wikipedia ↗
• 2014 — Dennis Lota, Zambian footballer (b. 1973) Wikipedia ↗
• 2013 — Donald Byrd, American trumpet player (b. 1932) Wikipedia ↗
• 2013 — Reg Presley, English singer-songwriter (b. 1941) Wikipedia ↗
• 2012 — István Csurka, Hungarian journalist and politician (b. 1934) Wikipedia ↗
• 2012 — Florence Green, English soldier (b. 1901) Wikipedia ↗
• 2012 — Robert Daniel, American farmer, soldier, and politician (b. 1936) Wikipedia ↗
• 2012 — Mike deGruy, American director, producer, and cinematographer (b. 1951) Wikipedia ↗
• 2011 — Martial Célestin, Haitian lawyer and politician, 1st Prime Minister of Haiti (b. 1913) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on February 4 (Calendar.cx)