On This Day — March 4

🕰️ Notable Events on March 4

• 2015 — At least 34 miners die in a suspected gas explosion at the Zasyadko coal mine in the rebel-held Donetsk region of Ukraine. Wikipedia ↗
• 2012 — A series of explosions is reported at a munitions dump in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo, killing at least 250 people. Wikipedia ↗
• 2009 — The International Criminal Court (ICC) issues an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. Al-Bashir is the first sitting head of state to be indicted by the ICC since its establishment in 2002. Wikipedia ↗
• 2002 — Afghanistan: Seven American Special Operations Forces soldiers and 200 Al-Qaeda Fighters are killed as American forces attempt to infiltrate the Shah-i-Kot Valley on a low-flying helicopter reconnaissance mission. Wikipedia ↗
• 2001 — BBC bombing: A massive car bomb explodes in front of the BBC Television Centre in London, seriously injuring one person; the attack was attributed to the Real IRA. Wikipedia ↗
• 1998 — Gay rights: Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc.: The Supreme Court of the United States rules that federal laws banning on-the-job sexual harassment also apply when both parties are the same sex. Wikipedia ↗
• 1996 — A derailed train in Weyauwega, Wisconsin (USA) causes the emergency evacuation of 2,300 people for 16 days. Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — The Soviet Vega 1 begins returning images of Halley's Comet and the first images of its nucleus. Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — The Food and Drug Administration approves a blood test for AIDS infection, used since then for screening all blood donations in the United States. Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Nationalist leader Robert Mugabe wins a sweeping election victory to become Zimbabwe's first black prime minister. Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — The 1977 Vrancea earthquake in eastern and southern Europe kills more than 1,500, mostly in Bucharest, Romania. Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — The Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention is formally dissolved in Northern Ireland resulting in direct rule of Northern Ireland from London by the British parliament. Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — People magazine is published for the first time in the United States as People Weekly. Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — French submarine Eurydice explodes underwater, resulting in the loss of the entire 57-man crew. Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — A Canadian Pacific Air Lines DC-8-43 explodes on landing at Tokyo International Airport, killing 64 people. Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — A Caledonian Airways Douglas DC-7 crashes shortly after takeoff from Cameroon, killing 111 - the worst crash of a DC-7. Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — The French freighter La Coubre explodes in Havana, Cuba, killing 100. Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — The S&P 500 stock market index is introduced, replacing the S&P 90. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — World War II: After the success of Big Week, the USAAF begins a daylight bombing campaign of Berlin. Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — World War II: The Battle of the Bismarck Sea in the south-west Pacific comes to an end. Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — World War II: The United Kingdom launches Operation Claymore on the Lofoten Islands; the first large scale British Commando raid. Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Frances Perkins becomes United States Secretary of Labor, the first female member of the United States Cabinet. Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — The Parliament of Austria is suspended because of a quibble over procedure - Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss initiates an authoritarian rule by decree. Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Jeannette Rankin of Montana becomes the first female member of the United States House of Representatives. Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — First Balkan War: The Greek army engages the Turks at Bizani, resulting in victory two days later. Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — The United States Department of Labor is formed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1909 — U.S. President William Taft used what became known as a Saxbe fix, a mechanism to avoid the restriction of the U.S. Constitution's Ineligibility Clause, to appoint Philander C. Knox as U.S. Secretary of State Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — The Collinwood school fire, Collinwood near Cleveland, Ohio, kills 174 people. Wikipedia ↗
• 1899 — Cyclone Mahina sweeps in north of Cooktown, Queensland, with a 12 metres (39 ft) wave that reaches up to 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) inland, killing over 300. Wikipedia ↗
• 1890 — The longest bridge in Great Britain, the Forth Bridge in Scotland, measuring 1,710 feet (520 m) long, is opened by the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII. Wikipedia ↗
• 1882 — Britain's first electric trams run in east London. Wikipedia ↗
• 1865 — The third and final national flag of the Confederate States of America is adopted by the Confederate Congress. Wikipedia ↗
• 1861 — The first national flag of the Confederate States of America (the "Stars and Bars") is adopted. Wikipedia ↗
• 1848 — Carlo Alberto di Savoia signs the Statuto Albertino that will later represent the first constitution of the Regno d'Italia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1837 — The city of Chicago is incorporated. Wikipedia ↗
• 1814 — Americans defeat British forces at the Battle of Longwoods between London, Ontario and Thamesville, near present-day Wardsville, Ontario. Wikipedia ↗
• 1813 — Cyril VI of Constantinople is elected Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. Wikipedia ↗
• 1804 — Castle Hill Rebellion: Irish convicts rebel against British colonial authority in the Colony of New South Wales. Wikipedia ↗
• 1797 — John Adams is inaugurated as the 2nd President of the United States of America, becoming the first President to begin his presidency on March 4. Wikipedia ↗
• 1794 — The 11th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is passed by the U.S. Congress. Wikipedia ↗
• 1791 — The Constitutional Act of 1791 is introduced by the British House of Commons in London which envisages the separation of Canada into Lower Canada (Quebec) and Upper Canada (Ontario). Wikipedia ↗
• 1791 — Vermont is admitted to the United States as the fourteenth state. Wikipedia ↗
• 1790 — France is divided into 83 départements, cutting across the former provinces in an attempt to dislodge regional loyalties based on ownership of land by the nobility. Wikipedia ↗
• 1789 — In New York City, the first Congress of the United States meets, putting the United States Constitution into effect. The United States Bill of Rights is written and proposed to Congress. Wikipedia ↗
• 1776 — American Revolutionary War: The Continental Army fortifies Dorchester Heights with cannon, leading the British troops to abandon the Siege of Boston. Wikipedia ↗
• 1681 — Charles II grants a land charter to William Penn for the area that will later become Pennsylvania. Wikipedia ↗
• 1675 — John Flamsteed is appointed the first Astronomer Royal of England. Wikipedia ↗
• 1665 — English King Charles II declares war on the Netherlands marking the start of the Second Anglo-Dutch War. Wikipedia ↗
• 1628 — The Massachusetts Bay Colony is granted a Royal charter. Wikipedia ↗
• 1519 — Hernán Cortés arrives in Mexico in search of the Aztec civilization and its wealth. Wikipedia ↗
• 1493 — Explorer Christopher Columbus arrives back in Lisbon, Portugal, aboard his ship Niña from his voyage to what is now The Bahamas and other islands in the Caribbean. Wikipedia ↗
• 1461 — Wars of the Roses in England: Lancastrian King Henry VI is deposed by his House of York cousin, who then becomes King Edward IV. Wikipedia ↗
• 1386 — Władysław II Jagiełło (Jogaila) is crowned King of Poland. Wikipedia ↗
• 1351 — Ramathibodi becomes King of Siam. Wikipedia ↗
• 1238 — The Battle of the Sit River is fought in the northern part of the present-day Yaroslavl Oblast of Russia between the Mongol hordes of Batu Khan and the Russians under Yuri II of Vladimir-Suzdal during the Mongol invasion of Rus'. Wikipedia ↗
• 1152 — Frederick I Barbarossa is elected King of Germany. Wikipedia ↗
• 932 — Translation of the relics of martyr Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia, Prince of the Czechs. Wikipedia ↗
• 852 — Croatian Knez Trpimir I issues a statute, a document with the first known written mention of the Croats name in Croatian sources. Wikipedia ↗
• 306 — Martyrdom of Saint Adrian of Nicomedia. Wikipedia ↗
• Nero, later to become Roman emperor, is given the title princeps iuventutis (head of the youth). Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on March 4

• 1996 — Lukas Webb, Australian rules footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — Callum Harriott, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Bobbi Kristina Brown, American singer and actress (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Richard Peniket, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Nick Castellanos, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Érik Lamela, Argentinian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Bernd Leno, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Karl Mööl, Estonian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Paddy Madden, Irish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Fran Mérida, Spanish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Andrea Bowen, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Gal Mekel, Israeli basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Laura Siegemund, German tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Adam Watts, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Ben McKinley, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Cameron Wood, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Tamzin Merchant, English actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Steven Burke, English road and track cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Tom De Mul, Belgian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Mike Krieger, Brazilian-American computer programmer and businessman, co-founded Instagram Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Siim Roops, Estonian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Bohdan Shust, Ukrainian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Manu Vatuvei, New Zealand rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Margo Harshman, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Jake Buxton, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Chinedum Ndukwe, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Whitney Port, American fashion designer and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Tamir Cohen, Israeli footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Anders Grøndal, Norwegian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Spencer Larsen, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Raven Quinn, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Zak Whitbread, American-English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Samuel Contesti, French-Italian figure skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Jaque Fourie, South African rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Landon Donovan, American soccer player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Cate Edwards, American lawyer and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Ludmila Ezhova, Russian gymnast Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Ariza Makukula, Portuguese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Helen Wyman, English cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Rohan Bopanna, Indian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Omar Bravo, Mexican footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Giedrius Gustas, Lithuanian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Scott Hamilton, New Zealand rugby player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Jack Hannahan, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Michael Henrich, American ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Phil McGuire, Scottish footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Sarah Stock, Canadian wrestler and trainer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Pierre Dagenais, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Denis Dallan, Italian rugby player and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Jean-Marc Pelletier, American ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Nacho Figueras, Argentinian polo player and model Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Traver Rains, American fashion designer and photographer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Robbie Blake, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Tommy Jönsson, Swedish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Mats Eilertsen, Norwegian bassist and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Patrick Femerling, German basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Antti Aalto, Finnish ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Kristi Harrower, Australian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Brian McGuire, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Hawksley Workman, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Crowbar, American wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Mladen Krstajić, Serbian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Karol Kučera, Slovak tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Ariel Ortega, Argentinian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Tommy Phelps, South Korean-American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — ICS Vortex, Norwegian singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — David Wagner, American tennis player and educator Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Bill Young, Australian rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Massimo Brambilla, Italian footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Phillip Daniels, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Valery Kobelev, Russian ski jumper Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Penny Mordaunt, English lieutenant and politician, Minister of State for the Armed Forces Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Linus of Hollywood, American singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Len Wiseman, American director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Chandra Sekhar Yeleti, Indian director and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Katherine Center, American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Nocturno Culto, Norwegian singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Robert Smith, American football player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Jos Verstappen, Dutch race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Alison Wheeler, English singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Iain Baird, Canadian soccer player and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Claire Baker, Scottish politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Anders Kjølholm, Danish bass player Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Satoshi Motoyama, Japanese race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Àlex Crivillé, Spanish motorcycle racer Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Caroline Vis, Dutch tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Pierluigi Casiraghi, Italian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Giovanni Carrara, Venezuelan baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Jorge Celedón, Colombian singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Patsy Kensit, English model and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greek banker and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Graham Westley, English footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Daryll Cullinan, South African cricketer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Evan Dando, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Ivan Lewis, English lawyer and politician, Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Terry Matterson, Australian rugby league player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Dave Rayner, English cyclist (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Kubilay Türkyilmaz, Swiss footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Tim Vine, English comedian, actor, and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Emese Hunyady, Hungarian speed skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Kevin Johnson, American basketball player and politician, 55th Mayor of Sacramento Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Fiona Ma, American accountant and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Glen Nissen, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Dav Pilkey, American author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Grand Puba, American rapper Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Mike Small, American golfer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Greg Alexander, Australian rugby league player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Paul W. S. Anderson, English director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Andrew Collins, English journalist and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Khaled Hosseini, Afghan-born American novelist Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Yury Lonchakov, Russian colonel, pilot, and astronaut Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Dave Colclough, Welsh computer programmer and poker player Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Brian Crowley, Irish lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Tom Lampkin, American baseball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Paolo Virzì, Italian director and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Jason Newsted, American heavy metal singer-songwriter and bass player Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Simon Bisley, English author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Paul Canoville, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Stephan Reimertz, German historian and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — David Sparrow, English-Canadian actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Ray Mancini, American boxer Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Steven Weber, American actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Roger Wessels, South African golfer and educator Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Rick Ardon, Australian journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Plamen Getov, Bulgarian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Patricia Heaton, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Massimo Mascioletti, Italian rugby player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Nicholas Coleridge, English journalist and businessman Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Mykelti Williamson, American actor and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Tim Costello, Australian minister and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Joey Jones, Welsh footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Timur Apakidze, Russian general and pilot (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Mark Chorvinsky, American magician and author (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — François Fillon, French lawyer and politician, Prime Minister of France Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Peter Jacobsen, American golfer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Catherine O'Hara, Canadian-American actress and comedian Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Irina Ratushinskaya, Russian poet and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — John Edwards, Australian director and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Emilio Estefan, Cuban-American drummer and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Paweł Janas, Polish footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on March 4 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on March 4

✡️ Religious Observances

• Jewish: Shushan Purim
• Hindu: Holi