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On This Day in History — September 4
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Highlights of September 4
- 2010 — A magnitude-7.1 earthquake (damage pictured) struck the Canterbury Region of New Zealand, causing two deaths and up to NZ$40 billion in damages. Read more
- 2007 — Three terrorists suspected to be part of al-Qaeda were arrested in Germany after planning attacks on Frankfurt Airport and Ramstein Air Base. Read more
- 1995 — Three U.S. servicemen stationed at Camp Hansen in Okinawa, Japan, raped a 12-year-old girl, after kidnapping, beating, and torturing her. Read more
- 1977 — The Golden Dragon massacre occurred in Chinatown, San Francisco, United States, leaving five people dead and spurring police to end Chinese gang violence in the city. Read more
- 1957 — Governor Orval Faubus deployed the Arkansas National Guard to prevent nine African-American students from attending Little Rock Central High School (pictured). Read more
- 1955 — A white U.S. soldier raped and murdered a five-year-old local girl in Kadena, Okinawa. Read more
- 1934 — Evelyn Waugh's novel A Handful of Dust was first published in full. Read more
- 1920 — Peasants in and around Križ began a rebellion to protest economic and conscription policies enacted by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. Read more
- 1912 — The Albanian revolt ended when the Ottoman government agreed to meet most of the rebels' demands. Read more
- 1886 — After more than 25 years of fighting against the United States Army and the armed forces of Mexico, Geronimo of the Chiricahua Apache surrendered at Skeleton Canyon in Arizona. Read more
- 1843 — The state wedding of Teresa Cristina of the Two Sicilies and Emperor Pedro II of Brazil took place at the Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro. Read more
- 1839 — First Opium War: British vessels opened fire on Chinese war junks enforcing a food sales embargo on the British community on the Kowloon Peninsula. Read more
- 1813 — Future US President Andrew Jackson was shot and severely injured in a tavern brawl with future US Senator Thomas Hart Benton. Read more
- 1800 — French Revolutionary Wars: Facing starvation and a death rate of 100 soldiers per day, the French garrison in Malta surrendered to British forces, ending a two-year siege. Read more
- 1666 — The most destructive damage from the Great Fire of London (depicted) occurred. Read more
- 476 — Germanic leader Odoacer captured Ravenna and deposed Emperor Romulus Augustus, marking the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Read more
Events
- 2024 — A 14-year-old gunman kills four people and injures seven in a mass shooting at Apalachee High School near Winder, Georgia. Read more
- 2022 — Ten people are killed and 15 are injured in a stabbing spree in 13 locations on the James Smith Cree Nation and in Weldon, Saskatchewan. Read more
- 2020 — Pope Benedict XVI becomes the longest-lived pope, 93 years, four months, 16 days, surpassing Pope Leo XIII, who died in 1903. Read more
- 2007 — Three terrorists suspected to be a part of Al-Qaeda are arrested in Germany after allegedly planning attacks on both the Frankfurt International airport and US military installations. Read more
- 2002 — The Oakland Athletics win their 20th consecutive game, an American League record, until the Cleveland Indians surpassed it in 2017. Read more
- 2001 — Tokyo DisneySea opens to the public as part of the Tokyo Disney Resort in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan. Read more
- 1998 — Google is founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, two PhD students at Stanford University. Read more
- 1995 — The 1995 Okinawa rape occurs when 3 US servicemen abduct and rape a schoolchild. This would cause widespread protest against the US military presence on the prefecture. Read more
- 1989 — In Leipzig, East Germany, the first of weekly demonstration for the legalisation of opposition groups and democratic reforms takes place. Read more
- 1985 — The discovery of Buckminsterfullerene, the first fullerene molecule of carbon. Read more
- 1977 — The Golden Dragon massacre takes place in San Francisco. Read more
- 1975 — The Sinai Interim Agreement relating to the Arab–Israeli conflict is signed. Read more
- 1972 — Mark Spitz becomes the first competitor to win seven medals at a single Olympic Games. Read more
- 1972 — The Price Is Right premieres on CBS. It currently is the longest running game show on American television. Read more
- 1971 — Alaska Airlines Flight 1866 crashes near Juneau, Alaska, killing all 111 people on board. Read more
- 1970 — Salvador Allende is elected President of Chile. Read more
- 1967 — Vietnam War: Operation Swift begins when U.S. Marines engage the North Vietnamese in battle in the Que Son Valley. Read more
- 1964 — Scotland's Forth Road Bridge near Edinburgh officially opens. Read more
- 1963 — Swissair Flight 306 crashes near Dürrenäsch, Switzerland, killing all 80 people on board. Read more
- 1957 — American Civil Rights Movement: Little Rock Crisis: The governor of Arkansas calls out the National Guard to prevent African American students from enrolling in Little Rock Central High School, resulting in the lawsuit Cooper v. Aaron the following year. Read more
- 1951 — The first live transcontinental television broadcast takes place in San Francisco, United States, from the Japanese Peace Treaty Conference. Read more
- 1950 — Darlington Raceway is the site of the inaugural Southern 500, the first 500-mile NASCAR race. Read more
- 1949 — Paul Robeson performs a second concert in Peekskill, New York eight days after the Peekskill riots. Read more
- 1948 — Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands abdicates for health reasons. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: The British 11th Armoured Division liberates the Belgian city of Antwerp. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: Finland exits from the war with Soviet Union. Read more
- 1941 — World War II: A German submarine makes the first attack of the war against a United States warship, the USS Greer. Read more
- 1939 — World War II: William J. Murphy commands the first Royal Air Force attack on Germany. Read more
- 1936 — Spanish Civil War: Largo Caballero forms a war cabinet to direct the republican war effort. Read more
- 1923 — Maiden flight of the first U.S. airship, the USS Shenandoah. Read more
- 1919 — Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who founded the Republic of Turkey, gathers a congress in Sivas to make decisions as to the future of Anatolia and Thrace. Read more
- 1912 — Albanian rebels succeed in their revolt when the Ottoman Empire agrees to fulfill their demands Read more
- 1888 — George Eastman registers the trademark Kodak and receives a patent for his camera that uses roll film. Read more
- 1886 — American Indian Wars: After almost 30 years of fighting, Apache leader Geronimo, with his remaining warriors, surrenders to General Nelson Miles in Arizona. Read more
- 1882 — The Pearl Street Station in New York City becomes the first power plant to supply electricity to paying customers. Read more
- 1870 — Emperor Napoleon III of France is deposed and the Third Republic is declared. Read more
- 1862 — American Civil War Maryland Campaign: General Robert E. Lee takes the Army of Northern Virginia, and the war, into the North. Read more
- 1839 — Battle of Kowloon: British vessels open fire on Chinese war junks enforcing a food sales embargo on the British community in China in the first armed conflict of the First Opium War. Read more
- 1827 — The Great Fire of Turku almost completely destroys Finland's former capital city. Read more
- 1813 — Future U.S. president Andrew Jackson is shot in a tavern brawl with future U.S. Senator Thomas Hart Benton and others. Read more
- 1812 — War of 1812: The Siege of Fort Harrison begins when the fort is set on fire. Read more
- 1800 — The French garrison in Valletta surrenders to British troops who had been called at the invitation of the Maltese. The islands of Malta and Gozo become the Malta Protectorate. Read more
- 1797 — Coup of 18 Fructidor in France. Read more
- 1781 — Los Angeles is founded as El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora La Reina de los Ángeles (The Village of Our Lady, the Queen of the Angels) by 44 Spanish settlers. Read more
- 1774 — New Caledonia is first sighted by Europeans, during the second voyage of Captain James Cook. Read more
- 1746 — The Treaty of Kerden concludes the Ottoman–Persian War (1743–1746). Read more
- 1666 — In London, England, the most destructive damage from the Great Fire occurs. Read more
- 1607 — The Flight of the Earls takes place in Ireland (14 September N.S.). Read more
- 1479 — The Treaty of Alcáçovas is signed by the Catholic Monarchs of Castile and Aragon on one side and Afonso V and his son, Prince John of Portugal. Read more
- 1282 — Peter III of Aragon is proclaimed King of Sicily in Palermo. Read more
- 1260 — The Sienese Ghibellines, supported by the forces of Manfred, King of Sicily, defeat the Florentine Guelphs at Montaperti. Read more
- 929 — Battle of Lenzen: Slavic forces (the Redarii and the Obotrites) are defeated by a Saxon army near the fortified stronghold of Lenzen in Brandenburg. Read more
- 626 — Li Shimin, posthumously known as Emperor Taizong of Tang, assumes the throne over the Tang dynasty of China. Read more
- 476 — Romulus Augustulus is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself "King of Italy", thus ending the Western Roman Empire. Read more
Born on September 4
- 2001 — Talitha Bateman, American actress Read more
- 2000 — Sergio Gómez, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1998 — Neru Nagahama, Japanese television personality Read more
- 1996 — Ashton Golding, English rugby league player Read more
- 1995 — Jazz Tevaga, New Zealand rugby league player Read more
- 1994 — Kenny McEvoy, Irish footballer Read more
- 1994 — Sabina Sharipova, Uzbekistan tennis player Read more
- 1993 — Emma Brownlie, Scottish footballer Read more
- 1993 — Yannick Carrasco, Belgian footballer Read more
- 1993 — Mark Tuan, American rapper Read more
- 1992 — Zerkaa, English YouTuber Read more
- 1991 — Adrien Bart, French sprint canoeist Read more
- 1991 — Anders Zachariassen, Danish handball player Read more
- 1990 — James Bay, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
- 1989 — Andrelton Simmons, Curaçaoan baseball player Read more
- 1988 — Adam Duvall, American baseball player Read more
- 1988 — JJ Hickson, American basketball player Read more
- 1987 — Wesley Blake, American wrestler Read more
- 1987 — Marisa Kabas, American journalist Read more
- 1986 — Ayumi Kaihori, Japanese footballer Read more
- 1986 — Xavier Woods, American wrestler Read more
- 1985 — Raúl Albiol, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1985 — Walid Mesloub, Algerian footballer Read more
- 1984 — Hamish McIntosh, Australian footballer Read more
- 1984 — Kyle Mooney, American comedian, actor, and screenwriter Read more
- 1983 — Yuichi Nakamaru, Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, and radio host Read more
- 1983 — Guy Pnini, Israeli basketball player Read more
- 1983 — Margit Rüütel, Estonian tennis player Read more
- 1982 — Whitney Cummings, American comedian, actress, producer, and screenwriter Read more
- 1981 — Beyoncé, American singer-songwriter Read more
- 1981 — Richard Garcia, Australian footballer Read more
- 1981 — Lacey Sturm, American singer-songwriter Read more
- 1979 — Maxim Afinogenov, Russian ice hockey player Read more
- 1979 — Pedro Macedo Camacho, Portuguese pianist, composer, and producer Read more
- 1979 — Max Greenfield, American actor Read more
- 1978 — Wes Bentley, American actor and producer Read more
- 1978 — Frederik Veuchelen, Belgian cyclist Read more
- 1978 — Christian Walz, Swedish singer-songwriter and producer Read more
- 1977 — Sun-woo Kim, South Korean baseball player Read more
- 1977 — Lucie Silvas, English singer-songwriter and pianist Read more
Died on September 4
- 2025 — Giorgio Armani, Italian fashion designer (born 1934) Read more
- 2025 — Katharine, Duchess of Kent, member of the British royal family (born 1933) Read more
- 2024 — Bora Đorđević, Serbian singer (born 1952) Read more
- 2023 — Steve Harwell, American singer (born 1967) Read more
- 2022 — Cyrus Mistry, Indian-Irish businessman (born 1968) Read more
- 2022 — Peter Straub, American novelist (born 1943) Read more
- 2021 — Tunch Ilkin, Turkish-American football player (born 1957) Read more
- 2021 — Willard Scott, American weather presenter and television personality (born 1934) Read more
- 2020 — Lloyd Cadena, Filipino YouTuber and vlogger (born 1993) Read more
- 2018 — Bill Daily, American actor, comedian (born 1927) Read more
- 2018 — Krzysztof Sitko, Polish association football player (born 1967) Read more
- 2016 — Clarence D. Rappleyea Jr., lawyer and politician (born 1933) Read more
- 2015 — Graham Brazier, New Zealand singer-songwriter (born 1952) Read more
- 2015 — Jean Darling, American actress (born 1922) Read more
- 2015 — Wilfred de Souza, Indian surgeon and politician, 7th Chief Minister of Goa (born 1927) Read more
- 2015 — Warren Murphy, American author and screenwriter (born 1933) Read more
- 2014 — Ron Mulock, Australian lawyer and politician, 10th Deputy Premier of New South Wales (born 1930) Read more
- 2014 — Gustavo Cerati, Argentine Musician (born 1959) Read more
- 2014 — Wolfhart Pannenberg, Polish-German theologian and academic (born 1928) Read more
- 2014 — Joan Rivers, American comedian, television host, and author (born 1933) Read more
- 2013 — Michel Pagé, Canadian businessman and politician (born 1949) Read more
- 2013 — Dick Raaymakers, Dutch composer and theorist (born 1930) Read more
- 2013 — Daniele Seccarecci, Italian bodybuilder (born 1980) Read more
- 2013 — Stanislav Stepashkin, Russian boxer (born 1940) Read more
- 2013 — Casey Viator, American bodybuilder and journalist (born 1951) Read more
- 2012 — Abraham Avigdorov, Israeli soldier (born 1929) Read more
- 2012 — Albert Marre, American actor, director, and producer (born 1924) Read more
- 2012 — George Savitsky, American football player (born 1924) Read more
- 2012 — Syed Mustafa Siraj, Indian author (born 1930) Read more
- 2012 — Hakam Sufi, Indian singer-songwriter (born 1952) Read more
- 2011 — Lee Roy Selmon, American football player (born 1954) Read more
- 2010 — Bonnie Leman, American art historian, writer, and publisher of Quilter's Newsletter Magazine (born 1926) Read more
- 2007 — John Scott, 9th Duke of Buccleuch, Scottish soldier and politician, Lord Lieutenant of Roxburghshire (born 1923) Read more
- 2006 — Giacinto Facchetti, Italian footballer and manager (born 1942) Read more
- 2006 — Steve Irwin, Australian zoologist and television host (born 1962) Read more
- 2006 — Colin Thiele, Australian author, poet, and educator (born 1920) Read more
- 2006 — Astrid Varnay, Swedish-American soprano (born 1918) Read more
- 2004 — Alphonso Ford, American basketball player (born 1971) Read more
- 2004 — Moe Norman, Canadian golfer (born 1929) Read more
- 2003 — Lola Bobesco, Romanian-Belgian violinist and educator (born 1921) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Candida the Elder; Christian feast day:
Blessed Catherine of Racconigi; Christian feast day:
Blessed Dina Bélanger; Christian feast day:
Hermione of Ephesus; Christian feast day:
Ida of Herzfeld; Christian feast day:
Irmgardis (of Süchteln); Christian feast day:
Moses and Aaron (Catholic, Lutheran Church and Eastern Orthodox Church); Christian feast day:
Paul Jones (Episcopal Church); Christian feast day:
Rosalia; Christian feast day:
Rose of Viterbo; Christian feast day:
Rufinus, Silvanus, and Vitalicus; Christian feast day:
Thamel and companions; Christian feast day:
Ultan of Ardbraccan; Christian feast day:
September 4 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Immigrant's Day (Argentina); Toothfish Day (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “September 4”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.