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Today December 4th 2009 this day in history Read more below to view events, deaths, births, Holidays observances and video clips. Last database updated: Jan 17th, 2009
Events
306 – Martyrdom of Saint Barbara
771 – Austrasian King Carloman dies, leaving his brother Charlemagne King of the now complete Frankish Kingdom.
1110 – First Crusade: The Crusaders conquer Sidon.
1259 – Kings Louis IX of France and Henry III of England agree to the Treaty of Paris, in which Henry renounces his claims to French-controlled territory on continental Europe (including Normandy) in exchange for Louis withdrawing his support for English rebels.
1563 – The final session of the Council of Trent is held (it opened on December 13, 1545).
1619 – 38 colonists from Berkeley Parish in England disembark in Virginia and give thanks to God (this is considered by many to be the first Thanksgiving in the Americas).
1674 – Father Jacques Marquette founds a mission on the shores of Lake Michigan to minister to the Illiniwek (the mission would later grow into the city of Chicago, Illinois).
1676 – Battle of Lund: A Danish army under the command of King Christian V of Denmark engages the Swedish army commanded by Field Marshal Simon Grundel-Helmfelt.
1745 – Charles Edward Stewart s army reaches Derby, its furthest point during the second Jacobite rising.
1783 – At Fraunces Tavern in New York City, US General George Washington formally bids his officers farewell.
1791 – The first edition of The Observer, the world s first Sunday newspaper, is published.
1829 – In the face of fierce opposition, British governor Lord William Bentinck issues a regulation declaring that all who abetted suttee in India were guilty of culpable homicide.
1864 – American Civil War: Sherman s March to the Sea – At Waynesboro, Georgia, forces under Union General Judson Kilpatrick prevent troops led by Confederate General Joseph Wheeler from interfering with Union General William T. Sherman s campaign destroying a wide swath of the South on his march to the Atlantic Ocean from Atlanta, Georgia. Union forces did suffer more than three times the Confederate casualties, however.
1867 – Former Minnesota farmer Oliver Hudson Kelley founds the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry (better known today as the Grange).
1872 – The crewless American ship Mary Celeste is found by the British brig Dei Gratia (the ship had been abandoned for 9 days but was only slightly damaged).
1875 – Notorious New York City politician Boss Tweed escapes from prison and flees to Cuba, then Spain.
1881 – The first edition of the Los Angeles Times is published.
1906 – Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity in the United States established for men of African descent, is founded at Cornell University.
1909 – 1st Grey Cup game was played. The University of Toronto Varsity Blues defeat the Toronto Parkdale Canoe Club 26–6.
1918 – U.S. President Woodrow Wilson sails for the World War I peace talks in Versailles, becoming the first US president to travel to Europe while in office.
1921 – The Virginia Rappe manslaughter trial against Roscoe Fatty Arbuckle ends in a hung jury.
1942 – Holocaust: In Warsaw, Zofia Kossak-Szczucka and Wanda Krahelska-Filipowicz set up the Zegota organization.
1942 – World War II: Carlson s patrol during the Guadalcanal Campaign ends.
1943 – World War II: In Yugoslavia, resistance leader Marshal Tito proclaims a provisional democratic Yugoslav government in-exile.
1943 – World War II: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt closes down the Works Progress Administration, because of the high levels of wartime employment in the United States.
1945 – By a vote of 65 to 7, the United States Senate approves United States participation in the United Nations (the UN was established on October 24, 1945).
1952 – Great Smog of 1952: A cold fog descends upon London, combining with air pollution and killing at least 12,000 in the weeks and months that follow.
1954 – The first Burger King is opened in Miami, Florida, United States
1958 – Dahomey (present-day Benin) becomes a self-governing country within the French Community.
1967 – Vietnam War: US and South Vietnamese forces engage Viet Cong troops in the Mekong Delta.
1969 – Black Panther Party members Fred Hampton and Mark Clark are shot and killed in their sleep during a raid by 14 Chicago police officers.
1971 – The UN Security Council calls an emergency session to consider the deteriorating situation between India and Pakistan.
1971 – The Indian Navy attacks the Pakistan Navy and Karachi.
1971 – The Montreux Casino in Switzerland is set ablaze by someone wielding a flare gun during a Frank Zappa concert; the incident would be noted in the Deep Purple song Smoke on the Water.
1977 – Jean-Bédel Bokassa, president of the Central African Republic, crowns himself Emperor Bokassa I of the Central African Empire.
1977 – Malaysia Airlines Flight 653 is hijacked and crashes in Tanjong Kupang, Johor, killing 100.
1978 – Following the murder of Mayor George Moscone, Dianne Feinstein becomes San Francisco, California s first female mayor (she served until January 8, 1988).
1979 – The Hastie fire in Hull, kills three schoolboys and eventually leads police to arrest Bruce George Peter Lee.
1981 – South Africa grants independence to the Ciskei homeland (not recognized by any government outside South Africa).
1982 – The People s Republic of China adopts its current constitution.
1984 – Hezbollah militants hijack a Kuwait Airlines plane, killing four passengers.
1991 – Journalist Terry A. Anderson is released after 7 years in captivity as a hostage in Beirut. He was the last and longest-held American hostage in Lebanon.
1991 – Captain Mark Pyle pilots Clipper Goodwill, a Pan American World Airways Boeing 727-221ADV, to Miami International Airport ending 64 years of Pan Am operations.
1992 – Somali Civil War: President George H. W. Bush orders 28,000 US troops to Somalia in Northeast Africa.
1993 – A truce is concluded between the government of Angola and UNITA rebels.
1998 – The Unity Module, the second module of the International Space Station, is launched.
2005 – Tens of thousands of people in Hong Kong protest for democracy and call on the Government to allow universal and equal suffrage.
2006 – An adult giant squid is caught on video by Kubodera near the Ogasawara Islands, 1,000 km (620 miles) south of Tokyo.
Births
1555 – Heinrich Meibom, German historian and poet (d. 1625)
1580 – Samuel Argall, English adventurer and naval officer (d. 1626)
1585 – John Cotton, American Puritan leader (d. 1652)
1595 – Jean Chapelain, French writer (d. 1674)
1646 – Alain Emmanuel de Coëtlogon, Marshal of France (d. 1730)
1660 – André Campra, French composer (d. 1744)
1670 – John Aislabie, English politician (d. 1742)
1711 – Barbara of Portugal, queen of Spain (d. 1758)
1713 – Gasparo Gozzi, Italian critic and dramatist (d. 1786)
1777 – Juliette Récamier, French socialite (d. 1849)
1795 – Thomas Carlyle, Scottish writer and historian (d. 1881)
1798 – Jules Armand Dufaure, French statesman (d. 1881)
1835 – Samuel Butler, English writer (d. 1902)
1840 – Crazy Horse, Oglala Sioux chief (d. 1877)
1844 – Franz Xavier Wernz, German Superior General of the Society of Jesus (d. 1914)
1852 – Orest Khvolson, Russian physicist (d. 1934)
1861 – Lillian Russell, American singer and actress (d. 1922)
1866 (O.S.) – Wassily Kandinsky, Russian-born painter (d. 1944)
1868 – Jesse Burkett, American baseball player (d. 1953)
1875 – Joe Corbett, American baseball player (d. 1945)
1875 – Rainer Maria Rilke, Austrian poet (d. 1926)
1881 – Erwin von Witzleben, German field marshal (d. 1944)
1883 – Katharine Susannah Prichard, Australian author (d. 1969)
1889 – Lloyd Bacon, American actor and film director (d. 1955)
1892 – Francisco Franco, dictator of Spain (d. 1975)
1895 – Fung Yu-lan, Chinese philosopher (d. 1990)
1899 – Charles William (Charlie) Spencer Newcastle and England football player (d. 1953)
1903 – Cornell Woolrich, American writer (d. 1968)
1908 – Alfred Hershey, American bacteriologist, Nobel laureate (d. 1997)
1909 – Jimmy Jewel, English actor (d. 1995)
1910 – Alex North, American film music composer (d. 1991)
1912 – Pappy Boyington, American pilot (d. 1988)
1913 – Mark Robson, Canadian-born film director and producer (d. 1978)
1914 – Rudolf Hausner, Austrian artist (d. 1995)
1914 – Claude Renoir, French cinematographer (d. 1993)
1915 – Eddie Heywood, American jazz musician (d. 1989)
1916 – Ely Jacques Kahn, Jr., American writer (d. 1994)
1921 – Deanna Durbin, Canadian actress
1922 – Gérard Philipe, French actor (d. 1959)
1923 – Charles Keating, American attorney and businessman
1924 – John Portman, American architect
1925 – Lino Lacedelli, Italian mountaineer who made the first ascent of K2
1928 – Dena Dietrich, American actress
1930 – Ronnie Corbett, Scottish actor
1930 – Jim Hall, American jazz guitarist
1931 – Alex Delvecchio, Canadian ice hockey player
1931 – Wally George, American TV commentator (d. 2003)
1932 – Roh Tae-woo, President of South Korea
1933 – Horst Buchholz, German-born actor (d. 2003)
1934 – Victor French, American actor (d. 1989)
1934 – Wink Martindale, American game show host
1935 – Paul O Neill, American businessman and former Secretary of the Treasury
1935 – Robert Vesco, American financier and fugitive (d. 2007)
1936 – Derek Nally, Irish Politician
1937 – Max Baer, Jr., American actor
1938 – Andre Marrou, American politician, presidential candidate
1938 – Yvonne Minton, Australian soprano
1939 – Freddy Cannon, American musician
1940 – Gary Gilmore, American murderer (d. 1977)
1942 – Gemma Jones, English actress
1944 – Chris Hillman, American singer (The Byrds)
1944 – Anna McGarrigle, Canadian folk music singer and songwriter
1944 – François Migault, French racing driver
1944 – Dennis Wilson, American musician (The Beach Boys) (d. 1983)
1945 – Roberta Bondar, Canadian astronaut
1947 – Terry Woods, Irish musician (The Pogues, Steeleye Span)
1948 – Southside Johnny, American singer
1949 – Jeff Bridges, American actor
1949 – Pamela Stephenson, New Zealand-born actress
1951 – Gary Rossington, American musician (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
1951 – Patricia Wettig, American actress
1953 – Rick Middleton, Canadian ice hockey player
1954 – Tony Todd, American actor and producer
1955 – Dave Taylor, Canadian ice hockey player
1956 – Bernard King, American basketball player
1957 – Raul Boesel, Brazilian racing driver
1957 – Eric S. Raymond, American open source advocate
1959 – Susan W Krebs, American politician
1959 – Paul McGrath, Irish footballer
1959 – Christa Rothenburger, German speed skater and cyclist
1960 – David Green, American baseball player
1960 – Glynis Nunn, Australian athlete
1961 – Frank Reich, American football player
1961 – Naomi Robson, American-born Australian journalist
1962 – Kevin Richardson, English footballest
1963 – Sergey Bubka, Ukrainian pole vaulter
1964 – Sertab Erener, Turkish singer
1964 – Jonathan Goldstein, American actor
1964 – Scott Hastings, Scottish Rugby Union international
1964 – Chelsea Noble, American actress
1964 – Marisa Tomei, American actress
1965 – Álex de la Iglesia, Spanish film director
1966 – Fred Armisen, American actor and musician
1966 – Masta Ace, American rapper
1966 – Suzanne Malveaux, American television news reporter
1966 – Chris Shepherd, English film director
1969 – Jay-Z, American rapper
1970 – Kevin Sussman, American actor
1970 – John L. Adams, American actor
1970 – Sylvester Terkay, American wrestler
1971 – Shannon Briggs, American boxer
1972 – Jassen Cullimore, Canadian ice hockey player
1972 – Nikki Tyler, American actress
1973 – Racci Shay, American Musician
1973 – Tyra Banks, American supermodel
1973 – Frank Boeijen, Dutch musician (The Gathering)
1973 – Ferry Corsten, Dutch musician and DJ
1973 – Steven Menzies, Australian rugby league footballer
1973 – Kate Rusby, English folk singer
1974 – Tadahito Iguchi, Japanese baseball player
1976 – Amie Comeaux, American singer (d. 1997)
1976 – Ysabella Brave, American singer
1976 – Kristina Groves, Canadian speed skater
1977 – Big Pokey, American rapper
1978 – Michele Di Piedi, Italian footballer
1978 – Jaclyn Victor, Malaysian singer
1979 – Jay DeMerit, American soccer player
1982 – Ho-Pin Tung, Dutch-Chinese racing driver
1983 – Jimmy Bartel, Australian rules footballer
1984 – Brooke Adams, American model
1984 – Lindsay Felton, American actress
1984 – Lauren London, American actress
1985 – Andrew Brackman, American baseball player
1985 – Carlos Gómez, Dominican baseball player
1986 – Martell Webster, American basketball player
1987 – Orlando Brown, American actor
Deaths
749 – Saint John of Damascus
765 – Jafar Sadiq, Shia Imam (b. 702)
771 – Carloman, King of the Franks (b. 751)
1075 – Archbishop Anno II of Cologne
1123 – Omar Khayyám, Persian poet, astronomer, mathematician, and philosopher (b. 1048)
1214 – William I of Scotland
1270 – Theobald V of Champagne, King of Navarre
1334 – Pope John XXII (b. 1249)
1340 – Henry Burghersh, English bishop and chancellor (b. 1292)
1459 – Adolf VIII, Duke of Southern Jutland (b. 1401)
1576 – Rheticus, Austrian mathematician (b. 1514)
1585 – John Willock, Scottish reformer
1609 – Alexander Hume, Scottish poet
1642 – Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu, French statesman (b. 1585)
1649 – William Drummond of Hawthornden, Scottish poet (b. 1585)
1679 – Thomas Hobbes, English philosopher (b. 1588)
1680 – Thomas Bartholin, Danish physician, mathematician, and theologian (b. 1616)
1696 – Empress Meisho, Japan (b. 1624)
1732 – John Gay, English poet and dramatist (b. 1685)
1798 – Luigi Galvani, Italian physicist (b. 1737)
1828 – Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (b. 1770)
1841 – David Daniel Davis, British politician (b. 1777)
1850 – William Sturgeon, English physicist and inventor (b. 1783)
1902 – Charles Dow, American journalist (Dow Jones & Company – Wall Street Journal) (b. 1851)
1926 – Ivana Kobilca, Slovenian-born painter (b. 1861)
1933 – Stefan George, German poet (b. 1868)
1935 – Johan Halvorsen, Norwegian composer (b. 1864)
1935 – Charles Robert Richet, French physiologist, Nobel laureate (b. 1850)
1944 – Roger Bresnahan, American baseball player (b. 1879)
1945 – Thomas Hunt Morgan, American geneticist, Nobel laureate (b. 1866)
1956 – Alexandr Rodchenko, Russian painter and photographer (b. 1891)
1967 – Bert Lahr, American actor (b. 1895)
1969 – Fred Hampton, American activist (b. 1948)
1975 – Hannah Arendt, German political theorist (b. 1906)
1976 – Tommy Bolin, American guitarist (b. 1951)
1976 – Benjamin Britten, English composer (b. 1913)
1976 – W. F. McCoy, Northern Irish politician (b. 1886)
1980 – Francisco Sá Carneiro, Prime Minister of Portugal (b. 1934)
1980 – Stanislawa Walasiewicz (Stella Walsh), Polish-born athlete (b. 1911)
1987 – Rouben Mamoulian, Armenian-American film director (b. 1897)
1988 – Osman Achmatowicz, Polish chemist (b. 1899)
1993 – Frank Zappa, American musician and composer (b. 1940)
1995 – Lionel Giroux (Little Beaver), Canadian midget wrestler (b. 1935)
1997 – Richard Vernon, English actor (b. 1925)
1999 – Rose Bird, American judge (b. 1936)
2003 – Iggy Katona, American race car driver (b. 1916)
2004 – Elena Souliotis, Greek soprano (b. 1943)
2005 – Errol Brathwaite, New Zealand author (b. 1924)
2005 – Gregg Hoffman, American film producer (b. 1963)
2005 – Gloria Lasso, French-Spanish singer (b. 1922)
2006 – James Kim, American television personality (b. 1971)
2006 – Ross A. McGinnis, Medal of Honor recipient (b. 1987)
2007 – Norval Morrisseau, Canadian artist (b. 1932)
2007 – Chip Reese, American professional poker player (b. 1951)
2007 – Pimp C, American Rapper (b. 1973)
Holidays and observances
Roman festivals – secret ceremonies in honor of Bona Dea
Calendar of Saints – Saint John of Damascus: optional memorial; also the Great Martyr Saint Barbara, St. Ada (feast day), St. Bernard degli Uberti
Barbórka – Miners Day in Poland
First day that rain is prayed for in the Diaspora in Judaism. It is notably the only Jewish day which is tied to the civil calendar.
Santería, Lukumí – Day of Shango
Navy Day in India
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