Discover what happened on August 4 in history as remarkable achievements, historic milestones, technological advances, and unforgettable moments helped shape the world we know today.
What Happened on August 4 in History?
Important events on this day include the arrest of Anne Frank during World War II, the debut of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, the creation of the Revenue Cutter Service that became today’s U.S. Coast Guard, the Battle of Mackinac Island during the War of 1812, and Grand Rapids electing its first female mayor.
AUGUST 4 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1693 – Dom Pérignon is traditionally credited with helping perfect the techniques used to produce sparkling champagne, although he did not single-handedly invent it.
1790 – The Revenue Cutter Service was formed. This was the beginning of the U.S. Coast Guard.
1814 – American forces unsuccessfully attempted to recapture Mackinac Island from the British during the War of 1812. The island remained under British control until the war ended.
1821 – “The Saturday Evening Post” was published for the first time as a weekly newspaper.
1830 – Plans for the city of Chicago were laid out.
1876 – Calvin College (now Calvin University) was founded in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
1877 – Michigan’s first telephone was demonstrated in Grand Rapids by a plaster company whose president was a friend of Alexander Graham Bell.
1892 – The father and stepmother of Lizzie Borden were found murdered in their Fall River, MA, home.
1929 – A 20-passenger ferry, the Water Lily, began service from Copper Harbor to Isle Royale, and Michigan residents could reach Isle Royale by ferry for the first time.
1944 – Nazi police raided a house in Amsterdam and arrested eight people. Anne Frank, who was a teenager at the time, was one of the people arrested. After her death, her diary would be published.
1945 – Golfer Byron Nelson recorded the most tournament wins in a season with 18.
1956 – Elvis Presley released the song “Hound Dog”.
1958 – Billboard Magazine introduced its “Hot 100” chart. The first #1 song was Ricky Nelson’s “Poor Little Fool.”
1966 – A ban of the broadcast of any and all Beatles records on many U.S. radio stations went into effect. The ban was in response to John Lennon making the statement that the Beatles were now more popular than Jesus Christ.
1972 – Arthur Bremer was found guilty of shooting George Wallace, the governor of Alabama. Bremer was sentenced to 63 years in prison.
1977 – President Jimmy Carter signed legislation creating the U.S. Department of Energy.
1979 – The film “Rock & Roll High School”, starring the Ramones, premiered in New York, NY.
1983 – New York Yankee outfielder Dave Winfield threw a baseball during warm-ups and accidentally killed a seagull. After the game, Toronto police arrested him for “causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.” The charges were later dropped.
1984 – Carl Lewis won a gold medal in the Los Angeles Olympics.
1987 – The FCC voted to end enforcement of the Fairness Doctrine, a policy requiring broadcasters to present contrasting viewpoints on controversial public issues.
1991 – The Oceanos, a Greek luxury liner, sank off of South Africa’s southeast coast. All of the 402 passengers and 179 crew members survived.
1993 – A federal judge sentenced Los Angeles, CA Police Department officers Stacey Koon and Laurence Powell to 30 months in prison for violating motorist Rodney King’s civil rights.
2002 – “The Anna Nicole Show” had the highest-rated series premiere in basic cable history.
2007 – NASA’s Phoenix spacecraft was launched on a space exploration mission of Mars. The Phoenix landed on Mars on May 25, 2008 and operated until November 2, 2008.
2015 – Grand Rapids, MI elected its first woman mayor. Rosalynn Bliss was elected as the city’s 59th mayor just one day after her 40th birthday. She received two-thirds of the vote in the city’s mayoral primary election.
2020 – The United Nations said the COVID-19 pandemic had created the biggest educational disruption in history affecting nearly 1.6 billion students in 190 countries.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON AUGUST 4:
Ellen Schrecker – 88 years old (1938) – Historian and academic
Ted Strickland – 85 years old (1941) – Psychologist and politician, 68th Governor of Ohio
Cleon Jones – 84 years old (1942) – Baseball player
Paul McCarthy – 81 years old (1945) – Painter and sculptor
Alan Mulally – 81 years old (1945) – Engineer and businessman
Johnny Grubb – 78 years old (1948) – Baseball player and coach
John Riggins – 77 years old (1949) – Football player, sportscaster, and actor
Alberto Gonzales – 71 years old (1955) – Soldier, lawyer, and politician, 80th United States Attorney General
Billy Bob Thornton – 71 years old (1955) – Actor, director, and screenwriter
Brooks D. Simpson – 69 years old (1957) – Historian and author
Allison Hedge Coke – 68 years old (1958) – American-Canadian poet and academic
Mary Decker – 68 years old (1958) – Runner
Brian Voss – 68 years old (1958) – Tenpin bowler
Chuck C. Lopez – 66 years old (1960) – Jockey
Dean Malenko – 66 years old (1960) – Wrestler
Barack Obama – 65 years old (1961) – Lawyer and politician, 44th President of the United States , Nobel Prize laureate
Roger Clemens – 64 years old (1962) – Baseball player and actor
Dennis Lehane – 61 years old (1965) – Author, screenwriter, and producer
Michael Marsh – 59 years old (1967) – Sprinter
Daniel Dae Kim – 58 years old (1968) – South Korean-American actor
John August – 56 years old (1970) – Director and screenwriter
Bret Baier – 56 years old (1970) – Journalist
Jeff Gordon – 55 years old (1971) – Race car driver and actor
Paul Goldstein – 50 years old (1976) – Tennis player
Frankie Kazarian – 49 years old (1977) – Wrestler
Kurt Busch – 48 years old (1978) – Race car driver
Marques Houston – 45 years old (1981) – Singer-songwriter, producer, and actor
Meghan – 45 years old (1981) – Duchess of Sussex , American member of British royal family , media personality and actress
Greta Gerwig – 43 years old (1983) – Actress, producer, and screenwriter
Mardy Collins – 42 years old (1984) – Basketball player
Crystal Bowersox – 41 years old (1985) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Robbie Findley – 41 years old (1985) – Soccer player
Nick Augusto – 40 years old (1986) – Drummer
Kelley O'Hara – 38 years old (1988) – Soccer player
Cole Sprouse – 34 years old (1992) – Actor
Dylan Sprouse – 34 years old (1992) – Actor
Bobby Shmurda – 32 years old (1994) – Rapper
Lil Skies – 28 years old (1998) – Rapper
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR AUGUST 4:
- National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day: Soft, gooey dough studded with sweet morsels of delight, fresh from the oven - a timeless treat that's sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
- National Night Out: Help improve community-police partnerships in order to keep your communities safe for everyone, so anyone can be out at night without worry or fear.
- National White Wine Day: Sipping on that chilled, light and refreshing beverage is like a delightful escape to a relaxing oasis. Cheers to good times!
- Single Working Women’s Day: Tell all the single working women in your life how much you respect and appreciate them. If you’re a single working woman, treat yourself to something nice.
- International Owl Awareness Day: While they can’t turn their heads all the way around like some people believe, these fascinating creatures do have lots of spectacular features going for them! International Owl Awareness Day is here to promote public education about owls and encourage more people to support efforts to protect their habitat and...
- U.S. Coast Guard Birthday: Show your support for the brave men and women of the US Coast Guard who put their lives on the line to save ours, from fishing boats accidents to hurricanes.
- International Clouded Leopard Day: Raise awareness and help unite the world in the fight to save the clouded leopard, a vulnerable species of big cat with a tragically decreasing population.
- Assistance Dog Day: Join an event like a dog walk, fundraiser, or dog show to appreciate the many tasks assistance dogs perform, from seizure detection to seeing-eye dogs and more.
- Hooray for Kids Day: Little explorers, full of curiosity, boundless energy, and a knack for turning everyday objects into extraordinary adventures and laughter.
- National Eisteddfod of Wales: The National Eisteddfod of Wales is a vibrant celebration of Welsh culture, bringing together the best of the nation's music, literature, and performance arts. Each year, the festival moves to a different location within Wales, alternating between the north and south. This week-long event attracts thousands of visitors who immerse...
- Crayfish Party: Crayfish Party is a lively and festive occasion celebrated with friends and family. This event marks the end of summer, bringing people together for a joyful feast. Tables are often set with bright decorations, and the air is filled with laughter. The menu features cooked and seasoned crayfish. The atmosphere...
- World Breastfeeding Week: Nurturing a bond like no other, this natural act of love fosters the health and well-being of both mother and child.
- Farmers Market Week: Farmers Market Week is a vibrant celebration of local markets across the country. It's a time when communities come together to appreciate the fresh, locally grown produce and unique handmade goods that these markets offer. The energy at these markets during this special week is contagious as people of all...
- Stop on Red Week: Crossing at a red light has caused countless fatalities, many of them completely avoidable. These aren’t rare, freak accidents—they happen in everyday traffic, on ordinary roads, during normal routines. Someone rushes to beat the light, doesn’t see the pedestrian, or assumes they’ll make it in time. In a split second...
- International Clown Week: Exploring playful characters, spreading joy with colorful costumes, and delighting audiences with whimsical performances and antics.
- Simplify Your Life Week: Embracing minimalism, decluttering spaces, and focusing on what truly matters, finding peace in simplicity and mindful living.
- National Exercise With Your Child Week: Encouraging outdoor play, fostering healthy habits, and instilling a love for movement in children for lifelong well-being.
- International Assistance Dog Week: International Assistance Dog Week is a special time dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the hardworking dogs that change lives. These dogs provide essential support to individuals with disabilities, helping them navigate daily challenges. Their incredible skills, combined with their loyal companionship, make them invaluable to those who rely on them...
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