Anniversaries and commemorations come and go daily. Most of us, even the best historians, miss most occasions. If we think of history as events then we are faced with a continually showering in the grains of sand. Nevertheless, we do pick out certain patterns in the remembrance of historical dates. The blog here reminds us of some dates where the local, state, national, and global perspectives entwine.
On 4 January 1869, Tommy Corcoran, American baseball player, born (d. 1960)
On 4 January 1894, A military alliance is established between the French Third Republic, and the Russian Empire.
On Saturday, 4 January 1919, Lester L. Wolff, American politician
On Saturday, 4 January 1919, Georg von Hertling, 7th Chancellor of Germany, died (b. 1843)
On Tuesday, 4 January 1944, Kaj Munk, Danish playwright, Lutheran pastor and martyr, died (b. 1898)
On Sunday, 4 January 1959, In Cuba, rebel troops led by Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos enter the city of Havana.
On Sunday, 4 January 1959, In Léopoldville, at least 49 people are killed during clashes between the police and participants of a meeting of the Abako Party.
On Sunday, 4 January 1959, Vanity, Canadian singer and actress, born (d. 2016)
On Sunday, 4 January 1959, Yoshitomo Nara, Japanese artist, born
On Saturday, 4 January 1969, The Government of Spain hands over Ifni to Morocco.
On Thursday, 4 January 1979, Australia’s highest daily rainfall, 1,140 mm., is recorded at Bellenden Ker station, Queensland.
On Thursday, 4 January 1979, The State of Ohio agrees to pay $675,000 to families of the dead and injured in the Kent State shootings.
On Thursday, 4 January 1979, Kevin Kuske, German Olympic bobsledder, born
On Thursday, 4 January 1979, Vincent Korda, Hungarian art director, died (b. 1897)
On Thursday, 4 January 1979, Peter Frankenfeld, German comedian, radio and television personality, died (b. 1913)
On Wednesday, 4 January 1989, Gulf of Sidra incident (1989): Two Libyan MiG-23 “Floggers” are engaged and shot down by 2 US Navy F-14 Tomcats.
On Wednesday, 4 January 1989, Kariem Hussein, Swiss 400 metres hurdler, born
On Wednesday, 4 January 1989, Labrinth, British urban and hip-hop musician, born
On Wednesday, 4 January 1989, Sessilee Lopez, American model, born
On Wednesday, 4 January 1989, Julius Yego, Kenian javelin thrower, born
On Wednesday, 4 January 1989, D. R. Nanayakkara, Sri Lanka actor, died (b. 1915)
On Wednesday, 4 January 1989, Dvora Netzer, Israeli politician, died (b. 1897)
On Tuesday, 4 January 1994, Derrick Henry, American football player, born
On Monday, 4 January 1999, Gunmen open fire on Shia Muslims worshiping in a mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing 16 and injuring 25.
On Monday, 4 January 1999, Daniel Arzani, Australian footballer, born
On Monday, 4 January 1999, Nico Hischier, Swiss ice hockey player, born
On Monday, 4 January 1999, Gage Munroe, Canadian actor and voice actor, born
On Monday, 4 January 1999, Collin Sexton, American basketball player, born
On Sunday, 4 January 2009, Torrential downpours in north western Queensland cause flooding in Cloncurry and Mount Isa.
On Saturday, 4 January 2014, Stradbroke Island suffers bushfires which burn out over 8,500 hectares (21,004 acres) of bushland.
On Saturday, 4 January 2014, Shirley Jeffrey, 74, marine biologist, died
Other On This Day days in history
Neville Buch