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, Tuesday May 1869, (4–10) Naval Battle of Hakodate: The Imperial Japanese Navy defeats adherents of the Tokugawa shogunate.
On 4, Sunday May 1919, The May Fourth Movement opposes foreign colonizers in China erupts.
On 4, Sunday May 1919, The League of Red Cross Societies is founded in Paris.
On 4, Sunday May 1919, Dory Funk, American professional wrestler, born (d. 1973)
On 4, Sunday May 1919, Basil Yamey, South African-English economist and academic
On 4, Sunday May 1919, Milan Rastislav Štefánik, Slovak general, politician, and astronomer, died (b. 1880)
On 4, Thursday May 1944, Russi Taylor, American voice actress, born
On 4, Monday May 1959, Tenor saxophonist John Coltrane begins two days of principal recording sessions for jazz album Giant Steps.
On 4, Monday May 1959, William S. Pye, American admiral, died (b. 1880)
On 4, Sunday May 1969, An Australian production of the rock musical Hair opens in Sydney. Produced by Harry M. Miller, it features the debut of young American singer Marcia Hines.
On 4, Sunday May 1969, George Johnston’s novel Clean Straw for Nothing wins the Miles Franklin Award
On 4, Sunday May 1969, Christina Billotte, American musician, born
On 4, Friday May 1979, Counting in the previous day’s British general election shows that the Conservatives have won and Margaret Thatcher becomes the country’s first female prime minister, ending the rule of James Callaghan’s Labour government.
On 4, Friday May 1979, Lance Bass, American singer (‘N Sync), born
On 4, Friday May 1979, Wes Butters, English broadcaster, born
On 4, Thursday May 1989, Oliver North convicted on charges related to the Iran–Contra affair. His conviction was thrown out on appeal in 1991 because of his immunised testimony.
On 4, Thursday May 1989, Dániel Gyurta, Hungarian swimmer, born
On 4, Thursday May 1989, Rory McIlroy, Northern Irish golfer, born
On 4, Thursday May 1989, James van Riemsdyk, American ice hockey player, born
On 4, Thursday May 1989, Chalam, Indian actor, died (b. 1929)
On 4, Wednesday May 1994, Prime Minister Paul Keating’s landmark White Paper on employment, Working Nation, is released, proposing measures to boost economic growth and assist the disadvantaged long-term unemployed.
On 4, Wednesday May 1994, Alexander Gould, American actor and voice artist, born
On 4, Monday May 2009, Prince Henrik of Denmark, born
On 4, Monday May 2009, Dom DeLuise, American actor and comedian, died (b. 1933)
On 4, Sunday May 2014, Soccer: The 2013–14 A-League season concludes, with Brisbane Roar FC defeating Western Sydney Wanderers FC 2-1 after extra time in the final.
On 4, Sunday May 2014, Jean-Paul Ngoupandé, Prime Minister of the Central African Republic, died (b. 1948)
On 4, Sunday May 2014, Tatiana Samoilova, Russian actress, died (b. 1934)
Other On This Day days in history
Neville Buch