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, Friday December 1868, Battle of Hakodate begins in Japan.
On 4, Monday December 1893, First Matabele War: The Shangani Patrol of British South Africa Company soldiers is ambushed and annihilated, by more than 3,000 Matabele warriors.
On 4, Wednesday December 1918, President Woodrow Wilson departs by ship to the Paris Peace Conference, becoming the first United States President to travel to Europe while holding office.
On 4, Wednesday December 1918, Princess Teriivaetua of Tahiti died (b. 1869)
On 4, Saturday December 1943, WWII: In Yugoslavia, resistance leader Marshal Tito proclaims a provisional democratic Yugoslav government-in-exile.
On 4, Saturday December 1943, The Great Depression officially ends in the United States: With unemployment figures falling fast due to WWII-related employment, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt closes the Works Progress Administration.
On 4, Saturday December 1943, WWII: Bolivia declares war on Romania and Hungary.
On 4, Thursday December 1958, José María Caro Rodríguez died, Chilean Roman Catholic cardinal and eminence (b. 1866)
On 4, Wednesday December 1968, Archie Mayo died, American actor and director (b. 1891)
On 4, Monday December 1978, Dianne Feinstein succeeds the murdered George Moscone, to become the first woman mayor of San Francisco and remains in office until January 8, 1988.
On 4, Monday December 1978, Lars Bystøl born, Norwegian ski jumper
On 4, Sunday December 1988, In Sydney, Federal Opposition Leader John Howard launches a statement of principle and general policy entitled Future Directions which reveals that a Liberal government would encourage the introduction of external school examinations, establish a National Standards Monitoring Programme for schools and did not rule out the introduction of a consumption tax after the first term of a Coalition government. Based on intensive research in 20 marginal seats, the statement also speaks nostalgically of traditional values.
On 4, Sunday December 1988, Mario Maurer born, Thai model and actor
On 4, Sunday December 1988, Yeng Constantino born, Filipina singer
On 4, Sunday December 1988, Osman Achmatowicz died, Polish chemist (b. 1899)
On 4, Saturday December 1993, Frank Zappa died, American guitarist and composer (b. 1940)
On 4, Friday December 1998, Colin Dunstan, aged 43, is arrested for the tax office mail bomb campaign.
On 4, Friday December 1998, The Space Shuttle Endeavour launches the first American component to the International Space Station, the 25,600 pounds (11,600 kg) Unity module on STS-88. It docks with Zarya two days later.
On 4, Friday December 1998, Si Yajie born, Chinese diver
On 4, Thursday December 2008, Forrest J Ackerman, American magazine editor, science fiction writer, and literary agent (b. 1916), died.
On 4, Wednesday December 2013, Robert Allman, 86, opera singer, died.
Other On This Day days in history
Neville Buch
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