This Day in History
June 4

Copyright © 2006-2024 Ken Polsson
internet e-mail: ken@kpolsson.com
URL: http://kpolsson.com/thisday/
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What happened in history on this day: June 4?

On June 4 in ...

  • 1070 - Roquefort cheese created in a cave near Roquefort, France.
  • 1584 - Sir Walter Raleigh establishes the first English colony on Roanoke Island.
  • 1629 - Dutch East India Company merchant ship Batavia strikes a reef in the Houtman Abrolhos, off the west coast of Australia. The ship was carrying 300 people and 12 chests of silver coins and treasure to Java.
  • 1647 - British army seizes King Charles I as a prisoner.
  • 1668 - The University of Lund (Academia Carolina Conciliatrix) is founded in Sweden.
  • 1694 - Birth of François Quesnay France, economist, leader of the Physiocrats.
  • 1738 - Birth of George III; English king during American Revolution (1760-1820).
  • 1745 - Prussians defeat Austrians at Hohenfriedeberg.
  • 1792 - Captain George Vancouver claims Puget Sound for Britain.
  • 1805 - Tripoli forced to conclude peace with US after war over tribute.
  • 1812 - Louisiana Territory officially renamed "Missouri Territory".
  • 1844 - Antonio López de Santa Anna becomes President (8th time) of Mexico.
  • 1862 - Confederates evacuate Fort Pillow, Tennessee, CSA.
  • 1867 - Birth of Carl Gustaf Mannerheim in Finland; military hero, President of Finland (1944-46).
  • 1877 - Birth of Heinrich Wieland; German chemist (bile acids-Nobel Prize 1927).
  • 1878 - Cyprus ceded by Turkey to Britain for administrative purposes.
  • 1895 - Birth of Dino Conte Grandi in Italy; delegate to League of Nations (1925-32).
  • 1896 - Henry Ford drives his first Ford automobile through the streets of Detroit, Michigan.
  • 1900 - M Wolf and A Schwassmann discover asteroid #456 Abnoba.
  • 1902 - Birth of Richard Allen in India; field hockey goal tender (Olympic-gold-1928).
  • 1908 - Birth of Rosalind Russell; actress (Mame, Take a Letter Darling).
  • 1909 - Birth of Paul Nordoff in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; composer (Frog Prince).
  • 1912 - Cone of Mount Katmai (Alaska) collapses.
  • 1912 - Massachusetts passes first US minimum wage law.
  • 1917 - Birth of Charles Collingwood in Michigan, USA; news commentator (CBS, Chronicles, host of Eyewitness to History TV series).
  • 1917 - Birth of Howard Metzenbaum; American politician (Senator-Democrat-Ohio).
  • 1917 - Birth of Robert Anderson; author (Tea and Sympathy).
  • 1917 - Birth of Robert Merrill in Brooklyn, New York, USA; baritone (New York Metropolitan Opera).
  • 1918 - M Wolf discovers asteroid #894 Erda.
  • 1919 - The U.S. Congress approves the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
  • 1919 - US marines invade Costa Rica.
  • 1920 - Hungarian delegates at Versailles, France, sign peace treaty.
  • 1922 - Birth of Irwin Bazelon in Evanston, Illinois, USA; composer (Duo for Viola).
  • 1924 - Birth of Dennis Weaver in Joplin, Missouri, USA; actor (Chester - Gunsmoke TV show, McCloud TV show, Emerald Point NAS TV show, Lonesome Dove: The Series TV show, Pearl, Centennial, Stone, Wildfire, Duel, Battered).
  • 1926 - Birth of Nan Leslie in Los Angeles, California, USA; actress (Kings Row, The Californians).
  • 1926 - Birth of Robert Earl Hughes; heaviest known human (486kg).
  • 1927 - First Ryders Cup (Golf), US beats England 9.5-2.5.
  • 1932 - Birth of John Barrymore Junior in Beverly Hills, California, USA; actor (Pantomine Quiz).
  • 1934 - C Jackson discovers asteroid #2066 Palala.
  • 1936 - Birth of Bruce Dern in Winnetka, Illinois, USA; actor (Coming Home, Silent Running, Tatoo, Big Love, Space).
  • 1937 - Birth of Freddie Fender in Mexico; country singer ("Feelings").
  • 1940 - First National League night game at Sportsman's Park (Brooklyn Dodgers 10, Saint Louis Cardinals 1).
  • 1940 - First night game at Forbes Field (Pittsburgh Pirates 14, Boston Bees 2).
  • 1940 - Evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk, France, across the English Channel ends. A total of 338,000 men were evacuated to England, including 120,000 French, on 860 vessels. German Luftwaffe planes sunk six British destroyers, eight transport ships, and over 200 small craft.
  • 1940 - British Prime Minister Winston Churchill makes his "We shall fight on the beaches ... we shall never surrender." speech to Parliament.
  • 1940 - German forces enter Paris, France.
  • 1942 - (1030 hours) American planes pull away from their attack on the Japanese First Carrier Fleet off Midway Island. They leave carriers Kaga, Akagi, and Soryu burning uncontrollably.
  • 1942 - Reinhard Heydrich dies of his wounds from an assassination attempt. Adolf Hitler appoints Karl Herman Frank as new protector of Czechoslovakia, and demands the execution of 10,000 Czechs.
  • 1942 - Capitol Record Company opens for business in Hollywood, California, USA.
  • 1942 - (1700 hours) Near Midway Island, an American aerial attack by planes from the Enterprise and Yorktown against Japanese carrier Hiryu leaves it badly damaged.
  • 1943 - Saint Louis Cardinals' pitcher Mort Cooper pitches his second consecutive one hitter.
  • 1944 - First submarine captured and boarded on high seas - German U-505.
  • 1944 - In Italy, American forces take Rome.
  • 1944 - Birth of Michelle Phillips; singer/actress (The Mamas and The Papas).
  • 1944 - Birth of Roger Ball; saxophonist (Average White Band).
  • 1945 - Birth of Gordon Waller in Scotland; singer (Peter and Gordon - "World Without Love").
  • 1945 - Birth of Michelle Phillips; singer/actress (Knots Landing, Beverly Hills 90210, Malibu Shores).
  • 1945 - Birth of Ivan "Ironman" Stewart Mickey Thompson; off-road champion (1983, 1984, 1990).
  • 1945 - Birth of Margaret Impert in Horseheads, New York, USA; actress (Maggie, Spencer's Pilots).
  • 1946 - Largest solar prominence (300,000 miles / 500,000 km) observed.
  • 1948 - Birth of Rosemary Joyce; model/actress (Daphne Draper - Search for Tomorrow).
  • 1949 - The DuMont TV Network debuts Cavalcade of Stars.
  • 1950 - Birth of Wayne Powers in New Rochelle, New York, USA; actor (Laverne and Shirley, 13 East).
  • 1950 - Birth of George Noory; radio host (Coast to Coast).
  • 1951 - Pittsburgh Pirates' Gus Bell hits for the cycle, helps beat Philadelphia Phillies 12-4.
  • 1951 - Birth of Danny Brown; bassist (The Fixx).
  • 1952 - Birth of Catherine Watkins in Hartford, Connecticut, USA; actress (It's Not Easy, Mary, Bob).
  • 1952 - Birth of Parker Stevenson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; actor (Falcon Crest, Stroker Ace, Hardy Boys, Melrose Place, Baywatch).
  • 1954 - Arthur Murray flies X-1A rocket plane to record 27,000m.
  • 1954 - Harold Hoffman, American politician (Governor-New Jersey), dies at age 58.
  • 1955 - NBC airs the Mickey Rooney Show for the last time.
  • 1956 - Speech by USSR leader Nikita Khrushchev blasting Josef Stalin made public.
  • 1956 - Birth of Keith David; actor (The Job, ER, The Big House).
  • 1957 - First commercial coal pipeline placed in operation.
  • 1958 - Birth of Eddie Velez; actor (General Hospital, A-Team, Live Shot).
  • 1960 - Lucien Littlefield, actor (Mr Beasley - Blondie), dies at age 64.
  • 1961 - Birth of El Debarge; rocker (Debarge - "All this Love").
  • 1961 - Birth of Julie White; actress (Grace Under Fire, Six Feet Under).
  • 1962 - Death of Clem McCarthy; legendary sportscaster (Kentucky Derby 1928-1950, boxing matches for NBC radio).
  • 1962 - Birth of Lindsay Frost; actress (As the World Turns, Birdland, Bird).
  • 1963 - Birth of Xavier McDaniel; NBA forward (Seattle SuperSonics).
  • 1963 - US President John Kennedy signs into law Public Law 88-36, repealing the Silver Purchase Act, prohibiting any further issuance of silver certificates, and authorizes $1 Federal Reserve notes for the first time, to replace the $1 silver certificates.
  • 1964 - The Beatles' "World Tour" begins in Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • 1964 - Birth of Chris Kavanagh; rocker (Sigue Sigue Sputnik - "Love Missile F-111").
  • 1964 - Los Angeles Dodgers' Sandy Koufax third no-hitter, beats Philadelphia Phillies, 3-0.
  • 1965 - Birth of Andrea Jaeger in Chicago, Illinois, USA; tennis player (retired as a teenager).
  • 1967 - In Hollywood, California, the 19th Annual Emmy Awards are presented, hosted by Joey Bishop and Hugh Downs.
    • Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Series: Bill Cosby for I Spy
    • Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Drama: Peter Ustinov for "Barefoot in Athens" of Hallmark Hall of Fame
    • Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series: Don Adams for Get Smart
    • Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Series: Barbara Bain for Mission: Impossible
    • Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Drama: Geraldine Page for episode "Truman Capote's A Christmas Memory" of ABC Stage 67
    • Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series: Lucille Ball for The Lucy Show
    • Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Drama: Eli Wallach for Poppies Are Also Flowers
    • Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Comedy: Don Knotts for episode "Barney Comes to Mayberry" of The Andy Griffith Show
    • Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Drama: Agnes Moorehead for episode "Night of the Vicious Valentine" for The Wild Wild West
    • Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Comedy: Frances Bavier for The Andy Griffith Show
    • Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy: James Frawley for episode "Royal Flush" of The Monkees
    • Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety or Music: Fielder Cook for Brigadoon
    • Individual Achievements in Electronic Production - Technical Directors: A.J. Cunningham for Brigadoon
    • Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Drama: Alex Segal for Death of a Salesman
    • Individual Achievements in Electronic Production - Lighting Directors: Leard Davis for Brigadoon
    • Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy: Buck Henry and Leonard Stern for episode "Ship of Spies" of Get Smart
    • Outstanding Writing Achievement in Drama: Bruce Geller for Mission: Impossible
    • Individual Achievements in Art Direction and Allied Crafts (Make-Up): Dick Smith for Mark Twain Tonight!
    • Individual Achievements in Art Direction and Allied Crafts (Costume Design): Ray Aghayan and Bob Mackie for Alice Through the Looking Glass
    • Outstanding Musical Program: Fielder Cook for Brigadoon
    • Program and Individual Achievements in Daytime Programming - Individuals: Mike Douglas for The Mike Douglas Show
    • Outstanding Dramatic Series: Joseph Gantman and Bruce Geller for Mission: Impossible
    • Individual Achievements in Electronic Production - Electronic Cameramen: Robert Dunn, Gorm Erickson, Ben Wolf, and Nick Demos for Brigadoon
    • Outstanding Children's Program: Gene Kelly for Jack and the Beanstalk
    • Outstanding Dramatic Program: David Susskind and Daniel Melnick for Death of a Salesman
    • Outstanding Comedy Series: Bert Schneider and Bob Rafelson for The Monkees
    • Program and Individual Achievements in Daytime Programming - Programs: Don Meier for Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom
    • Special Classifications of Individual Achievements:
  • Truman Capote and Eleanor Perry for episode "A Christmas Memory" of ABC Stage 67
  • Art Carney for The Jackie Gleason Show
  • Arthur Miller for Death of a Salesman
    • Outstanding Variety Series: Edward Stephenson and Bob Finkel for The Andy Williams Show

  • 1968 - Don Drysdale pitches his 6th straight shutout, en route to 58 innings.
  • 1968 - Birth of Scott Wolf; actor (V, Everwood, Party of Five).
  • 1970 - Menasha Skulnik, comedian (Menasha the Magnificent), dies at age 78.
  • 1970 - Death of Hjalmar Schlacht in Munich, Germany; banker, director of the Dresdner Bank (1908-), director of the German National Bank (1916-), currency commissioner in the finance ministry (1923-), head of the Reichsbank (1923-), minister of economics (1934-37).
  • 1970 - Tonga gains independence from Britain.
  • 1971 - Oakland Athletics beat Washington Senators, 5-3, in 21 innings.
  • 1971 - Birth of Noah Wyle; actor (ER, A Few Good Men).
  • 1973 - Death of Murray Wilson at age 55 of a heart attack; father of three of the Beach Boys, band manager).
  • 1974 - NFL grants franchise to Seattle Seahawks.
  • 1974 - Birth of Stefan Lessard; bassist (The Dave Matthews Band).
  • 1975 - Birth of Angelina Jolie; actress (George Wallace, Gia).
  • 1977 - Violence during Puerto Rican Day in Chicago, Illinois, kills two.
  • 1979 - Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings takes power in Ghana after a military coup in which General Fred Akuffo is overthrown.
  • 1979 - Joe Clark becomes Canada's 16th and youngest Prime Minister.
  • 1980 - Birth of JoJo Garza; bassist (Los Lonely Boys).
  • 1981 - E Bowell discovers asteroids #2494 Inge, #2797 Teucer, #2870 Haupt.
  • 1981 - CBS TV airs the final episode of TV show The Waltons.
  • 1982 - MGM releases the film Poltergeist to theaters.
  • 1982 - Paramount releases the film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan to theaters.
  • 1985 - US Supreme Court strikes down Alabama "moment of silence" law.
  • 1986 - Jonathan Pollard, spy for Israel, pleads guilty in US court to espionage for selling top secret United States military intelligence.
  • 1987 - India flies 5 military transport planes with 4 Mirage 2000 fighter jet escort over Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka, droppi22 tons of relief supplies for the population, against permission of Sri Lankan government.
  • 1987 - Danny Harris beats Edwin Moses, ends streak of 122 consecutive hurdle wins.
  • 1988 - Longest game in Baltimore Orioles at Memorial Stadium (5:46) 14 innings, beating New York Yankees 7-6.
  • 1989 - The Tiananmen Square massacre takes place in Beijing on the army's approach to the square, and the final stand-off in the square is covered live on television.
  • 1989 - Beijing cop shoots and wounds Chinese priemer Li Ping.
  • 1989 - Solidarity victorious in the first partly free parliamentary elections in post-war Poland.
  • 1989 - Ali Khamenei is elected the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran after the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
  • 1989 - Largest parade in Bronx, New York, history honors 350th anniversary.
  • 1989 - Boston Red Sox lead Toronto Blue Jays 10-0 in 7th, but lose 12-11 in 12 innings.
  • 1989 - At the Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago, Nintendo introduces the Game Boy portable hand-held video game system, with monochrome display. Price is US$89.95, including the Tetris game cartridge.
  • 1989 - A natural gas explosion near Ufa, Russia kills 645 as two trains passing each other throw sparks near a leaky pipeline.
  • 1990 - The Walt Disney World Dolphin hotel opens at Walt Disney World.
  • 1994 - Death of Derek Leckenby at age 48 of cancer in Manchester, England; lead guitarist (Herman's Hermits - "Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter", "I'm Henry the eighth, I Am").
  • 1997 - Death of Ronnie Lane at age 51 of multiple sclerosis at his home in Colorado, USA; bass guitarist and co-founder of the British group Small Faces.
  • 1998 - Terry Nichols is sentenced to life in prison for his role in the Oklahoma City bombing.
  • 1998 - Death of Angel South at age 55 of prostate cancer in Placerville, California, USA; lead guitarist (Chase - "Get It On").
  • 2000 - In Southern Sumatra, Indonesia, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake occurs. At least 103 people killed, 2,174 injured, extensive damage and landslides.
  • 2001 - Death of King Dipendra of Nepal from a coma from a self-inflicted gunshot wound June 1.
  • 2002 - The planetoid Quaoar is discovered orbiting the Sun in the Kuiper belt.
  • 2002 - Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh ride in the gold state coach from Buckingham Palace to Saint Paul's Cathedral for a special service marking the Queen's 50 years on the throne. In New York, the Empire State Building is lit in purple for her honor.
  • 2002 - Death of Fernando Belaúnde Terry, President of Peru (born 1912).
  • 2003 - Martha Stewart and her broker are indicted for using privileged investment information and then obstructing a federal investigation. Stewart also resigns as chairperson and chief executive officer of Martha Stewart Living.
  • 2004 - Marvin Heemeyer destroys many local buildings with a home-made tank in Granby, Colorado.
  • 2004 - Warner Bros. releases the film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban to theaters.
  • 2007 - Ten people, including a California National Guard officer and former Hmong general, are charged over plans to overthrow the Laotian Government.
  • 2007 - Death of Bill France, Junior, American President/CEO of NASCAR (born 1933).
  • 2008 - J.M. Smucker Company announces it will acquire Folgers, the largest U.S. coffee business, from Procter & Gamble Company for stock in a deal valued at US$2.95 billion.
  • 2008 - The Detroit Red Wings win the NHL's Stanley Cup in a 3-2 Game Six win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
  • 2010 - California firm SpaceX launches the Falcon 9 rocket on its maiden test flight from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The rocket successfully achieves Earth orbit.
  • 2010 - Japanese lawmakers elect finance minister Naoto Kan as the country's new prime minister.
  • 2011 - Chile's Puyehue volcano erupts, causing air traffic cancellations across South America, New Zealand, Australia and forcing over 3,000 people to evacuate.
  • 2020 - Libya's Government of National Accord says they are in full control of the capital, Tripoli, after forces of the Libyan National Army retreat from the territory following months of intense fighting in the city.
  • 2021 - Birth of Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor, second child of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and eighth in the line of succession to the thrones of the United Kingdom and fourteen other Commonwealth realms
  • 2022 - At the BM Inland Container Depot in Sitakunda, near Chittagong port in Bangladesh, a fire breaks out, eventually leading to an explosion of containers on 850 tonnes of hydrogen peroxide, killing over 40 people, injuring over 300.

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