December 4 — On This Day

Austrasian king Carloman I dies, leaving his brother Charlemagne king of the now complete Frankish Kingdom.

Austrasia · Carloman I · Charlemagne · Francia

The Kingdom of Jerusalem captures Sidon.

Kingdom of Jerusalem · Siege of Sidon

Kings Louis IX of France and Henry III of England agree to the Treaty of Paris, in which Henry renounces his claims to French-controlled territory on continental Europe (including Normandy) in exchange for Louis withdrawing his support for English rebels.

Louis IX of France · Henry III of England · Treaty of Paris (1259) · Normandy

The final session of the Council of Trent is held. (It had opened on December 13, 1545.)

Council of Trent

Thirty-eight colonists arrive at Berkeley Hundred, Virginia. The group's charter proclaims that the day "be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God."

Colony · Berkeley Hundred · Colony of Virginia

Father Jacques Marquette founds a mission on the shores of Lake Michigan to minister to the Illiniwek. (The mission would later grow into the city of Chicago.)

Jacques Marquette · Lake Michigan · Illiniwek · Chicago

Battle of Lund: A Danish army under the command of King Christian V engages the Swedish army commanded by Field Marshal Simon Grundel-Helmfelt.

Battle of Lund · Christian V of Denmark · Simon Grundel-Helmfelt

Charles Edward Stuart's army reaches Derby, its furthest point during the Second Jacobite Rising.

Charles Edward Stuart · Derby · Jacobite rising of 1745

At Fraunces Tavern in New York City, U.S. General George Washington bids farewell to his officers.

Fraunces Tavern · George Washington · Fraunces Tavern

Mission Santa Barbara is dedicated (on the feast day of Saint Barbara).

Mission Santa Barbara · Saint Barbara

The first edition of The Observer, the world's first Sunday newspaper, is published.

The Observer

In the face of fierce local opposition, British Governor-General Lord William Bentinck issues a regulation declaring that anyone who abets suttee in Bengal is guilty of culpable homicide.

Governor-General of India · Lord William Bentinck · Suttee · Bengal Presidency · Culpable homicide

American Civil War: Sherman's March to the Sea: At Waynesboro, Georgia, forces under Union General Judson Kilpatrick prevent troops led by Confederate General Joseph Wheeler from interfering with Union General William T. Sherman's campaign destroying a wide swath of the South on his march to the Atlantic Ocean from Atlanta.

American Civil War · Sherman's March to the Sea · Waynesboro, Georgia · Union Army · Judson Kilpatrick

Former Minnesota farmer Oliver Hudson Kelley founds the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry (better known today as the Grange).

Minnesota · Oliver Hudson Kelley · National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry

The crewless American ship Mary Celeste is found by the Canadian brig Dei Gratia. The ship had been abandoned for nine days but was only slightly damaged.

Mary Celeste

Notorious New York City politician Boss Tweed escapes from prison; he is later recaptured in Spain.

Boss Tweed

The first edition of the Los Angeles Times is published.

Los Angeles Times

First Matabele War: A patrol of 34 British South Africa Company soldiers is ambushed and annihilated by more than 3,000 Matabele warriors on the Shangani River in Matabeleland.

First Matabele War · British South Africa Company · Shangani Patrol · Northern Ndebele people · Shangani River

Alpha Phi Alpha the first black intercollegiate Greek lettered fraternity was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

Alpha Phi Alpha

In Canadian football, the First Grey Cup game is played. The University of Toronto Varsity Blues defeat the Toronto Parkdale Canoe Club, 26-6.

Canadian football · 1st Grey Cup · University of Toronto · Toronto Varsity Blues · Toronto Parkdale Canoe Club

The Montreal Canadiens ice hockey club, the oldest surviving professional hockey franchise in the world, is founded as a charter member of the National Hockey Association.

Montreal Canadiens · Ice hockey · National Hockey Association

U.S. President Woodrow Wilson sails for the World War I peace talks in Versailles, becoming the first US president to travel to Europe while in office.

Woodrow Wilson · Palace of Versailles

World War II: HMS Nelson is struck by a mine (laid by U-31) off the Scottish coast and is laid up for repairs until August 1940.

World War II · HMS Nelson (28) · Naval mine · German submarine U-31 (1936)

World War II: Carlson's patrol during the Guadalcanal Campaign ends.

Carlson's patrol · Guadalcanal Campaign

World War II: In Yugoslavia, resistance leader Marshal Josip Broz Tito proclaims a provisional democratic Yugoslav government in-exile.

Kingdom of Yugoslavia · Josip Broz Tito

World War II: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt closes down the Works Progress Administration, because of the high levels of wartime employment in the United States.

Franklin D. Roosevelt · Works Progress Administration

By a vote of 65-7, the United States Senate approves United States participation in the United Nations. (The UN had been established on October 24, 1945.)

United States Senate · United Nations

The first Burger King is opened in Miami.

Burger King · Miami

The Million Dollar Quartet (Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash) get together at Sun Studio for the first and last time.

Million Dollar Quartet · Elvis Presley · Jerry Lee Lewis · Carl Perkins · Johnny Cash

The Grateful Dead's first concert performance under this new name.

Grateful Dead

Vietnam War: U.S. and South Vietnamese forces engage Viet Cong troops in the Mekong Delta.

Vietnam War · South Vietnam · Viet Cong · Mekong Delta

Black Panther Party members Fred Hampton and Mark Clark are shot and killed during a raid by 14 Chicago police officers.

Black Panther Party · Fred Hampton · Mark Clark (Black Panther)

The Indian Navy attacks the Pakistan Navy and Karachi.

Indian Navy · Pakistan Navy · Karachi

Jean-Bédel Bokassa, president of the Central African Republic, crowns himself Emperor Bokassa I of the Central African Empire.

Jean-Bédel Bokassa · Central African Republic · Central African Empire

Malaysian Airline System Flight 653 is hijacked and crashes in Tanjong Kupang, Johor, killing 100.

Malaysian Airline System Flight 653 · Johor

Following the murder of Mayor George Moscone, Dianne Feinstein becomes San Francisco's first female mayor.

George Moscone · Dianne Feinstein · San Francisco

The Hastie fire in Hull kills three schoolboys and eventually leads police to arrest Bruce George Peter Lee.

Kingston upon Hull · Bruce George Peter Lee

South Africa grants independence to the Ciskei "homeland" (not recognized by any government outside South Africa).

Ciskei

The People's Republic of China adopts its current constitution.

Constitution of the People's Republic of China

Sri Lankan Civil War: Sri Lankan Army soldiers kill 107-150 civilians in Mannar.

Sri Lankan Civil War · Sri Lankan Army · 1984 Mannar massacre · Mannar, Sri Lanka

Terry A. Anderson is released after seven years in captivity as a hostage in Beirut; he is the last and longest-held American hostage in Lebanon.

Terry A. Anderson · Beirut · Lebanon

Pan American World Airways ceases its operations after 64 years.

Pan American World Airways

Somali Civil War: President George H. W. Bush orders 28,000 U.S. troops to Somalia in Northeast Africa.

Somali Civil War · George H. W. Bush · Somalia · Horn of Africa

The Unity Module, the second module of the International Space Station, is launched.

Unity Module · International Space Station

Tens of thousands of people in Hong Kong protest for democracy and call on the government to allow universal and equal suffrage.

December 2005 protest for democracy in Hong Kong · Hong Kong Government · Universal suffrage

Six black youths assault a white teenager in Jena, Louisiana.

Jena Six · Jena, Louisiana

Islamic insurgents kill three state police at a traffic circle before taking an empty school and a "press house" in Grozny. Ten state forces die with 28 injured in gun battles ending with ten insurgents killed.

2014 Grozny clashes · Law enforcement in Russia · Grozny

A firebomb is thrown into a restaurant in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, killing 17 people.

2015 Cairo restaurant fire · Cairo

Persius, Roman poet (d. 62)

Persius

Bernard VII, Lord of Lippe (d. 1511)

Bernard VII, Lord of Lippe

Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy of Chiche (d. 1558)

Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy of Chiche

Heinrich Meibom, German poet and historian (d. 1625)

Heinrich Meibom (poet)

Sister Virginia Maria, Italian nun (d. 1650)

The Nun of Monza

Samuel Argall, English adventurer and naval officer (d. 1626)

Samuel Argall

John Cotton, English-American minister and theologian (d. 1652)

John Cotton (minister)

Jean Chapelain, French poet and critic (d. 1674)

Jean Chapelain

Cyrus the Great, king of Persia (b. 600 BC)

Cyrus the Great

John of Damascus, Syrian priest and saint (b. 676)

John of Damascus

Carloman I, Frankish king (b. 751)

Carloman I

Suairlech ind Eidnén mac Ciaráin, Irish bishop

Suairlech ind Eidnén mac Ciaráin · Bishop

Anno II, German archbishop and saint (b. 1010)

Anno II

Omar Khayyám, Persian poet, astronomer, mathematician, and philosopher (b. 1048)

Omar Khayyám

William the Lion, Scottish king (b. 1143)

William the Lion

Aymer de Valence, Bishop of Winchester (b. 1222)

Aymer de Valence (bishop) · Bishop of Winchester

Theobald II of Navarre (b. 1238)

Theobald II of Navarre

Pope John XXII (b. 1249)

Pope John XXII

Henry Burghersh, English bishop and politician, Lord Chancellor of England (b. 1292)

Henry Burghersh · Lord Chancellor

Janisław I, Archbishop of Gniezno

Janisław I

Valentina Visconti, wife of Louis of Valois, Duke of Orléans

Valentina Visconti · Louis of Valois, Duke of Orléans

Charles I, Duke of Bourbon (b. 1401)

Charles I, Duke of Bourbon

Adolphus VIII, Count of Holstein (b. 1401)

Adolphus VIII, Count of Holstein

Georg Joachim Rheticus, Austrian-Slovak mathematician and cartographer (b. 1514)

Georg Joachim Rheticus

John Willock, Scottish minister and reformer (b. 1515)

John Willock

Maerten de Vos, Flemish painter and draughtsman (b. 1532)

Maerten de Vos

Alexander Hume, Scottish poet (b. 1560)

Alexander Hume

Nicholas Ferrar, English trader (b. 1592)

Nicholas Ferrar

Cardinal Richelieu, French cardinal and politician, Chief Minister to the French Monarch (b. 1585)

Cardinal Richelieu · List of Prime Ministers of France

William Drummond of Hawthornden, Scottish poet (b. 1585)

William Drummond of Hawthornden

Thomas Hobbes, English philosopher and theorist (b. 1588)

Thomas Hobbes

Thomas Bartholin, Danish physician, mathematician, and theologian (b. 1616)

Thomas Bartholin

Empress Meishō of Japan (b. 1624)

Empress Meishō

John Gay, English poet and playwright (b. 1685)

John Gay

Luigi Galvani, Italian physician, physicist, and philosopher (b. 1737)

Luigi Galvani

Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool, English politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (b. 1770)

Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool · List of Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom

David Daniel Davis, Welsh-English physician and academic (b. 1777)

David Daniel Davis

Gregor MacGregor, Scottish soldier and explorer (b. 1786)

Gregor MacGregor

William Sturgeon, English physicist, invented the electric motor (b. 1783)

William Sturgeon · Electric motor

John Tyndall, Irish-English physicist and chemist (b. 1820)

John Tyndall

Griffith Rhys Jones, Welsh conductor (b. 1834)

Griffith Rhys Jones

Charles Dow, American journalist and publisher, co-founded the Dow Jones & Company (b. 1851)

Charles Dow · Dow Jones & Company

Ivana Kobilca, Slovenian painter (b. 1861)

Ivana Kobilca

Stefan George, German-Swiss poet and translator (b. 1868)

Stefan George

Johan Halvorsen, Norwegian violinist, composer, and conductor (b. 1864)

Johan Halvorsen

Charles Richet, French physiologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1850)

Charles Richet · Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Tamanishiki San'emon, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 32nd Yokozuna (b. 1903)

Tamanishiki San'emon · Yokozuna (sumo)

Juhan Kukk, Estonian politician, 3rd Head of State of Estonia (b. 1885)

Juhan Kukk · Head of State of Estonia

Fritz Löhner-Beda, Jewish Austrian librettist, lyricist and writer (b. 1883)

Fritz Löhner-Beda

Roger Bresnahan, American baseball player and manager (b. 1879)

Roger Bresnahan

Thomas Hunt Morgan, American geneticist and biologist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1866)

Thomas Hunt Morgan · Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Frank Benford, American physicist and engineer (b. 1883)

Frank Benford

George Shepherd, 1st Baron Shepherd (b. 1881)

George Shepherd, 1st Baron Shepherd

József Galamb, Hungarian-American engineer (b. 1881)

József Galamb

Constance Davey, Australian psychologist (b. 1882)

Constance Davey

Bert Lahr, American actor (b. 1895)

Bert Lahr

Shunryū Suzuki, Japanese-American monk and educator, founded the San Francisco Zen Center (b. 1904)

Shunryū Suzuki · San Francisco Zen Center

Hannah Arendt, German-American historian, theorist, and academic (b. 1906)

Hannah Arendt

Tommy Bolin, American guitarist and songwriter (b. 1951)

Tommy Bolin

Benjamin Britten, English pianist, composer, and conductor (b. 1913)

Benjamin Britten

W. F. McCoy, Irish soldier, lawyer, and politician (b. 1886)

W. F. McCoy

Francisco de Sá Carneiro, Portuguese lawyer and politician, 111th Prime Minister of Portugal (b. 1934)

Francisco de Sá Carneiro · Prime Minister of Portugal

Stanisława Walasiewicz, Polish-American runner (b. 1911)

Stanisława Walasiewicz

Don Warrington, Canadian football player (b. 1948)

Don Warrington (Canadian football)

Jeanne Block, American psychologist (b. 1923)

Jeanne Block

Jack Mercer, American animator, screenwriter, voice actor, and singer (b. 1910)

Jack Mercer

Arnold Lobel, American author and illustrator (b. 1933)

Arnold Lobel

Rouben Mamoulian, Georgian-American director and screenwriter (b. 1897)

Rouben Mamoulian

Osman Achmatowicz, Polish chemist and academic (b. 1899)

Osman Achmatowicz

Henry Clausen, American lawyer and author (b. 1905)

Henry Clausen

Margaret Landon, American missionary and author (b. 1903)

Margaret Landon

Frank Zappa, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (b. 1940)

Frank Zappa

Rose Bird, American academic and judge, 25th Chief Justice of California (b. 1936)

Rose Bird · Chief Justice of California

Henck Arron, Surinamese banker and politician, 1st Prime Minister of the Republic of Suriname (b. 1936)

Henck Arron · List of Prime Ministers of Suriname

Iggy Katona, American race car driver (b. 1916)

Iggy Katona

Elena Souliotis, Greek soprano and actress (b. 1943)

Elena Souliotis

Errol Brathwaite, New Zealand soldier and author (b. 1924)

Errol Brathwaite

Gregg Hoffman, American film producer (b. 1963)

Gregg Hoffman

K. Ganeshalingam, Sri Lankan accountant and politician, Mayor of Colombo (b. 1938)

K. Ganeshalingam · Mayor of Colombo

Ross A. McGinnis, American soldier, Medal of Honor recipient (b. 1987)

Ross A. McGinnis · Medal of Honor

Liam Clancy, Irish singer, actor, and guitarist (b. 1935)

Liam Clancy

King Curtis Iaukea, American wrestler (b. 1937)

King Curtis Iaukea

Sócrates, Brazilian footballer and manager (b. 1954)

Sócrates

Hubert Sumlin, American singer and guitarist (b. 1931)

Hubert Sumlin

Vasily Belov, Russian author, poet, and playwright (b. 1932)

Vasily Belov

Jack Brooks, American colonel, lawyer, and politician (b. 1922)

Jack Brooks (American politician)

Miguel Calero, Colombian footballer and manager (b. 1971)

Miguel Calero

Anthony Deane-Drummond, English general (b. 1917)

Anthony Deane-Drummond

Carroll E. Lanier, American sailor and politician (b. 1926)

Carroll E. Lanier

Joana Raspall i Juanola, Spanish author and poet (b. 1913)

Joana Raspall i Juanola

Claudia Emerson, American poet and academic (b. 1957)

Claudia Emerson

V. R. Krishna Iyer, Indian lawyer and judge (b. 1914)

V. R. Krishna Iyer

Vincent L. McKusick, American lawyer and judge (b. 1921)

Vincent L. McKusick

Jeremy Thorpe, English lawyer and politician (b. 1929)

Jeremy Thorpe

Bill Bennett, Canadian lawyer and politician, 27th Premier of British Columbia (b. 1932)

Bill Bennett · Premier of British Columbia

Robert Loggia, American actor and director (b. 1930)

Robert Loggia

Yossi Sarid, Israeli journalist and politician, 15th Israeli Minister of Education (b. 1940)

Yossi Sarid · Ministry of Education (Israel)

Patricia Robins, British writer and WAAF officer (b. 1921).

Patricia Robins