Greetings, history enthusiasts! It’s 4th December, and I’m Laila, ready to take you on an intriguing journey through time. In this Article, we’ll be exploring the keyword ‘Today in History,’ uncovering remarkable events, stories, and facts that have shaped the world we live in today.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 771 | Austrasian king Carloman I dies, leaving his brother Charlemagne king of the now complete Frankish Kingdom. |
| 1110 | The Kingdom of Jerusalem captures Sidon. |
| 1259 | 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. |
| 1563 | The final session of the Council of Trent is held. (It had opened on December 13, 1545.) |
| 1619 | 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.” |
| 1674 | 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.) |
| 1676 | Battle of Lund: A Danish army under the command of King Christian V engages the Swedish army commanded by Field Marshal Simon Grundel-Helmfelt. |
| 1745 | Charles Edward Stuart’s army reaches Derby, its furthest point during the Second Jacobite Rising. |
| 1783 | At Fraunces Tavern in New York City, U.S. General George Washington bids farewell to his officers. |
| 1786 | Mission Santa Barbara is dedicated (on the feast day of Saint Barbara). |
| 1791 | The first edition of The Observer, the world’s first Sunday newspaper, is published. |
| 1829 | 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. |
| 1864 | 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. |
| 1867 | Former Minnesota farmer Oliver Hudson Kelley founds the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry (better known today as the Grange). |
| 1872 | 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. |
| 1875 | Notorious New York City politician Boss Tweed escapes from prison; he is later recaptured in Spain. |
| 1881 | The first edition of the Los Angeles Times is published. |
| 1893 | 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. |
| 1906 | Alpha Phi Alpha the first black intercollegiate Greek lettered fraternity was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. |
| 1909 | In Canadian football, the First Grey Cup game is played. The University of Toronto Varsity Blues defeat the Toronto Parkdale Canoe Club, 26-6. |
| 1909 | 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. |
| 1918 | 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. |
| 1939 | 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. |
| 1942 | World War II: Carlson’s patrol during the Guadalcanal Campaign ends. |
| 1943 | World War II: In Yugoslavia, resistance leader Marshal Josip Broz Tito proclaims a provisional democratic Yugoslav government in-exile. |
| 1943 | 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. |
| 1945 | 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.) |
| 1954 | The first Burger King is opened in Miami. |
| 1956 | 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. |
| 1965 | The Grateful Dead’s first concert performance under this new name. |
| 1967 | Vietnam War: U.S. and South Vietnamese forces engage Viet Cong troops in the Mekong Delta. |
| 1969 | Black Panther Party members Fred Hampton and Mark Clark are shot and killed during a raid by 14 Chicago police officers. |
| 1971 | The Indian Navy attacks the Pakistan Navy and Karachi. |
| 1977 | Jean-Bédel Bokassa, president of the Central African Republic, crowns himself Emperor Bokassa I of the Central African Empire. |
| 1977 | Malaysian Airline System Flight 653 is hijacked and crashes in Tanjong Kupang, Johor, killing 100. |
| 1978 | Following the murder of Mayor George Moscone, Dianne Feinstein becomes San Francisco’s first female mayor. |
| 1979 | The Hastie fire in Hull kills three schoolboys and eventually leads police to arrest Bruce George Peter Lee. |
| 1981 | South Africa grants independence to the Ciskei “homeland” (not recognized by any government outside South Africa). |
| 1982 | The People’s Republic of China adopts its current constitution. |
| 1984 | Sri Lankan Civil War: Sri Lankan Army soldiers kill 107-150 civilians in Mannar. |
| 1991 | 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. |
| 1991 | Pan American World Airways ceases its operations after 64 years. |
| 1992 | Somali Civil War: President George H. W. Bush orders 28,000 U.S. troops to Somalia in Northeast Africa. |
| 1998 | The Unity Module, the second module of the International Space Station, is launched. |
| 2005 | Tens of thousands of people in Hong Kong protest for democracy and call on the government to allow universal and equal suffrage. |
| 2006 | Six black youths assault a white teenager in Jena, Louisiana. |
| 2014 | 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. |
| 2015 | A firebomb is thrown into a restaurant in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, killing 17 people. |
As you’ve seen, history is a treasure trove of fascinating tales and significant moments. Whether it’s a scientific breakthrough, a political milestone, a cultural revelation, or a gripping story of human resilience, ‘Today in History’ brings to light the events that have left an indelible mark on our world.
Before we wrap up this historical journey, let’s reflect on the importance of understanding the past. History isn’t just a subject for textbooks; it’s a source of inspiration, knowledge, and wisdom. By studying the triumphs and trials of those who came before us, we gain a deeper appreciation for the present and a better sense of direction for the future.
So, as we bid adieu to our excursion through time on 4th December, remember that history is alive, and its lessons are eternally relevant. Stay curious, keep exploring, and let the past be your guide to a brighter future.
Don’t forget to check back for more captivating ‘Today in History’ posts on this blog. The past is an open book, waiting for you to turn its pages and discover its many secrets. Until next time, happy time traveling!
