Historical Events on October 4

  • 1302: The Byzantine Venetian War comes to an end when a peace treaty is signed between the Republic of Venice and the Byzantine Empire.
  • 1363: Chinese rebel forces led by Zhu Yuanzhang defeat the forces of Chen Youliang in one of the biggest naval battles in history during the Battle of Lake Poyang.
  • 1535: The Coverdale Bible – the first complete English language bible – was printed on this day. Translations were done by Myles Coverdale and William Tyndale.
  • 1582: The Gregorian Calendar is implemented by Pope Gregory XIII.
  • 1693: During the Battle of Marsaglia, the French defeat Piedmontese forces.
  • 1824: A new constitution is adopted by Mexico and it officially becomes a Federal Republic.
  • 1853: The Ottoman Empire issues a war declaration against the Russian Empire.
  • 1876: The first public institution of higher learning opens up in Texas on this day; It’s called Texas A&M – also known as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas.
  • 1917: British forces collide in Flanders at the Battle of Broodseinde during World War I.
  • 1918: More than a hundred people are killed in an explosion that destroyed the T.A. Gillespie Company Shell Loading Plant in Sayreville, New Jersey on this day.
  • 1963: Over six-thousand people are killed in Haiti and Cuba because of Hurricane Flora.
  • 1965: Pope Paul VI becomes the first pope to visit the Americas when he arrives in New York City.
  • 1985: The Free Software Founded is founded on this day.
  • 1997: A robbery occurs at the North Carolina office of Loomis, Fargo and Company. This robbery would be the second largest cash robbery in United States History.

Famous Birthdays on October 4

  • American general, lawyer and 19th President of the United States, Rutherford B. Hayes is born in 1822.
  • French author Juliette Adam is born in 1836.
  • American actor and director Charlton Heston is born in 1923.
  • American painter Wolf Kahn is born in 1926.
  • English author Ann Thwaite is born in 1933.
  • American author Karen Cushman is born in 1941.
  • American author Anne Rice is born in 1941.
  • American actress and activist Susan Sarandon is born in 1946.
  • American actor Armand Assante is born in 1949.