October 4 is, on the Gregorian calendar, on non-leap years the 277th day of the year and on leap years the 278th day of the year. A person born on October 4 has the astrological sign of Libra.
Some famous birthdays include actresses Rachel Leigh Cook and Alicia Silverstone. President Rutherford B. Hayes was also born on this day in the year 1822. Hayes was known as an American politician, lawyer, military leader and the 19th President of the United States from 1877-1881. One of his most well-known and controversial acts was his handling of the Great Railroad Strike of 1877.
The Plymouth Colony made the first created legal code in America on this day in the year 1636. The Plymouth Colony was founded by Pilgrims looking for religious freedom.http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/oct04.html
On this day is celebrated World Animal Day. Started in 1931 in Florence, Italy, this day celebrates all forms of animal life. Special events are planned in countries all over the world. This day is also an unofficial food holiday observing National Taco Day.
AP Today in History
October 4 1957
The 2000s
- 2003: A suicide bomber kills 21 people with 51 others wounded inside a restaurant in Haifa, Israel.
- 2001: Confirmation of invocation of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty by NATO.
- 2001: Siberia Airlines Flight 1812 crashes into the Black Sea after being struck by an errant Ukrainian S-200 missile. There were 78 people are killed.
- 2004: The first private craft to fly into space, SpaceShipOne wins Ansari X Prize.
- 2009: George Papandreou's Panhellenic Socialist Movement defeats Greece's governing New Democracy party in an electoral landslide.
- 2010: Space Milestone for Luna 3 (USSR) and Sputnik (USSR)
The 1990s
- 1993: Two Blackhawk Helicopters are shot down and 5 Americans are killed in Mogadishu during a humanitarian mission in Somalia.
- 1993: Russian Constitutional Crisis
The 1800s
- 1895: The first U.S. Open Golf tournament is held at the Newport Country Club in Rhode Island. The first champion was was Horace Rawlins
Holidays and Observances
- World Animal Day
- First Day of World Space Week
- Lesotho - Independence Day
Famous Birthdays
- 1979: Rachael Leigh Cook - She's All That
- 1976: Alicia Silverstone - Clueless
- 1957: Russell Simmons - Music Producer
- 1946: Chuck Hagel - Nebraska Senator
- 1946: Susan Sarandon - Dead Man Walking
- 1895: Buster Keaton - Silent Film Star
Famous Deaths
- 1989: Secretariat - Triple Crown Winner
- 1970: Janis Joplin - Musician
