September, do you know what happened on September 4 throughout history? This date has witnessed a remarkable range of events, from groundbreaking discoveries to cultural milestones. Henry Hudson sighted Manhattan Island in 1609, while Los Angeles came into being in 1781. Births, deaths, and significant achievements also mark this day. Curious about the full spectrum of stories tied to September 4? There’s much more to uncover.
History
Major Historical Events
1609 – Henry Hudson Discovers Manhattan Island: On this day, English explorer Henry Hudson, while sailing under the Dutch flag, became the first European to record the sighting of Manhattan Island.
Hudson was searching for a northwest passage to Asia when he entered what is now known as the Hudson River, laying the groundwork for Dutch colonization in the region.
1781 – Founding of Los Angeles: The city of Los Angeles, originally named “El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles,” was founded by Spanish Governor Felipe de Neve.
A group of 44 settlers established the small pueblo in what is now Southern California, which would grow into one of the largest cities in the United States.
1886 – Geronimo Surrenders: The Apache leader Geronimo surrendered to U.S. forces in Arizona, marking the end of the major Indian Wars in the American Southwest.
His surrender followed years of resistance against American and Mexican military forces, and he spent the remainder of his life as a prisoner of war.
1957 – Ford Introduces the Edsel: The Ford Motor Company introduced the Edsel, a new line of automobiles named after Henry Ford’s son.
Despite high expectations, the car became infamous for its commercial failure due to poor design, high cost, and lack of consumer interest, and production ceased just three years later.
1972 – Mark Spitz Wins Seventh Gold Medal: American swimmer Mark Spitz completed his historic performance at the Munich Olympics by winning his seventh gold medal in the 4×100-meter medley relay.
This achievement set a world record for the most gold medals won in a single Olympic Games at the time.
Famous Birthdays
1768 – François-René de Chateaubriand: The French writer and diplomat, often considered the founder of Romanticism in French literature, was born on this day in Saint-Malo, France.
His works, such as “Atala” and “René,” had a profound influence on the literary movement of the 19th century.
1908 – Richard Wright: The American author, best known for his novel “Native Son” and his autobiography “Black Boy,” was born in Roxie, Mississippi.
Wright’s powerful writings explored themes of racial injustice and the struggles of African Americans in the early 20th century.
1960 – Damon Wayans: The American comedian, actor, and writer was born in New York City.
Known for his work on the sketch comedy show “In Living Color” and films like “Major Payne,” Wayans has been a prominent figure in entertainment for decades.
1981 – Beyoncé Knowles-Carter: The global superstar and singer-songwriter was born in Houston, Texas.
Rising to fame as the lead singer of Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé has since become one of the most influential artists of her generation, known for hits like “Single Ladies” and “Crazy in Love.”
Notable Deaths
1965 – Albert Schweitzer: The German-French theologian, philosopher, and physician passed away on this day in Lambaréné, Gabon, at the age of 90.
Schweitzer was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952 for his humanitarian work, particularly for founding a hospital in Africa.
1986 – Hank Greenberg: The American baseball player, nicknamed “Hammerin’ Hank,” died in Beverly Hills, California.
A Hall of Famer, Greenberg was one of the first Jewish superstars in American sports and a dominant player for the Detroit Tigers during the 1930s and 1940s.
2014 – Joan Rivers: The American comedian, actress, and television host passed away in New York City at the age of 81.
Known for her sharp wit and pioneering role for women in comedy, Rivers was a cultural icon with a career spanning over five decades.
Today in Music History
1959 – “Mack the Knife” Released by Bobby Darin: Bobby Darin’s iconic rendition of “Mack the Knife” was released on this day.
The song, originally from “The Threepenny Opera,” became a massive hit, earning Darin a Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1960.
1968 – The Beatles Record “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”: George Harrison recorded the lead guitar parts for his song “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” with Eric Clapton on this day at Abbey Road Studios.
The track, featured on the White Album, is considered one of Harrison’s finest compositions.
1996 – Oasis Performs at MTV Unplugged: British rock band Oasis made history by recording an MTV Unplugged session at the Royal Festival Hall in London.
Significantly, lead singer Liam Gallagher did not perform due to a sore throat, leaving brother Noel to take the lead vocals for the set.
Today in Sports History
1923 – Yankee Stadium Hosts First Boxing Match: The iconic Yankee Stadium in New York hosted its first-ever boxing match on this day, featuring heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey defending his title against Luis Ángel Firpo.
Dempsey knocked out Firpo in a dramatic bout that became known as the “Battle of the Century.”
1951 – First Transcontinental Television Broadcast: On this day, President Harry S. Truman’s speech at the Japanese Peace Treaty Conference in San Francisco was broadcast live across the United States, marking the first transcontinental television event.
While not strictly sports, this paved the way for national sports broadcasts.
1972 – Mark Spitz’s Olympic Triumph: As previously mentioned, American swimmer Mark Spitz clinched his seventh gold medal at the Munich Olympics on this day, a feat that captivated sports fans worldwide and solidified his place in Olympic history.
1993 – Jim Abbott’s No-Hitter: New York Yankees pitcher Jim Abbott threw a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians on this day, an extraordinary achievement made even more remarkable because Abbott was born without a right hand, proving his incredible determination and skill.
Today in Military and Naval History
1862 – Confederate Invasion of Kentucky Begins: During the American Civil War, Confederate General Braxton Bragg began his invasion of Kentucky on this day, aiming to secure the border state for the Confederacy.
The campaign culminated in the Battle of Perryville, one of the war’s bloodiest encounters in the region.
1944 – Allied Liberation of Antwerp: During World War II, British forces liberated the Belgian port city of Antwerp on this day.
The capture of the port was vital for Allied supply lines, though the Germans continued to resist fiercely in the surrounding areas during the Battle of the Scheldt.
Today in Tech and Science History
1882 – First Commercial Power Plant Opens: Thomas Edison’s Pearl Street Station in New York City began operation on this day, becoming the first commercial electrical power plant in the United States.
It provided electricity to a small area of Manhattan, marking the dawn of the electric age.
1956 – IBM Introduces the First Hard Drive: IBM introduced the RAMAC 305, the first computer with a hard disk drive, on this day.
Weighing over a ton and storing just 5 megabytes of data, it revolutionized data storage and laid the foundation for modern computing.
1998 – Google Founded: Larry Page and Sergey Brin officially incorporated Google on this day in Menlo Park, California.
What began as a research project at Stanford University quickly grew into one of the most influential technology companies in the world.
Today in Art, Literature, and Culture
1907 – Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” Stolen: On this day, one of the iconic versions of Edvard Munch’s painting “The Scream” was stolen from a museum in Oslo, Norway.
It was later recovered, but the theft highlighted the cultural significance of the artwork, which remains a symbol of existential angst.
1957 – Little Rock Crisis Begins: The desegregation of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, faced violent opposition on this day when nine African American students attempted to enter the school under federal protection.
The event became a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, drawing national attention to racial inequality.
1985 – Discovery of the Titanic Wreckage: On this day, a team led by Robert Ballard located the wreckage of the RMS Titanic in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Though the discovery was initially announced on September 1, key documentation and footage were finalized on September 4, marking a significant cultural and historical milestone.
Funny & Weird Historical Facts
1888 – George Eastman Registers “Kodak”: On this day, George Eastman registered the trademark “Kodak” for his camera company.
Remarkably, the name “Kodak” was completely made up, chosen because Eastman liked the strong sound of the letter “K” and wanted a unique, memorable name.
1957 – The Edsel’s Odd Design: As mentioned earlier, Ford’s Edsel debuted on this day and became infamous for its bizarre grille design, often compared to a horse collar or worse.
The car’s odd look contributed to its status as one of the biggest flops in automotive history.
Today in History for Kids
1609 – Discovering Manhattan: Imagine sailing on a big ship and spotting a brand-new island!
On this day, explorer Henry Hudson saw Manhattan Island for the first time as a European.
This discovery helped people from other countries start living there, and now it’s part of busy New York City.
1781 – Starting Los Angeles: A long time ago, a small group of people decided to build a tiny town in California on this day.
They called it a funny, long name that meant “The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels.”
Today, we just call it Los Angeles, and it’s a huge city with movie stars and beaches!
1882 – Lights On with Electricity: Think about a world with no lights or gadgets.
On this day, Thomas Edison turned on the very first power plant in New York City.
It sent electricity to homes and businesses, making life brighter and easier for everyone.
1998 – Google Begins: Have you ever searched for something online?
On this day, two friends named Larry and Sergey started a company called Google.
It helps us find answers to almost anything on the internet, and now it’s used by people all over the world.
Today in History Trivia & Interesting Facts
Did You Know – First Power Plant Cost: When Thomas Edison opened the Pearl Street Station in 1882, it cost about $600,000 to build, a huge amount of money back then.
It powered just 400 lamps for 85 customers at first, but it changed the world forever.
Did You Know – Geronimo’s Final Years: After surrendering in 1886, Geronimo became somewhat of a celebrity.
He appeared at fairs and even rode in President Theodore Roosevelt’s inaugural parade in 1905, though he remained a prisoner of war until his death.
Did You Know – Google’s Garage Start: When Google was founded in 1998, Larry Page and Sergey Brin rented a garage in Menlo Park, California, as their first office.
That garage, owned by Susan Wojcicki (later a key Google executive), became a quirky piece of tech history.
Did You Know – Mark Spitz’s Mustache: During his 1972 Olympic run, Mark Spitz famously sported a mustache, which was unusual for swimmers at the time.
He jokingly claimed it helped him swim faster by deflecting water, adding a fun twist to his legendary performance.