✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 35th day of the year

February 4

A look at February 4 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Charles Lindbergh and Ludwig Erhard, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♒ZodiacAquarius ◈BirthstoneAmethyst ❀Birth flowerViolet
Advertisement 728 × 90 leaderboard

Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2004

    Facebook

    Facebook, a mainstream online social networking site, is founded by Mark Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin.

    Social networking service owned
  2. 1998

    February 1998 Afghanistan earthquake

    The 5.9 Mw Afghanistan earthquake shakes the Takhar Province with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (Very strong). With 2,323 killed, and 818 injured, damage is considered extreme.

    1998 earthquake centered in
  3. 1945

    World War II

    World War II: Santo Tomas Internment Camp is liberated from Japanese authority.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  4. 1938

    Adolf Hitler

    Adolf Hitler appoints himself as head of the Armed Forces High Command.

    Dictator of Germany from
  5. 1899

    Philippine–American War

    The Philippine–American War begins when four Filipino soldiers enter the "American Zone" in Manila, igniting the Battle of Manila.

    Armed Philippine-American conflict (1899–1902)
  6. 1801

    John Marshall

    John Marshall is sworn in as Chief Justice of the United States.

    Chief Justice of the
  7. 1797

    1797 Riobamba earthquake

    The Riobamba earthquake strikes Ecuador, causing up to 40,000 casualties.

    Deadly earthquake in central
  8. 1789

    George Washington

    George Washington is unanimously elected as the first President of the United States by the U.S. Electoral College.

    U.S. Founding Father, president
  9. 1169

    1169 Sicily earthquake

    A strong earthquake strikes the Ionian coast of Sicily, causing tens of thousands of injuries and deaths, especially in Catania.

    History
  10. 960

    Emperor Taizu of Song

    Zhao Kuangyin declares himself Emperor Taizu of Song, ending the Later Zhou and beginning the Song dynasty.

    Emperor of China from
Advertisement Responsive in-content unit

Famous birthday twins

Born on February 4

Charles Lindbergh

b. 1902

American pilot and explorer

Ludwig Erhard

b. 1897

German soldier and politician, second Chancellor of West Germany

Friedrich Ebert

b. 1871

German lawyer and politician, first President of Germany

Pirmin Zurbriggen

b. 1963

Swiss skier

Rosa Parks

b. 1913

American civil rights activist

Dan Quayle

b. 1947

American sergeant, lawyer, and politician, 44th Vice President of the United States

Pierre de Marivaux

b. 1688

French author and playwright

George A. Romero

b. 1940

American director and producer

Deaths

  • 2019Matti Nykänen, Finnish Olympic-winning ski jumper and singer
  • 1982Alex Harvey (musician), Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist
  • 1974Satyendra Nath Bose, Indian physicist, mathematician, and academic
  • 1928Hendrik Lorentz, Dutch physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
  • 1774Charles Marie de La Condamine, French mathematician and geographer
  • 211Septimius Severus, Roman emperor

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Andrew Corsini
  • —Christian feast day: Eduardo Francisco Pironio
  • —Christian feast day: Gilbert of Sempringham
  • —Christian feast day: John de Brito
  • —Christian feast day: Goldrofe of Arganil
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Rabanus Maurus
  • —Christian feast day: Rimbert
  • —Christian feast day: February 4 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

Born on this day?

Make your birthday card.

Drop in your birth year and we'll work out your exact age, the day of the week you were born, your Chinese zodiac, your generation, and the countdown to your next candle.