✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 63rd day of the year

March 4

A look at March 4 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Blanche of Castile and Antonio Vivaldi, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♓ZodiacPisces ◈BirthstoneAquamarine ❀Birth flowerDaffodil
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 1941

    World War II

    World War II: The United Kingdom launches Operation Claymore on the Lofoten Islands, the first large-scale British Commando raid.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  2. 1899

    Cyclone Mahina

    Cyclone Mahina sweeps in north of Cooktown, Queensland, with a 12 metres (39 ft) wave that reaches up to 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) inland, killing over 300.

    Australian region cyclone in
  3. 1890

    Forth Bridge

    The longest bridge in Great Britain, the Forth Bridge in Scotland, measuring 8,094 feet (2,467 m) long, is opened by the Duke of Rothesay, later King Edward VII.

    Railway bridge over the
  4. 1848

    Charles Albert of Sardinia

    Carlo Alberto di Savoia signs the Statuto Albertino that will later represent the first constitution of the Regno d'Italia.

    King of Sardinia from
  5. 1837

    Chicago

    The city of Chicago is incorporated.

    Most populous city in
  6. 1776

    American Revolutionary War

    American Revolutionary War: The Continental Army fortifies Dorchester Heights with cannon, leading the British troops to abandon the Siege of Boston.

    1775–1783 conflict in North
  7. 1773

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart departs Italy after the last of his three tours there.

    Composer and musician (1756–1791)
  8. 1675

    John Flamsteed

    John Flamsteed is appointed the first Astronomer Royal of England.

    English astronomer (1646–1719)
  9. 1665

    Charles II of England

    English King Charles II declares war on the Netherlands, marking the start of the Second Anglo-Dutch War.

    King of England, Scotland,
  10. 1461

    Wars of the Roses

    Wars of the Roses in England: Lancastrian King Henry VI is deposed by his House of York cousin, who then becomes King Edward IV.

    Series of civil wars
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Famous birthday twins

Born on March 4

Blanche of Castile

b. 1188

French queen consort

Antonio Vivaldi

b. 1678

Italian violinist and composer

Jim Clark

b. 1936

Scottish racing driver

Alpha Condé

b. 1938

Guinean politician, President of Guinea

Andrea Bowen

b. 1990

American actress

Paul Mauriat

b. 1925

French conductor and composer

Margaret Osborne duPont

b. 1918

American tennis player

Dick Savitt

b. 1927

American tennis player and businessman

Deaths

  • 2020Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, Peruvian politician and diplomat
  • 2008Gary Gygax, American game designer, co-created Dungeons & Dragons
  • 1949Clarence Kingsbury, English cyclist
  • 1852Nikolai Gogol, Ukrainian-Russian short story writer, novelist, and playwright
  • 1832Jean-François Champollion, French philologist and scholar
  • 1193Saladin, founder of the Ayyubid Sultanate

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Adrian of Nicomedia
  • —Christian feast day: Casimir
  • —Christian feast day: Felix of Rhuys
  • —Christian feast day: Giovanni Antonio Farina (Catholic Church)
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Humbert III, Count of Savoy (Roman Catholic Church)
  • —Christian feast day: Paul Cuffee (Episcopal Church)
  • —Christian feast day: Peter of Pappacarbone
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Placide Viel

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