Do you know that one day in history can hide revolutions, tragedies, great discoveries and the birth of legends? May 4th is just such a day — dense from events that shaped the fate of nations and the whole world. If you are wondering what happened that day in history, you have a complete history calendar filled with facts that will surprise even history lovers. Stay with us until the end — It's worth it.
What happened on May 4th? Major events in history
1493 – Pope divides the world in half
Pope Alexander VI issued a bull by which he divided the lands of the New World between the two Iberian powers — Spain and Portugal. It is one of the most pregnant decisions in human history: it has set the directions of colonial expansion, influenced the fate of hundreds of millions of people over the centuries and decided on the linguistic shape of both Americas to this day. One document, one line on the map — And a changed world forever.
1776 – First colony declares independence from the British
When we think of American independence, we see 4 July 1776. Meanwhile, this day in history hides a surprising fact: it was on May 4, Rhode Island as the first of thirteen colonies officially declared independence from Britain — Good two months before the famous Declaration of Independence. A small state, a great gesture that announced the birth of a new power.
1904 – Rolls-Royce and Panama Canal — two big projects in one day
It is difficult to have a more symbolic coincidence in the historical calendar. On May 4, 1904, Charles Rolls and Henry Royce signed a contract in a Manchester hotel to start a car company that became synonymous with luxury and precision. — Rolls-Royce. On the same day, the United States resumed the construction of the Panama Canal, interrupted by the French after a series of disasters and bankruptcy. Both projects changed the world — One in a symbolic dimension, the other literally linked two oceans.
1929 – Audrey Hepburn is born
On that day one of the greatest icons of the 20th century was born — Audrey Hepburn. The actress who created immortal roles in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "Roman holidays", was also the UNICEF ambassador and a symbol of elegance that cannot be bought or forged. Her birthday May 4 is a good excuse to remind you that stars are not born every day — And she's been special since the first breath.
1970 – Shots on campus in Kent State
This is one of the darkest days in the history of the United States of the Cold War. On May 4, 1970, National Guard soldiers opened fire on students of the University of Kent, Ohio, protesting against the American invasion of Cambodia. Four students died, nine were injured. The photograph of the dying girl on the campus lawn revolved around the world and became one of the most shocking symbols of opposition to the Vietnam War.
1979 – Margaret Thatcher becomes Britain's first female prime minister
What happened that day in the history of politics? On May 4, 1979, the Conservative Party led by Margaret Thatcher won parliamentary elections, and she herself headed the British government as the first woman in this position in the history of the country. The "Iron Lady" ruled Britain with a hard hand for eleven years, leading an economic revolution that has sparked disputes to this day. Regardless of political evaluations, it was a breakthrough for the entire Western world.
2000 – ILOVEYOU virus attacks 10% of the internet in one day
Imagine opening an e-mail with "ILOVEYOU" and destroying files on your computer in seconds — And you start a chain of infections that in one day infects tens of millions of machines all over the world. This just happened on May 4, 2000. The Philippine computer virus ILOVEYOU attacked 10% of all computers connected to the Internet and caused losses estimated at $5.5 billion. He's still considered one of the most destructive cyber attacks in history.
1994 – Rabbi and Arafat sign historical agreement
On May 4, 1994, in Cairo, Israeli Prime Minister Icchak Rabin and OWP Chairman Jaser Arafat signed the agreement on the autonomy of Gaza and Jericho — the first concrete step on the road to the Middle East room, which seemed then realistically possible. This day in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was a moment of hope, although history showed how fragile its foundations were. A year later, Rabbi was killed by a Jewish extremist.
1981 – The premiere of the iconic "Misia" by Stanisław Barei
Polish accents on this day are equally strong. On May 4, 1981, a comedy "Miś" directed by Stanisław Barea entered cinema screens — The film, which became a mirror of absurd PRL reality and at the same time one of the most quoted Polish comedy of all time. The bear wasn't just a funny story about the bear smuggling. — It was a precise satire for a system that did not enjoy laughing. Today, more than forty years later, issues from this film still live in the Polish common language.
Born 4 May
Audrey Hepburn (1929) – American actress, style icon and elegance, Oscar winner, Golden Globe and Emmy Award, and involved UNICEF ambassador.
Margaret Thatcher (born 1925, Prime Minister since 4 May 1979) – the first woman to be Prime Minister of Great Britain, one of the most influential and controversial figures of the 20th century politics.
Hosni Mubarak (1928) – Egyptian military and politician, Egypt's president for thirty years, overthrown during the Arab Spring in 2011.
Beata Kozidrak (1960) – Polish singer, leader of the cult band Bajm, one of the most recognizable voices of the Polish music scene since the 1980s.
Cesc Fàbregas (1987) – Spanish footballer, world champion and Europe champion, for years recognized as one of the best helpers in the world.
World events
1886 – Bomb blast during the Chicago demonstration – during a working rally in Haymarket Square, an unknown perpetrator threw a bomb towards the police, resulting in twelve deaths, and this event became a symbol of the struggle for workers' rights.
1896 – The first edition of Daily Mail appears "The British newspaper, which has continuously shaped public opinion in the United Kingdom for over a hundred and twenty years, was first put into the hands of readers on 4 May.
1949 – Aviation crash destroys AC Torino team – the plane returning from Lisbon with the entire Grand Torino football team crashed on a hill near Turin, killing all thirty-one passengers and crew — It's one of the biggest tragedies in football history.
1982 – Argentina hits HMS Sheffield during the Falkland Islands War – Argentine Exocet missile struck the British HMS destroyer Sheffield, killing twenty sailors and showing the world the effectiveness of modern missile weapons in the armed conflict.
1990 – Latvia announces independence from the USSR – The Supreme Council of Latvia SRR accepted the declaration of restoring the independence of the Republic of Latvia, which was one of the landmark moments in the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
May 4 is a day that in its historical calendar houses revolutions and tragedies, the birth of stars and the fall of empires — From the division of the New World to the computer virus that paralyzed the Internet. History does not know boring days, and this one belongs to the exceptionally rich. Come back tomorrow because on May 5th there are equally fascinating stories — We guarantee it's worth it.
