On This Day in History – November 4

Major Events

1. 1677 – The future Mary II of England marries William of Orange, forming the royal union that would later lead to the Glorious Revolution.
2. 1842 – Abraham Lincoln marries Mary Todd in Springfield, Illinois.
3. 1879 – James Ritty patents the first mechanical cash register in Dayton, Ohio.
4. 1922 – British archaeologist Howard Carter discovers the entrance to the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings.
5. 1946 – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is established.
6. 1952 – Dwight D. Eisenhower is elected 34th President of the United States.
7. 1979 – Iranian militants seize the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 American hostages.
8. 1995 – Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin is assassinated at a peace rally in Tel Aviv.
9. 2008 – Barack Obama is elected as the first African American President of the United States.
10. 2010 – Scientists announce the discovery of a 30,000-year-old ice age plant successfully regenerated from frozen seeds.

Famous Birthdays

1. Will Rogers (1879–1935) – American humorist and social commentator.
2. Walter Cronkite (1916–2009) – Legendary American news anchor.
3. Art Carney (1918–2003) – American actor best known for The Honeymooners.
4. Doris Roberts (1925–2016) – American actress, Everybody Loves Raymond.
5. Laura Bush (born 1946) – Former First Lady of the United States.
6. Markie Post (1950–2021) – American actress, Night Court.
7. Ralph Macchio (born 1961) – American actor known for The Karate Kid.
8. Matthew McConaughey (born 1969) – American actor and producer.
9. Puff Daddy (Sean Combs) (born 1969) – American rapper, producer, and entrepreneur.
10. Kathy Griffin (born 1960) – American comedian and actress.

Notable Deaths

1. Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847) – German composer and pianist.
2. Wilfred Owen (1893–1918) – English war poet, killed in action a week before Armistice.
3. Yitzhak Rabin (1922–1995) – Israeli Prime Minister and Nobel laureate.
4. Shere Hite (1942–2020) – American sexologist and feminist author.
5. Andy Rooney (1919–2011) – American journalist and TV commentator.
6. Michael Crichton (1942–2008) – American novelist and creator of Jurassic Park.
7. Rene Lacoste (1904–1996) – French tennis player and clothing designer.
8. Solomon Burke (1940–2010) – American soul singer.

Holidays

• Unity Day (Russia) – Celebrates national unity after liberation from Polish occupation in 1612.
• Flag Day (Panama) – Honors the country’s independence and flag.
• National Candy Day (USA) – A day for indulging in sweet treats.

Fun Facts

1. Abraham Lincoln’s marriage in 1842 faced initial opposition from Mary Todd’s family.
2. Tutankhamun’s tomb discovery in 1922 sparked global fascination with Egyptology.
3. Obama’s 2008 victory drew record voter turnout across the United States.
4. November 4 marks both cultural and political milestones spanning centuries.