On This Day in History – September 4

September 4 has been a remarkable date in global history—marking beginnings, discoveries, and bold declarations. From scientific breakthroughs to pivotal political events, the day captures a rich cross-section of human achievement.

Major Events

• 476 – Fall of the Western Roman Empire Romulus Augustulus, the last Western Roman Emperor, is deposed by Germanic leader Odoacer, marking the traditional end of the Western Roman Empire.
• 1781 – Los Angeles Founded El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles, now known as Los Angeles, is founded by Spanish settlers in California.
• 1886 – Geronimo Surrenders The Apache leader Geronimo surrenders to U.S. forces, effectively ending the Indian Wars in the American Southwest.
• 1951 – First Transcontinental Television Broadcast President Harry Truman’s speech at the Japanese Peace Treaty Conference in San Francisco is broadcast live coast to coast in the U.S.
• 1957 – Arkansas Integration Crisis Begins Nine African-American students are blocked from entering Little Rock Central High School by the Arkansas National Guard, igniting a national civil rights confrontation.
• 1998 – Google Founded Larry Page and Sergey Brin officially incorporate Google in Menlo Park, California, changing the course of the internet forever.
• 2010 – Christchurch Earthquake Hits New Zealand A magnitude 7.1 earthquake strikes near Christchurch, causing widespread damage but no fatalities.

Famous Birthdays

• Beyoncé Knowles (1981) – American singer, actress, and businesswoman, former lead singer of Destiny’s Child.
• Mark Ronson (1975) – English-American musician and producer, known for hits like “Uptown Funk.”
• Mitzi Gaynor (1931) – American actress and singer, best known for South Pacific.
• Max Delbrück (1906–1981) – German-American biophysicist and Nobel Laureate.
• Anton Bruckner (1824–1896) – Austrian composer known for his symphonies and sacred music.
• Tom Watson (1949) – American professional golfer, multiple-time major champion.
• Damon Wayans (1960) – American comedian, actor, and writer, part of the Wayans entertainment family.
• Whitney Cummings (1982) – American comedian, writer, and actress.

Notable Deaths

• Steve Irwin (2006) – Australian wildlife expert and TV host, born in 1962, fatally injured by a stingray while filming a documentary.
• Albert Schweitzer (1965) – German theologian, organist, and Nobel Peace Prize-winning missionary physician, born in 1875.
• Hans Albrecht Bethe (2005) – German-American physicist and Nobel Laureate, born in 1906.
• Harold Wilson (1995) – British Prime Minister (1964–70, 1974–76), born in 1916.
• Donn F. Eisele (1987) – American astronaut, part of Apollo 7, born in 1930.

Holidays

• World Sexual Health Day Promoted by the World Association for Sexual Health to encourage open conversations about sexual rights and health worldwide.
• Newspaper Carrier Day (U.S.) Celebrated in honor of Barney Flaherty, the first newspaper carrier hired in 1833 by Benjamin Day of the New York Sun.
• Immigrants’ Day (Argentina) A day that acknowledges and honors the contributions of immigrants to Argentina’s development and cultural fabric.

Fun Facts

• Google, now one of the most valuable tech companies globally, began as a garage startup on this date in 1998.
• The founding of Los Angeles involved just 44 settlers of diverse backgrounds, including Spanish, Indigenous, and African ancestry.
• Steve Irwin’s passing in 2006 shocked the world, and tributes continue every September 4 from fans and conservationists alike.
• Transcontinental TV broadcasts began on this date in 1951, forever changing how Americans received news and entertainment.