On This Day: August 4

Updated August 3, 2012, 2:28 pm

On Aug. 4, 1914, Britain declared war on Germany while the United States proclaimed its neutrality.

Go to article »

On Aug. 4, 1901, Louis Armstrong, the influential American jazz trumpeter, was born. Following his death on July 6, 1971, his obituary appeared in The Times.

Go to obituary » | Other birthdays »

On This Date

By The Associated Press

1790 The Coast Guard had its beginnings as the Revenue Cutter Service.

1792 Poet Percy Bysshe Shelley was born in Field Place, England.

1830 Plans for the city of Chicago were laid out.

1892 Andrew and Abby Borden were axed to death in their home in Fall River, Mass. (Lizzie Borden, Andrew Borden’s daughter from a previous marriage, was accused of the killings, though she was later acquitted.)

1914 Britain declared war on Germany while the United States proclaimed its neutrality in World War I.

1964 The bodies of three missing civil rights workers were found buried in an earthen dam in Mississippi.

1977 President Jimmy Carter signed a measure establishing the Department of Energy.

1987 The Federal Communications Commission voted to rescind the Fairness Doctrine, which required radio and TV stations to present balanced coverage of controversial issues.

1994 Serb-dominated Yugoslavia withdrew its support for Bosnian Serbs, sealing the 300-mile border between Yugoslavia and Serb-held Bosnia.

2002 A Palestinian suicide bomber blew up a bus in northern Israel during rush hour, killing nine passengers.

2005 A mini-submarine carrying seven Russians became caught on an underwater antenna 600 feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean; the men were rescued three days later with help from a British vessel.

2007 Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants tied Hank Aaron’s 755 career home runs.

Current Birthdays

By The Associated Press

President Barack Obama turns 51 years old today.

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Actor Daniel Dae Kim (“Lost,” “Hawaii Five-O”) turns 44 years old today.

AP Photo/Dan Steinberg

1920 Helen Thomas, Journalist, turns 92

1944 Richard Belzer, Actor, comedian (“Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”), turns 68

1949 John Riggins, Football Hall of Famer, turns 63

1955 Alberto Gonzales, Former attorney general, turns 57

1955 Billy Bob Thornton, Actor, turns 57

1958 Kym Karath, Actress (“The Sound of Music”), turns 54

1962 Roger Clemens, Baseball player, turns 50

1965 Dennis Lehane, Author, turns 47

1969 Michael DeLuise, Actor, turns 43

1971 Jeff Gordon, Race car driver, turns 41

1985 Crystal Bowersox, Country singer (“American Idol”), turns 27

1992 Dylan Sprouse, Actor, turns 20

1992 Cole Sprouse, Actor, turns 20

Historic Birthdays

Louis Armstrong 8/4/1901 – 7/6/1971 American jazz trumpeter.Go to obituary »

40 Richard de Clare Gloucester 8/4/1222 – 7/15/1262
English nobleman

30 Percy Bysshe Shelley 8/4/1792 – 7/8/1822
English Romantic poet

90 Russell Sage 8/4/1816 – 7/22/1906
American financier

55 Walter Pater 8/4/1839 – 7/30/1894
British critic, essayist and humanist

70 Sir Pherozeshah Mehta 8/4/1845 – 11/5/1915
Indian politician and newspaper publisher

78 Sir Osbert Lancaster 8/4/1908 – 7/27/1986
English cartoonist, stage designer and writer

79 Glenn Cunningham 8/4/1909 – 3/10/1988
American champion middle-distance runner

82 William Schuman 8/4/1910 – 2/15/1992
American composer and educator

35 Raoul Wallenberg 8/4/1912 – 7/17/1947
Swedish businessman and diplomat; rescued thousands of Hungarian Jews during World War II

1790	The Coast Guard had its beginnings as the Revenue Cutter Service.
1792	Poet Percy Bysshe Shelley was born in Field Place, England.
1830	Plans for the city of Chicago were laid out.
1892	Andrew and Abby Borden were axed to death in their home in Fall River, Mass. (Lizzie Borden, Andrew Borden’s daughter from a previous marriage, was accused of the killings, though she was later acquitted.)
1914	Britain declared war on Germany while the United States proclaimed its neutrality in World War I.
1964	The bodies of three missing civil rights workers were found buried in an earthen dam in Mississippi.
1977	President Jimmy Carter signed a measure establishing the Department of Energy.
1987	The Federal Communications Commission voted to rescind the Fairness Doctrine, which required radio and TV stations to present balanced coverage of controversial issues.
1994	Serb-dominated Yugoslavia withdrew its support for Bosnian Serbs, sealing the 300-mile border between Yugoslavia and Serb-held Bosnia.
2002	A Palestinian suicide bomber blew up a bus in northern Israel during rush hour, killing nine passengers.
2005	A mini-submarine carrying seven Russians became caught on an underwater antenna 600 feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean; the men were rescued three days later with help from a British vessel.
2007	Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants tied Hank Aaron’s 755 career home runs.

1920	Helen Thomas, Journalist, turns 92
1944	Richard Belzer, Actor, comedian (“Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”), turns 68
1949	John Riggins, Football Hall of Famer, turns 63
1955	Alberto Gonzales, Former attorney general, turns 57
1955	Billy Bob Thornton, Actor, turns 57
1958	Kym Karath, Actress (“The Sound of Music”), turns 54
1962	Roger Clemens, Baseball player, turns 50
1965	Dennis Lehane, Author, turns 47
1969	Michael DeLuise, Actor, turns 43
1971	Jeff Gordon, Race car driver, turns 41
1985	Crystal Bowersox, Country singer (“American Idol”), turns 27
1992	Dylan Sprouse, Actor, turns 20
1992	Cole Sprouse, Actor, turns 20

40	Richard de Clare Gloucester 8/4/1222 – 7/15/1262 English nobleman
30	Percy Bysshe Shelley 8/4/1792 – 7/8/1822 English Romantic poet
90	Russell Sage 8/4/1816 – 7/22/1906 American financier
55	Walter Pater 8/4/1839 – 7/30/1894 British critic, essayist and humanist
70	Sir Pherozeshah Mehta 8/4/1845 – 11/5/1915 Indian politician and newspaper publisher
78	Sir Osbert Lancaster 8/4/1908 – 7/27/1986 English cartoonist, stage designer and writer
79	Glenn Cunningham 8/4/1909 – 3/10/1988 American champion middle-distance runner
82	William Schuman 8/4/1910 – 2/15/1992 American composer and educator
35	Raoul Wallenberg 8/4/1912 – 7/17/1947 Swedish businessman and diplomat; rescued thousands of Hungarian Jews during World War II