|
March 4th
1152 - Frederick I Barbarossa was elected king of Germany in succession to his uncle Conrad III. He later became a crusader and opponent of the pope. 1461 - In the English Wars of the Roses, Edward of York took the English throne as Edward IV. 1678 - Born this day, Antonio Lucio Vivaldi, composer and violinist, was born in Venice. Best known for The Four Seasons (1725). 1681 - To satisfy a debt, King Charles II of England granted a royal charter, deed and governorship of Pennsylvania to William Penn. 1712 - In the last witchcraft trial in England, Jane Wenham was tried for talking to her cat, and for flying. 1747 - Born this day, Casimir Pulaski, Polish-born American patriot. 1756 - Born this day, Sir Henry Raeburn, artist. Died in 1823. 1789 - The first Congress under the Constitution met at New York, NY. The modern United States was established when the US Constitution formally replaced the Articles of Confederation. 1791 - Vermont became the 14th state of the USA on this date. The first addition to the 13 colonies. 1793 - George Washington was inaugurated in Philadelphia for a second term as president of the United States. He made the shortest inaugural address, at just 135 words. 1797 - John Adams, was inaugurated as the second president of the United States. He was the first president to receive the oath from the Chief Justice of the United States (Oliver Ellsworth). 1801 - Thomas Jefferson was inaugurated as the third president of the United States. He was the first to be inaugurated in the new capital of Washington and began the custom of writing to Congress to accept the inauguration and arrange the time for the ceremonies. He was also the first and probably only president to walk to and from his inaugural. The first newspaper extra of an inaugural address, was printed by the National Intelligencer. 1809 - James Madison was inaugurated as the fourth president of the United States. This was the first inaugural held in the Hall of the House and the first inaugural ball to be held on the day of the inauguration. The United States Marine Band set a precedent by playing for the inaugural ball. 1817 - James Monroe was inaugurated as the fifth president of the United States. He was the first president to take the oath out-of-doors in Washington. 1825 - John Q. Adams was inaugurated as the sixth president of the United States. He was the first president sworn in wearing long trousers. 1829 - Andrew Jackson was inaugurated as the seventh president of the United States. He was the first president to take the oath of office on the East Portico of the Capitol. The 'spoils system' was introduced by President Andrew Jackson when he appointed Simon Cameron as a reward for political assistance. Today, many people are spoiled by the system of political appointments for a variety of reasons - usually financial contributions. 1837 - Martin Van Buren was inaugurated as the eighth president of the United States. This was the first time that outgoing and incoming presidents (Jackson and Van Buren) rode together in a carriage to the Capitol for the inaugural. This inaugural also saw the first use of programs and the first use of floats in an inaugural parade. It was also the first time two inaugural balls were held. 1837 - William H. Harrison was inaugurated as the ninth president of the United States. He was the first president to arrive in Washington by railroad for his inaugural. He also holds the record for longest inaugural address at 10,000 words. He broke precedent by beginning his address, taking the oath, and then resuming his address. It was the first official planning of a parade to follow the inaugural at the Capitol. The parade or inaugural planning committee was appointed by the local political organisation of the party victorious in the national election. 1845 - James Knox Polk was inaugurated as the eleventh president of the United States. His was the first inaugural to be covered by telegraph and also the first known newspaper illustration of a presidential inauguration. (The Illustrated London News). 1853 - Franklin Pierce was inaugurated as the 14th president of the United States. He drove to and from the Capitol standing up in his carriage and affirmed (rather than swore) the oath of office. He broke precedent by not kissing the Bible, but merely placing his left hand on it. He was the first president to deliver his inaugural address without referring to notes. 1857 - James Buchanan was inaugurated as the 15th president of the United States. This was the first inaugural known to have been photographed. 1865 - Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as the 16th president of the United States and was the first time that African-Americans had participated in the inaugural parade. 1873 - (Hiram) Ulysses Simpson Grant was inaugurated as the 18th president of the United States. It was the first time that a congressional committee called for the president at the White House and escorted him to the Capitol and also the first time that the governors of the states were invited to participate in inaugural events. 1873 - The New York Daily Graphic became the world's first illustrated daily newspaper this day. 1876 - Born this day, Theodore Hardeen [Ferencz Deszo Weisz], magician, brother of Harry Houdini. Died in 1945. 1877 - Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake was first performed at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. 1880 - Halftone engraving was used for the first time as the Daily Graphic was published in New York City. 1881 - James Abram Garfield was inaugurated as the 20th president of the United States. It was the first time that a mother of the president attended the inaugural ceremonies. He ws the first president to review the procession from a stand in front of the White House. His mother, Eliza Ballou Garfield became the first mother of a US President to live in the executive mansion when she moved into the White House with her son. 1888 - Born this day, Knute Rockne, Notre Dame football coach, College Football Hall of Famer. Died in 1931. 1890 - In Scotland the Forth Bridge was opened by the Prince of Wales. The bridge, more than one mile long with the track 157 feet above the water, cost almost 3 million pounds to build, and was six years in the building. 1897 - William McKinley was inaugurated as the 25th president of the United States. It was the first inaugural recorded by movie camera and had a glass-enclosed reviewing stand in front of the White House. 1901 - William McKinley was sworn in for his second term of office. It was the first time that the House of Representatives was allowed to join with the Senate in making arrangements for the inaugural. 1901 - Born this day, Charles Goren, bridge card game expert. Died in 1991. 1905 - Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in as 26th president of the USA for a second term of office. It was the first time that telephones were installed on the Capitol Grounds for an inaugural. 1909 - Born this day, Harry Helmsley, businessman. Died in 1997. 1909 - William H. Taft was inaugurated as the 27th president of the United States. It was the first time that a president's wife rode with her husband in the procession from the Capitol to the White House and the first use of an automobile in an inaugural parade, although President Taft was not an occupant of it. The dome of the White House was also illuminated for the first time using temporary searchlights. 1912 - Suffragettes, walking in single file down Knightsbridge in London, smashed every window they passed in protest at government inaction on votes for women. 1913 - Born this day, John Garfield [Jacob Julius Garfinkle], actor. Died in 1952. 1913 - Woodrow Thomas Wilson was sworn in as the 28th president of the USA, only the second Democrat since the American Civil War, for a second term of office. He broke the precedent by taking the oath on a Sunday. It was the first time that the oath has been taken privately in the President's Room at the Capitol. Floodlights, as opposed to temporary searchlights, were used to illuminate the Capitol dome during an inaugural and women participated in the inaugural parade for the first time also. The traditional inaugural ball was suspended. 1917 - Born this day, Clyde McCullough, baseball. Died in 1982. 1917 - Jeanette Rankin, a Montana Republican, was sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives and became the first woman to serve in Congress. 1918 - Born this day, Margaret Osborne DuPont, tennis. 1921 - Born this day, Joan Greenwood, actress. Died in 1987. 1921 - Warren Gamaliel Harding was inaugurated as the 29th US president. He was the first president to ride to and from his inaugural in an automobile. It was also the first time loudspeakers were used at an inaugural. A steel-framed inaugural stand was put into use for the first time and used until 1981. 1923 - Born this day, Sir Patrick Moore, astronomer. 1924 - The words and music of the popular and universally known Happy Birthday To You were first published by Clayton F. Summer on this day. 1925 - Calvin Coolidge took the oath of office for a second term as the 30th president, in Washington DC. The presidential inauguration was broadcast on radio for the very first time and an ex-president (William Taft) administered the oath of office as Chief Justice. 1927 - Some 25,000 diggers participated in a rush to stake their claims in new diamond fields at Grasfontein, South Africa. When the authorities opened up the land for diamond mine claims, major companies hired trained athletes to get there first and stake claims for them. 1928 - Born this day, Alan Sillitoe, writer. 1929 - Herbert Hoover was inaugurated as the 31st US president. It was the first inaugural to be recorded by a talking newsreel. He affirmed, rather than swore, the oath. 1930 - 'The Redhead', Red Barber, began his radio career. Barber broadcast on WRUF at the University of Florida in Gainsville. He soon became one of the best known sports voices in America. 1930 - Emma Fahning became the first woman bowler to make a perfect score in competition sanctioned by the Women's International Bowling Congress in Buffalo, New York. 1932 - Born this day, Miriam Makebab [Zensile], singer. 1932 - A second ransom note was received by the Lindbergh family aftert he kidnapping of their son. 1933 - Frances Perkins became the first woman appointed as a cabinet member. She was made Secretary of Labor by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. 1933 - Franklin D. Roosevelt was sworn in as 32nd US president and the first to be elected for a third and fourth term. 1934 - Born this day, Barbara McNair, in Racine, Wisconsin, singer, TV hostess, actress. After appearing in Spencer's Mountain (1963) and Laugh-In (1968), she got her own musical/variety showcase, The Barbara McNair Show in 1969. It was cancelled in 1971. 1934 - Born this day, Jane Goodall, anthropologist. 1936 - Born this day, Jim Clark, British auto racer, Indianapolis 500 winner. Died in 1968. 1936 - Born this day, Eric Allandale, The Foundations, 1967 UK No.1 single Baby That I've Found You, 1969 US No.3 single Build Me Up A Buttercup. 1939 - Born this day, JoAnne Gunderson Carner, golf. 1939 - Born this day, Paula Prentiss [Ragusa], in San Antonio, Texas, actress. Her appearances in several 1960s comedies (Where the Boys Are in 1960, Man's Favorite Sport in 1964, What's New, Pussycat in 1965), paved the way for her starring roles in a dozen 1970s films. 1941 - A British naval raid on the German-occupied Lofoten Islands off Norway sank 11 German ships. 1941 - British troops, assisted by local Norwegians, raided the German occupied Lofoten Islands, destroying 11 ships. 1942 - Dick Jurgen's orchestra recorded One Dozen Roses on Okeh Records in Chicago. 1942 - Shirley Temple had a starring role in Junior Miss on CBS radio. The show, heard for the first time, cost $12,000 a week to produce and stayed on the airwaves until 1954. 1942 - The Stage Door Canteen opened on West 44th Street in New York City. The canteen became widely known as a service club for men in the armed forces and a much welcomed place to spend what would otherwise have been lonely hours. The USO, the United Service Organization, grew out of the 'canteen' operation, to provide entertainment for American troops around the world. 1943 - Actress Greer Garson's acceptance speech for the Best Actress Academy award for her role in Mrs. Miniver lasted 5½ minutes, an industry record. As the press poked fun at her talkativeness, the story became more and more exaggerated, and Garson's speech was "remembered" as being a tedious hour-long ordeal. It became an embarrassing Hollywood legend for the talented and elegant Irish actress. Following the incident, time deadlines for acceptance speeches were established by the Academy, which, more often than not, weren't observed by award winners. 1944 - Born this day, Bobby Womack, soul singer, session guitarist, songwriter. 1974 US No.10 single Lookin' For A Love, 1993 UK No.27 single with Lulu I'm Back For More. 1944 - Born this day, Michael Wilson, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, 1968 UK No.1 single Legend Of Xanadu. 1944 - Born this day, Mary Wilson, singer, formerly with the Supremes. 1946 - Born this day, Danny Frisella, baseball. 1946 - Born this day, Red Stripe, The Flying Pickets, 1983 UK No.1 single Only You. 1947 - The Two Mrs. Carrolls, a murder drama starring Humphrey Bogart as a psychopathic artist who paints his wives as Angels of Death then kills them, opened in theatres. The film also starred Barbara Stanwyck, Alexis Smith, and Nigel Bruce. 1948 - The Naked City, an innovative film noir crime drama set in New York City and starring Barry Fitzgerald as the detective in charge, opened in US theatres. The film's style has been copied countless times over the years, and later served as the basis of a popular TV series. 1948 - Born this day, Chris Squire, musician, bassist (Yes), and solo, 1983 UK No.28 and 1984 US No.1 single Owner Of A Lonely Heart. 1948 - Born this day, James Ellroy, novelist. 1948 - Born this day, Shakin' Stevens [Michael Barratt], singer, 1981 UK No.1 single This Old House plus 30 other UK top 40 singles. 1950 - Born this day, Ron Climie, hockey. 1950 - Walt Disney's Cinderella was released. It was the first full-length, animated, feature film in eight years from the man who brought us Mickey Mouse. 1950 - Born this day, Emilio Estefan, , percussionist, musician, producer, Miami Sound Machine, 1984 UK No.6 single Dr Beat, 1989 US No.1 single Don't Wanna Loose You. 1951 - Born this day, Chris Rea, singer, songwriter, musician, guitarist (Fool If You Think It's Over), 1989 UK No.10 single The Road To Hell. 1951 - Sir John Gielgud, starring as Hamlet, was heard on The US Steel Hour on the NBC Radio Network. 1952 - President Harry Truman dedicated the Courier, the first seagoing radio broadcasting station, in ceremonies in Washington, DC. 1952 - Nancy Davis and Ronald Reagan were married at Little Brown Church in the San Fernando Valley in California. 1953 - Born this day, Kay Lenz, actress. 1954 - Born this day, Catherine O'Hara, actress (SCTV). 1954 - Born this day, Adrian Zmed, actor. 1954 - Born this day, St Clair I. Palmer, Sweet Sensation, 1974 UK No.1 single with Sad Sweet Dreamer. 1955 - Born this day, Boon Gould, Level 42, 1986 UK No.3 and US No.12 single Lessons In Love and 19 other UK top 40 hits. 1955 - In London, The Burnham Committee recommended equal pay for women teachers. 1958 - The US atomic submarine Nautilus reached the North Pole by passing beneath the Arctic ice cap. 1959 - Born this day, Patricia Heaton, actress. 1961 - Born this day, [Ray] Boom Boom Mancini, middleweight boxer. 1961 - Born this day, Steven Weber, actor (Wings). 1962 - Malta became fully independent. 1963 - Six OAS members were sentenced to death for the assassination attempt on General Charles DeGaulle. 1963 - Born this day, Jason Newsted, bass, Metallica, 1991 UK No.5 single Enter Sandman. 1964 - The United Nations (UN) Security Council adopted a resolution to appoint a mediator and establish a UN peace-keeping force in Cyprus. 1965 - Born this day, Richard March, bass player, Pop Will Eat Itself, 1991 UK No.15 single X Y & Zee. 1966 - Born this day, Kevin Maurice Johnson, basketball. 1966 - Born this day, Patrick Hannan, drummer, The Sundays, 1997 UK No.15 single Summertime. 1966 - Beatles member John Lennon made his infamous remark during an interview with Maureen Cleave of The London Evening Standard that, The Beatles are probably bigger than Jesus right now. It resulted in some US states burning Beatles records. 1967 - Peggy Fleming won the world figure skating championships in Vienna, Austria. 1967 - Dedicated to the One I Love by the Mamas and the Papas entered the Billboard charts (it would eventually reach No.2). 1967 - The Rolling Stones went to No.1 on the US singles chart with Ruby Tuesday, the group's fourth US No.1 single. Let's Spend The Night Together was the original A side but after radio stations banned the song Ruby Tuesday became the A side. 1967 - Born this day, Evan Dando, singer, musician, guitar, The Lemonheads, 1993 UK No.14 single Into Your Arms. 1967 - North Sea gas was first piped ashore near Durham. 
1968 - Born this day, Patsy Kensit, actress, 1986 film Absolute Beginners, singer, Eighth Wonder, 1988 UK No.7 I'm Not Scared. Once married to Simple Minds singer Jim Kerr, married Oasis singer Liam Gallagher in 1997, now divorced. 1968 - Joe Frazier became World Heavyweight Boxing Champion (New York State Title). 1968 - Temptations members Eddie Kendricks and Otis Williams were involved in a car crash. They were taken to a Sommerset, Pennsylvania hospital for treatment. 1969 - Born this day, Chastity Bono, singer, daughter of Sonny & Cher. Cher gave birth to daughter Chastity, in Los Angeles, California. In the 1970s, cute blonde Chastity was brought out at the end of The Sonny & Cher Show as her parents sang I Got You Babe. 1970 - The French submarine Eurydice sank off the coast of Toulon. All 57 aboard died. 1970 - Janis Joplin was fined $200 for onstage obscenity by a Tampa, Florida judge. 1971 - Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau secretly married Margaret Sinclair. 1971 - Born this day, Feargal Lawlor, The Cranberries, 1994 UK No.14 single Linger. 1971 - Appearing at Newcastle City Hall, were The Rolling Stones supported by The Groundhogs. 1971 - The Rolling Stones announced that they were to become Britons first rock and roll tax exiles, residing in France. 1974 - People Magazine was officially launched. The cover featured a photo of Mia Farrow. 1974 - In Britain, Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath resigned and Labour's Harold Wilson became Prime Minister by forming a minority government after Tory Edward Heath was unable to form an alliance with the Liberals following a general election. 1975 - Actor Charlie Chaplin was knighted at Buckingham Palace. 1976 - Born this day, Peyton Manning, American football. 1976 - In Northern Ireland, the Ulster Convention was formally dissolved and Northern Ireland came under direct rule from London. 1976 - Hall and Oates recorded Rich Girl. 1977 - More than 1,570 people were killed in Romania by an earthquake which registered 7.2 on the Richter scale; 35,000 families were made homeless. 1977 - CBS released The Clash's self-titled first album, CBS in the US refused to release it until 1979. Americans bought 100,000 imported copies of The Clash, making it one of the biggest-selling import records of all time. 1977 - The Rolling Stones played the first of two nights at the El Mocambo, a small club in Toronto, Canada. While there, they recorded their Love You Live album. 1978 - The US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) carried out a dawn raid at the home of Jerry Lee Lewis and removed cars worth over £100,000 to pay of his tax debits. 1978 - Andy Gibb reached the top of the US music charts as (Love is) Thicker Than Water reached No.1 for a two-week stay, giving the Bee Gee's younger brother his second US No.1, it was not a hit in the UK. The Bee Gees also set a record as their single, How Deep Is Your Love, from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack stayed in the top 10 for an unprecedented 17 weeks. Gibb died on 10 March 1988, of an inflammatory heart virus in Oxford, England. He was 30 years old. 1979 - Randy Jackson of The Jackson Five was seriously injured in a car crash breaking both legs and almost died in the emergency room when a nurse inadvertently injected him with methadone. 1980 - Robert Mugabe became the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Rhodesian Governor Lord Soames invited former mission boy, teacher and Marxist revolutionary, Robert Mugabe, to form a government after his ZANU-PF party won a decisive election victory. He won 57 out of the 80 black seats in the country's 100-member assembly. 1981 - Died this day, E.Y. 'Yip' Harburg, lyricist, in an auto accident in Hollywood, California at the age of 82. Two of his most successful hits were Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz and It's Only a Paper Moon, popularised by Nat King Cole and many others. 1984 - The first inductees to the Television Academy of Arts and Sciences were announced. They included Lucille Ball, Milton Berle, Norman Lear, and Paddy Chayefsky. 1985 - The Pogues kicked off a 18 date UK tour at Leeds Univeristy. 1985 - Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care was published with Dr. Michael Rothenberg sharing authorship with Dr. Benjamin Spock, 'The Baby Doc'. It was the fifth edition of the book to be published. Thirty-million copies had been printed - second only to the Bible in the best seller category. 1986 - Died this day, songwriter Howard Greenfield, of a brian tumor aged 50. Co-wrote with Neil Sedaka, Calendar Girl, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, Crying In The Rain with Carole King. Also wrote TV theme songs theme to Bewitched. 1986 - Today debuted in London as England's newest, national, daily newspaper. It boasted a staff of 550 people, as compared with the 6,000 person staff over at the London Daily Express. 1986 - Writer and champion of women's rights, Ding Ling, died at the age of 82 in Beijing, China. 1987 - In a nationwide address, President Reagan acknowledged his administration swapped arms to Iran for US hostages and said, 'it was a mistake'. 1987 - Appearing at The Galway Leisureland, were Simply Red. 1989 - Debbie Gibson started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Lost In Your Eyes, her second US No.1, and a No.34 hit in the UK. 1989 - Five people died and more than 90 were injured when two trains collided outside Purley station in south London, Surrey. A Horsham to Victoria slow train hit a Littlehampton to Victoria train on the fast line. 1990 - President Lennox Sebe was ousted in a military coup in the South African homeland of Ciskei. 1990 - The shuttle Atlantis landed safely after depositing in orbit a secret military satellite that was later reported to have failed. 1991 - The first allied prisoners of war were released as Iraq began complying with the terms of the official United Nations (UN) cease-fire. 1991 - Coup leader Idriss Deby was sworn in as Chad's new president. 1991 - The Soviet parliament ratified a six-nation treaty, setting the legal seal on German unification after two years of revolutionary change in central Europe. 1991 - Miners in the two largest Soviet coalfields went on strike to support demands for the resignation of President Mikhail Gorbachev and for pay raises. 1991 - Crown Prince Sheikh Saad al-Abdulla al-Sabah became the first senior member of the Kuwaiti ruling family to return to the homeland liberated from Iraqi occupation. 1992 - Appearing at The Hummingbird, Birmingham, were Red Hot Chili Peppers. 1992 - A Virginia fertility specialist was convicted of fraud and perjury for using his own sperm in the artificial insemination of his patients. 1993 - A Muslim fundamentalist arrested in the World Trade Center bombing appeared in Manhattan federal court. 1993 - A $69 million class-action lawsuit was filed in San Francisco against the US government by 8,600 Amerasian children who claimed their US military fathers abandoned them in the Philippines. 1993 - A Virginia boy who sawed off his hand while earning $4 an hour sued his parents for $2 million for letting him use a circular saw. 1993 - Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown became parents when Whitney gave birth to a baby girl, Bobbi Kristina Houston Brown. 1994 - Kurt Cobain was rushed to hospital after overdosing on alcohol and drugs in a Rome Hotel during a tour of Italy. 1994 - Four Muslim fundamentalists were found guilty of the 1993 bombing of the landmark World Trade Center in New York. 1994 - Zulu chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi and white separatist Constand Viljoen signed up at the last moment to contest South Africa's multiracial elections. 1994 - Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, D-Maine, announced he would not seek re-election. 1996 - A Muslim suicide bomber killed 13 people and wounded 100, including children, outside a crowded Tel Aviv shopping mall. 1996 - Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon, better known to millions of country music fans as singer and comedienne Minnie Pearl, died of complications in Nashville, Tennessee following a stroke. She was 83 years old. In 1992, President George Bush awarded her a National Medal of Arts, and in 1994, she became the first woman ever inducted into the Comedy Hall of Fame. She was too ill to attend, and asked comedian George Lindsey to accept the award for her. 1997 - For the third time in as many years, the US Senate rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to require the federal government to balance its budget. 1997 - The Korean president named a new premier and replaced eight cabinet members in the wake of a scandal involving a steel company's alleged corrupt pressures on politicians. 1999 - A US Marine pilot whose plane had snapped a ski-lift cable high in Italy, killing 20 people, was acquitted of charges of involuntary homicide and manslaughter. 1999 - Born this day, Brooklyn Beckham, son of footballer David and wife Victoria. 1999 - Monica's Story, former White House intern Monica Lewinsky's take on her affair with President Clinton, hit bookshelves in America. 2001 - Shaggy went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with It Wasn't Me, it was also a No.1 in the US. 2001 - Died this day, Village People singer Glenn Hughes, of lung cancer. (Macho Man). (He was buried in his leather biker outfit). 2002 - Six people were feared dead after an American army helicopter was shot down over eastern Afghanistan. 2002 - After more than 40 people died violently in a week, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said he aimed to kill as many Palestinians as possible to force them to negotiate. US Secretary of State Collin Powell warned against such an approach and the Bush administration backed away from total support of Sharon's policy. 2002 - Died this day, Doreen Waddell, singer with Soul II Soul, was killed after attempting to run across the A27 in London after being caught shoplifting. 2003 - Russia warned it may use its veto to block a new United Nations (UN) resolution giving the green light for war against Iraq. |
Trivia
Trivia - petty details or considerations, matters or things that are very unimportant, inconsequential, or nonessential; trifles; trivialities.
Trivial - of very little importance or value; insignificant: "Don't bother me with trivial matters." Trivially - unimportant, nugatory, slight, immaterial, inconsequential, frivolous, trifling.