December 4 in History

Historical Events on December 4

1864 American Civil War: Sherman's March to the Sea: At Waynesboro, Georgia, forces under Union General Judson Kilpatrick prevent troops led by Confederate General Joseph Wheeler from interfering with Union General William T. Sherman's campaign destroying a wide swath of the South on his march to the Atlantic Ocean from Atlanta.

1867 Former Minnesota farmer Oliver Hudson Kelley founds the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry (better known today as the Grange).

1939 World War II: HMS Nelson is struck by a mine (laid by U-31) off the Scottish coast and is laid up for repairs until August 1940.

1943 World War II: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt closes down the Works Progress Administration, because of the high levels of wartime employment in the United States.

1954 The first Burger King is opened in Miami.

1967 Vietnam War: U.S. and South Vietnamese forces engage Viet Cong troops in the Mekong Delta.

1971 The Indian Navy attacks the Pakistan Navy and Karachi.

1979 The Hastie fire in Hull kills three schoolboys and eventually leads police to arrest Bruce George Peter Lee.

1984 Sri Lankan Civil War: Sri Lankan Army soldiers kill 107-150 civilians in Mannar.

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Famous Birthdays on December 4

AD 34 Persius

1575 The Nun of Monza

1580 Samuel Argall

1585 John Cotton (minister)

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Famous Deaths on December 4

1845 Gregor MacGregor

1975 Hannah Arendt

1976 Benjamin Britten

1993 Frank Zappa

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