October 4 is a day that has seen many important events in history. It’s also the birthday of some very interesting people. In this article, we’ll learn about big things that happened on this day and about people who were born on October 4. From changes in calendars to famous speeches, from TV shows to world leaders, this day has many stories to tell.
Historical Events of October 4
1582: Last Julian calendar day in some countries
On October 4, 1582, something strange happened with the calendar. In some places like Spain, Portugal, and parts of Italy, this was the last day of an old calendar called the Julian calendar.
The Julian calendar was a bit wrong. It made the year slightly too long. Over many years, this small mistake added up. To fix this, a new calendar called the Gregorian calendar was made. It’s the calendar we use today.
To switch to the new calendar, they had to skip 10 days. So, after October 4, the next day was October 15! This was confusing for people at the time, but it helped make sure the calendar matched up better with the seasons.
1854: Abraham Lincoln’s speech at Illinois State Fair
On October 4, 1854, Abraham Lincoln gave an important speech at the Illinois State Fair. Lincoln was not president yet, but he was becoming an important leader.
In this speech, Lincoln talked about slavery. He didn’t like a new law that might let slavery spread to more parts of America. Lincoln thought slavery was wrong and shouldn’t be allowed in new areas.
This speech was important because it showed what Lincoln thought about big issues. It helped him become more famous and was a step towards him becoming president later.
1940: Hitler and Mussolini meet at Brenner Pass
On October 4, 1940, two important leaders met during World War II. Adolf Hitler, the leader of Nazi Germany, met with Benito Mussolini, the leader of Italy. They met at a place called Brenner Pass in the Alps mountains.
Hitler and Mussolini were allies in the war. They met to talk about their plans. They wanted to decide how to fight against countries like Britain and France.
This meeting was important in the history of World War II. It showed how Hitler and Mussolini were working together, which made the war harder for the countries fighting against them.
1990: Premiere of “Beverly Hills, 90210”
On October 4, 1990, a new TV show called “Beverly Hills, 90210” started in America. This show was about teenagers living in a rich area of California called Beverly Hills.
The show had many young actors who became famous, like Luke Perry, Jason Priestley, and Shannen Doherty. It talked about the problems and fun times of being a teenager.
“Beverly Hills, 90210” became very popular. It ran for 10 years and had a big impact on TV shows and pop culture. Many people copied the fashion and hairstyles from the show.
2011: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi listed as Global Terrorist
On October 4, 2011, the United States government did something important. They put a man named Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi on a list of very dangerous people called “Specially Designated Global Terrorists.”
Al-Baghdadi was the leader of a group called ISIL (also known as ISIS). This group did many bad things and hurt many people. The U.S. government offered a $10 million reward for information that could help catch al-Baghdadi.
This was part of a big effort to stop terrorism around the world. It showed how serious the U.S. was about finding people who led dangerous groups.
Famous Birthdays on October 4
Richard Cromwell (1626-1712)
Richard Cromwell was born on October 4, 1626. He became the leader of England for a short time, but it didn’t go well for him.
Richard’s father, Oliver Cromwell, had been a powerful leader in England. When Oliver died, Richard took over as “Lord Protector.” But Richard wasn’t as strong a leader as his father.
Richard only ruled for about 8 months before he had to step down. After that, England went back to having kings. Richard lived the rest of his life quietly, away from politics.
Here’s a brief biography of Richard Cromwell:
Fact | Information |
---|---|
Born | October 4, 1626 |
Birthplace | Huntingdon, England |
Died | July 12, 1712 |
Known for | Brief rule as Lord Protector of England |
Time in power | September 1658 – May 1659 |
Nickname | “Tumbledown Dick” |
Rutherford B. Hayes (1822-1893)
Rutherford B. Hayes was born on October 4, 1822. He became the 19th President of the United States.
Before becoming president, Hayes fought in the Civil War and was the governor of Ohio. He became president in 1877 after a very close and controversial election.
As president, Hayes tried to heal the country after the Civil War. He also fought against corruption in government. After being president, Hayes worked to improve education and help former slaves.
Here’s a brief biography of Rutherford B. Hayes:
Fact | Information |
---|---|
Born | October 4, 1822 |
Birthplace | Delaware, Ohio, USA |
Died | January 17, 1893 |
Known for | 19th U.S. President |
Time as President | 1877-1881 |
Political Party | Republican |
Buster Keaton (1895-1966)
Buster Keaton was born on October 4, 1895. He became one of the most famous actors in silent movies.
Keaton was known for doing his own stunts, which were often very dangerous. He could make people laugh without saying a word. Some of his famous movies are “The General” and “Steamboat Bill Jr.
Keaton’s movies are still watched and enjoyed today. Many people think he was one of the best comedians ever in movies.
Here’s a brief biography of Buster Keaton:
Fact | Information |
---|---|
Born | October 4, 1895 |
Birthplace | Piqua, Kansas, USA |
Died | February 1, 1966 |
Known for | Silent film actor and comedian |
Famous films | “The General,” “Steamboat Bill Jr.” |
Nickname | “The Great Stone Face” |
Charlton Heston (1923-2008)
Charlton Heston was born on October 4, 1923. He became a very famous actor in Hollywood.
Heston starred in many big movies. He played Moses in “The Ten Commandments” and won an Oscar for his role in “Ben-Hur.” He was also in science fiction movies like “Planet of the Apes.”
Later in life, Heston became known for his political views. He was the president of the National Rifle Association for five years.
Here’s a brief biography of Charlton Heston:
Fact | Information |
---|---|
Born | October 4, 1923 |
Birthplace | Wilmette, Illinois, USA |
Died | April 5, 2008 |
Known for | Actor in epic films |
Famous roles | Moses in “The Ten Commandments,” title role in “Ben-Hur” |
Awards | Academy Award for Best Actor (1959) |
Jackie Collins (1937-2015)
Jackie Collins was born on October 4, 1937. She became a very popular writer of romantic and exciting novels.
Collins wrote many books that sold millions of copies. Her stories often talked about rich and famous people in Hollywood. Some of her famous books are “Lucky” and “Hollywood Wives.”
Collins’ books were very popular and many were made into TV shows or movies. She helped make a new kind of romantic story that many people enjoyed reading.
Here’s a brief biography of Jackie Collins:
Fact | Information |
---|---|
Born | October 4, 1937 |
Birthplace | London, England |
Died | September 19, 2015 |
Known for | Novelist of Hollywood romances |
Famous books | “Lucky,” “Hollywood Wives” |
Books sold | Over 500 million copies worldwide |
Takeaway
October 4 has been a day of big events and important births throughout history. We’ve seen how it was a day when calendars changed, important speeches were made, and world leaders met during war. We’ve also learned about some very different people who were born on this day – from leaders and presidents to actors, comedians, and writers.
Each of these events and people has left a mark on our world. From Lincoln’s speech against slavery to the start of a famous TV show, from Keaton’s funny silent movies to Collins’ exciting books, October 4 has given us a lot to think about.
Learning about history helps us understand our world better. It shows us how things have changed over time and how the actions of people in the past still affect us today. So next time October 4 comes around, remember all these interesting events and people!
References:
- Duncan, D. (2009). Calendar: Humanity’s Epic Struggle to Determine a True and Accurate Year. Avon.
- Donald, D. H. (1995). Lincoln. Simon & Schuster.
- Kershaw, I. (2008). Hitler: A Biography. W. W. Norton & Company.
- McKinley, E. G. (1997). Beverly Hills, 90210: Television, Gender and Identity. University of Pennsylvania Press.
- Stern, J., & Berger, J. M. (2015). ISIS: The State of Terror. Ecco.
- Gaunt, P. (1996). Oliver Cromwell. Blackwell Publishers.
- Hoogenboom, A. (1995). Rutherford B. Hayes: Warrior and President. University Press of Kansas.
- Keaton, B., & Samuels, C. (1960). My Wonderful World of Slapstick. Doubleday.
- Raymond, E. (2006). Charlton Heston: Hollywood’s Last Icon. Applause Theatre & Cinema Books.
- Collins, J. (2017). Reform the Workplace. St. Martin’s Press.