Discover the Historical Events and Famous People Born on October 4

Historical Events and Famous People Born on October 4

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

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

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:

  1. Duncan, D. (2009). Calendar: Humanity’s Epic Struggle to Determine a True and Accurate Year. Avon.
  2. Donald, D. H. (1995). Lincoln. Simon & Schuster.
  3. Kershaw, I. (2008). Hitler: A Biography. W. W. Norton & Company.
  4. McKinley, E. G. (1997). Beverly Hills, 90210: Television, Gender and Identity. University of Pennsylvania Press.
  5. Stern, J., & Berger, J. M. (2015). ISIS: The State of Terror. Ecco.
  6. Gaunt, P. (1996). Oliver Cromwell. Blackwell Publishers.
  7. Hoogenboom, A. (1995). Rutherford B. Hayes: Warrior and President. University Press of Kansas.
  8. Keaton, B., & Samuels, C. (1960). My Wonderful World of Slapstick. Doubleday.
  9. Raymond, E. (2006). Charlton Heston: Hollywood’s Last Icon. Applause Theatre & Cinema Books.
  10. Collins, J. (2017). Reform the Workplace. St. Martin’s Press.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Related Articles

Top Trending

A photo of a laptop on a wooden desk displaying a complex digital data visualization of a marketing channel network where green nodes indicate success and one highlighted red path visualizes the clear signs to fire a marketing channel that is underperforming. This image helps viewers grasp the data necessary for auditing channel viability.
Stop Wasting Ad Spend: 9 Signs to Fire a Marketing Channel
Diagram of main AEO tactics for AI citations showing schema markup, voice search, and AI performance metrics.
9 AEO Tactics That Earn AI Citations
Best AI tools for time management shown with AI powered scheduling, calendar, task tracking, reminders, and productivity icons on a digital workspace
10 Best AI Tools for Time Management in 2026
SaaS Exits
SaaS Exits Explained: The Acquisition Paths Founders Should Understand
Category Page SEO Tweaks That Can Lift Ranking, shown through ecommerce content, navigation, and product-page improvements.
8 Category Page SEO Tweaks That Can Lift Ranking

Technology & AI

Best AI tools for time management shown with AI powered scheduling, calendar, task tracking, reminders, and productivity icons on a digital workspace
10 Best AI Tools for Time Management in 2026
SaaS Exits
SaaS Exits Explained: The Acquisition Paths Founders Should Understand
Visual list of the 10 best AI tools for personal productivity and workflow automation, including ChatGPT and Notion AI logos.
10 Best AI Tools for Personal Productivity
Multi-tenant database architecture saas
Multi-Tenant Database Architecture for SaaS: 10 Best Database Options
Cloud migration mistakes illustrated by data moving from legacy servers through a bottleneck into cloud infrastructure, helping SaaS teams recognize migration risks.
Stop Your Cloud Project: 12 Cloud Migration Mistakes SaaS Teams Regret

GAMING

Complete Guide on Game Programgeeks
Game Programgeeks: A Complete Guide on PC, Game Dev, and Tech
Online Color Game Philippines
Online Color Game Philippines: What Every Beginner Should Know Before Playing
Ways to Reduce Game Development Costs
12 Ways Studios Cut Game Development Costs
NFT game development cost
How Much Does NFT Game Development Cost? A Realistic Budget Breakdown
Reasons Why You No Longer Need the Best Roblox AI Scripter
Forget Best Roblox AI Scripter: 10 Reasons Why You No Longer Need It

Business & Marketing

A photo of a laptop on a wooden desk displaying a complex digital data visualization of a marketing channel network where green nodes indicate success and one highlighted red path visualizes the clear signs to fire a marketing channel that is underperforming. This image helps viewers grasp the data necessary for auditing channel viability.
Stop Wasting Ad Spend: 9 Signs to Fire a Marketing Channel
AI marketing profitability illustrated by balancing faster campaign production against editing time, software costs, and revisions.
AI Marketing Profitability: The Hidden Costs Crushing Agency Margins
Why Long-Term AI Data Center Investment Matters Now
Why Driving Long-Term Investment in AI Data Center Infrastructure Is Front and Center Today
cut company saas spend
How to Cut Company SaaS Spend: 10 Proven Tactics
Best Communities for SaaS Founders
12 Best Communities for SaaS Founders to Find Mentors and Peers

EdTech & E-Learning

AI in University Assessments
How Universities Are Redesigning Assessment for the AI Era
Selecting edtech tools through a structured review of learning value, privacy, usability, integration, and cost.
Selecting EdTech Tools: 7 Questions School Leaders Must Ask Before Buying
Alphabet Recognition and Why It Matters
What Is Alphabet Recognition and Why Does It Matter
Assistive Technology for Diverse Learners
How Assistive Technology Supports Diverse Learners
VR and AR in Classrooms
How VR and AR Are Actually Being Used in Classrooms Today

Software & Apps

Best AI tools for time management shown with AI powered scheduling, calendar, task tracking, reminders, and productivity icons on a digital workspace
10 Best AI Tools for Time Management in 2026
Visual list of the 10 best AI tools for personal productivity and workflow automation, including ChatGPT and Notion AI logos.
10 Best AI Tools for Personal Productivity
SaaS ideas for niche communities shown as one platform serving pharmacy, logistics, veterinary, farming, audio, and offshore professionals to help founders visualize specialized markets.
How to Build Micro-SaaS: 10 SaaS Ideas for Niche Communities
ImagineLab Art vs Krater AI
ImagineLab.art Vs Krater.ai: Which Unified AI Platform Wins in 2026
How to Sell SaaS to Enterprises as a Small Team
How to Sell SaaS to Enterprises as a Small Team