Home   On This Day   On this day in history - June 4

On this day in history - June 4

What Happened On This Day – June 4

  • 1989 Thousands die in the Tiananmen Square Massacre

    Using assault rifles and tanks, Chinese troops massacred unarmed civilians who had taken part in pro-democracy protests.

  • 1989 Poland holds the first free elections after World War II

    The landslide victory of the Polish trade union, “Solidarity”, marked the beginning of the Autumn of Nations, a wave of revolutions resulting in the fall of communism.

  • 1984 Bruce Springsteen releases Born in the U.S.A.

    The album was Springsteen's most successful. It featured hits like “Born in the U.S.A.”, “Dancing in the Dark”, and “I'm on Fire”.

  • 1917 The first Pulitzer Prize is awarded

    Every year, the prestigious award honors outstanding journalistic achievements. It was established with money bequeathed to Columbia University by publisher Joseph Pulitzer.

  • 1783 The Montgolfier brothers demonstrate the first hot air balloon

    The flight of the Montgolfière lasted only about 10 minutes, but it secured the French inventors a place in the history books.

Illustration of stork, signifying birth

Births On This Day,
June 4

  • 1985 Evan Lysacek

    American figure skater

  • 1975 Angelina Jolie

    American actress, director, producer, screenwriter

  • 1975 Russell Brand

    English comedian, actor, singer

  • 1915 Modibo Keïta

    Malian politician, 1st President of Mali

  • 1738 George III of the United Kingdom

Illustration of tombstone, signifying death

Deaths On This Day,
June 4

  • 2010 John Wooden

    American basketball player, coach

  • 1971 György Lukács

    Hungarian historian, philosopher

  • 1941 Wilhelm II, German Emperor

  • 1922 W. H. R. Rivers

    English anthropologist, neurologist, ethnologist, psychiatrist

  • 1798 Giacomo Casanova

    Italian explorer, author