Today in History: 4th February

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The fourth day of February has been mentioned in the Roman history in many occasions. The day is best known for the death of the Roam Emperor Septimius Sverus, in 211. The whole Roman Empire was left in the hands of the two quarrelsome sons Caracalla and Geta. The year 1508 saw a revolt of sorts, when Maximilian I assumed the imperial title on this day, without being crowned as the King.

February 4, 1657 is another very important date from the historical point of view. On this day, Oliver Cromwell had granted residency to Luis Caravajal. This day in the year 1699 also made its place in the history of Russia as on this day, 350 Streltsi rebels were executed, thus nearly ending the whole rebellion, at least for the time being.

February 4 is also remembered as the day when 46 Ronin had committed Seppuku or Ritual Suicide in Edo, which is now known as Tokyo. This event took place in 1703, and was a result of the recompense to avenge the death of their master. The British Garrison had surrendered to the French and Spanish fleet on this day, in the year 1782. This is one of the very rare occasions when the British Garrisons have surrendered to any other naval forces.

The first electoral college of the United States had elected George Washington as the President and Adams as the Vice President on this day, in 1789. This was the beginning of a new era in the history of that country. A high intensity earth quake had hit the city of Quito in Ecuador in February 4, 1797, in which more than 41,000 people had lost their lives. February 4 is also an important date when it comes to the history of development of telegraph system in the United States. In 1847, the first telegraph company was set up in Maryland in United States, on this day.

The University of Wisconsin is one of the well reputed universities of the world. But this university had a very humble beginning. The university had begun its journey from a single room and with just 20 students on this day, in 1849. A few years later, in 1855, February 4, a very tragic event took place in Venezuela. In the city of Coro, in Venezuela, soldiers had started shooting at the Jewish families living there. This resulted in the death of many Jews and many more were severely injured.

On this eventful day, in 1938, Adolf Hitler had taken charge of the German Army. This German army was instrumental, under the leadership of Hitler, in starting the World War II. In 1945, when the World War II was nearing its end, Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin had met in Crimea on this day. The three world leaders had discussed the scenario in the post World War II era.

An eminent Indian classical singer, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was born on February 4, 1922. Another eminent Indian personality, Satyendra Nath Bose, dies on this day, in 1974.