From the archives
Classic headlineMan Struck by Lightning Faces Battery Charge
Source: Classic headline (CJR 'Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim' collections)View clipping source
Tuesday 13 October 2026
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- Man Struck by Lightning Faces Battery ChargeHall of Fame◆
- 1887FATHER RIORDAN'S NEW PARISH.The New York Times◆
- 2019Bad Banks review: a gripping tale of financial collapse worth investing inThe Guardian◆
- 2014George W Bush's portraits of world leaders: art that tells us nothing at allThe Guardian◆
- 1841William Henry Harrison became the first U.S. president to die in office, sparking a brief constitutional crisis regarding questions of presidential succession that were unanswered by the U.S. Constitution.Wikipedia◆
- 1887Argonia, Kansas elects Susanna M. Salter as the first female mayor in the United States.Wikipedia◆
- 1866Alexander II of Russia narrowly escapes an assassination attempt by Dmitry Karakozov in the city of Saint Petersburg.Wikipedia◆
- 1814Napoleon abdicates (conditionally) for the first time and names his son Napoleon II as Emperor of the French, followed by unconditional abdication two days later.Wikipedia◆
- 1796Georges Cuvier delivers the first paleontological lecture.Wikipedia◆
- 1973A C-141, dubbed the Hanoi Taxi, flew the last mission of Operation Homecoming to return American prisoners of war from Vietnam.Wikipedia◆
- 1873The Kennel Club, the world's oldest kennel club, was founded in the United Kingdom after Sewallis Shirley became frustrated by trying to organise dog shows without a consistent set of rules.Wikipedia◆
- 1996Comet Hyakutake is imaged by the USA Asteroid Orbiter Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous.Wikipedia◆
- 1973A Lockheed C-141 Starlifter, dubbed the Hanoi Taxi, makes the last flight of Operation Homecoming.Wikipedia◆
- 1969Dr. Denton Cooley implants the first temporary artificial heart.Wikipedia◆
- Man Struck by Lightning Faces Battery ChargeHall of Fame◆
- 1887FATHER RIORDAN'S NEW PARISH.The New York Times◆
- 2019Bad Banks review: a gripping tale of financial collapse worth investing inThe Guardian◆
- 2014George W Bush's portraits of world leaders: art that tells us nothing at allThe Guardian◆
- 1841William Henry Harrison became the first U.S. president to die in office, sparking a brief constitutional crisis regarding questions of presidential succession that were unanswered by the U.S. Constitution.Wikipedia◆
- 1887Argonia, Kansas elects Susanna M. Salter as the first female mayor in the United States.Wikipedia◆
- 1866Alexander II of Russia narrowly escapes an assassination attempt by Dmitry Karakozov in the city of Saint Petersburg.Wikipedia◆
- 1814Napoleon abdicates (conditionally) for the first time and names his son Napoleon II as Emperor of the French, followed by unconditional abdication two days later.Wikipedia◆
- 1796Georges Cuvier delivers the first paleontological lecture.Wikipedia◆
- 1973A C-141, dubbed the Hanoi Taxi, flew the last mission of Operation Homecoming to return American prisoners of war from Vietnam.Wikipedia◆
- 1873The Kennel Club, the world's oldest kennel club, was founded in the United Kingdom after Sewallis Shirley became frustrated by trying to organise dog shows without a consistent set of rules.Wikipedia◆
- 1996Comet Hyakutake is imaged by the USA Asteroid Orbiter Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous.Wikipedia◆
- 1973A Lockheed C-141 Starlifter, dubbed the Hanoi Taxi, makes the last flight of Operation Homecoming.Wikipedia◆
- 1969Dr. Denton Cooley implants the first temporary artificial heart.Wikipedia◆
Birthday twins
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Heath Ledger1979
4 April in history
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What happened on this day · Odd history for today
Vintage News — April 4
1841 First everWilliam Henry Harrison became the first U.S. president to die in office, sparking a brief constitutional crisis regarding questions of presidential succession that were unanswered by the U.S. Constitution.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1887 First everArgonia, Kansas elects Susanna M. Salter as the first female mayor in the United States.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1866 Oddly trueAlexander II of Russia narrowly escapes an assassination attempt by Dmitry Karakozov in the city of Saint Petersburg.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1814 First everNapoleon abdicates (conditionally) for the first time and names his son Napoleon II as Emperor of the French, followed by unconditional abdication two days later.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1796 First everGeorges Cuvier delivers the first paleontological lecture.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
From The Guardian Archives — On This Day
2019The GuardianBad Banks review: a gripping tale of financial collapse worth investing inThe money talk is baffling, and it’s hard to care about bankers – but this dark and murky world quickly sucks you in
Read on The Guardian →
2014The GuardianGeorge W Bush's portraits of world leaders: art that tells us nothing at allJason Farago: Presidential library in Dallas exhibits two dozen portraits that are vacant, stubborn and servile – pre…
Read on The Guardian →- 1887The New York TimesFATHER RIORDAN'S NEW PARISH.
The Rev. Father John Joseph Riordan, who for many years has been the guardian angel of immigrants landed at Castle Ga…
Read on NYTimes.com →
Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform · Historic front pages via the NYT Archive API
Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Thumbnails CC BY-SA. Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform and the NYT Archive API. Historic pages via Library of Congress Chronicling America. Curated by OddlyTrue.
Strange but true headlines of the day
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Did you guess the year?
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When was “William Henry Harrison became the first U.S. president to die in office, sparking a brief constitutional crisis regarding questions of presidential succession that were unanswered by the U.S. Constitution.” happening? Slide to your guess.
1950
Weird history, same day
- ???? First ever
William Henry Harrison became the first U.S. president to die in office, sparking a brief constitutional crisis regarding questions of presidential succession that were unanswered by the U.S. Constitution.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1887 First ever
Argonia, Kansas elects Susanna M. Salter as the first female mayor in the United States.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1866 Oddly true
Alexander II of Russia narrowly escapes an assassination attempt by Dmitry Karakozov in the city of Saint Petersburg.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hall of Fame headlines are manually verified clippings (source linked); nothing is scraped from Newspapers.com. Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Clippings from the Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers site.
Pick another date or enter your birthday (day + month only)
Viewing 4 April — today is 13 October.
Born on this day
1
1979Birth
Heath Ledger born
Heath Ledger, actor, was born on this day in 1979. Acclaimed performances, including the Joker in The Dark Knight.
Died on this day
17 in the archiveFive infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →
Assassinated
1980Death
John Lennon dies
John Lennon, musician, died on this day in 1980. Assassinated in New York City. Remembered as: Co-lead vocalist and founder of The Beatles.
Accident
2012Death
Whitney Houston dies
Whitney Houston, singer and actress, died on this day in 2012. Accidental drowning. Remembered as: One of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Accident
1997Death
Diana, Princess of Wales dies
Diana, Princess of Wales, member of british royal family, died on this day in 1997. Car crash in Paris. Remembered as: Global humanitarian and celebrated royal figure.
Assassinated
44 BCDeath
Julius Caesar dies
Julius Caesar, roman general/statesman, died on this day in 44 BC. Assassinated by Roman senators. Remembered as: Critical role in the demise of the Roman Republic.
Assassinated
1948Death
Mahatma Gandhi dies
Mahatma Gandhi, political ethicist, died on this day in 1948. Assassinated. Remembered as: Leader of the Indian independence movement.
Famous birthdays
2 this weekToday · 4 April
- Heath LedgerAustralian actor (1979–2008)Born 1979 · 47 years ago today
Coming up this week
Sigmund FreudAustrian neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis (1856–1939)7 April · born 1856
Day of Recognition4 April
International Day for Mine Awareness
Highlights the ongoing threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war in affected nations.
Music · No.1 on this day
What was topping the charts
The official No.1 singles and albums in the UK and the USA on this date, decade by decade.
2016 10 yrs ago
2006 20 yrs ago
1996 30 yrs ago
1986 40 yrs ago
1976 50 yrs ago
1966 60 yrs ago
1956 70 yrs ago
Sport on this day
0Finals, medals and records decided on 4 April.
No recorded sporting finals on this date yet.
Sporting almanac
Who was champion, 10, 25 and 50 years ago
World Cups, Olympics, Wimbledon, the Masters, Super Bowl and more — year by year since 1877.
2016 10 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Rio
- WimbledonAndy Murray and Serena Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlDenver Broncos win Super Bowl 50
- Tour de FranceChris Froome wins the Tour de France
- The MastersDanny Willett wins the Masters
- World SeriesChicago Cubs win the World Series
2001 25 yrs ago
- WimbledonGoran Ivanisevic and Venus Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlBaltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV
- The MastersTiger Woods wins the Masters
- World SeriesArizona Diamondbacks win the World Series
- NBA FinalsLos Angeles Lakers win the NBA Finals
- Stanley CupColorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup
1976 50 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Montreal
- Olympic GamesWinter Olympics in Innsbruck
- WimbledonBjorn Borg and Chris Evert win Wimbledon
- Super BowlPittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl X
- Tour de FranceLucien Van Impe wins the Tour de France
- The MastersRaymond Floyd wins the Masters
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