4
February
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February 4 in History
2008
The London Low Emission Zone (LEZ) scheme begins to operate in the UK.
2006
A stampede occurs in the ULTRA Stadium near Manila killing 71.
2004
Facebook, a mainstream online social network is founded by Mark Zuckerberg.
2003
The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is officially renamed to Serbia and Montenegro and adopts a new constitution.
2000
German extortionist Klaus-Peter Sabotta is jailed for life for attempted murder and extortion in connection with the sabotage of German railway lines.
1999
The ''New Carissa'' runs aground near Coos Bay, Oregon.
Unarmed West African immigrant Amadou Diallo is shot dead by four plainclothes New York City police officers on an unrelated stake-out, inflaming race-relations in the city.
1998
An earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter Scale in northeast Afghanistan kills more than 5,000.
1997
After at first contesting the results, Serbian President Slobodan Milošević recognizes opposition victories in the November 1996 elections.
En route to Lebanon, two Israeli Sikorsky CH-53 troop-transport helicopters collide in mid-air over northern Galilee, Israel killing 73.
1996
Major snowstorm paralyzes Midwestern United States, Milwaukee, Wisconsin ties all-time record low temperature at -26°F (-32.2°C)
1992
A Coup d'état is led by Hugo Chávez Frías, against Venezuelan President Carlos Andrés Pérez.
1980
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini names Abolhassan Banisadr as president of Iran.
1976
In Guatemala and Honduras an earthquake kills more than 22,000.
1975
Haicheng earthquake (magnitude 7.3 on the Richter scale) occurs in Haicheng, Liaoning, China.
1974
The Symbionese Liberation Army kidnaps Patty Hearst in Berkeley, California.
1969
Yasser Arafat takes over as chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
1967
Lunar Orbiter program: Lunar Orbiter 3 lifts off from Cape Canaveral's Launch Complex 13 on its mission to identify possible landing sites for the Surveyor and Apollo spacecraft.
1966
All Nippon Airways Boeing 727 jet plunges into Tokyo Bay, killing 133.
1948
Ceylon (later renamed Sri Lanka) becomes independent within the British Commonwealth.
1945
World War II: The Yalta Conference between the "Big Three" (Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin) opens at the Livadia Palace in the Crimea.
1941
The United Service Organization (USO) is created to entertain American troops.
1936
Radium becomes the first radioactive element to be made synthetically.
1932
Japan occupies Harbin, China.
1899
1861
American Civil War: In Montgomery, Alabama, delegates from six break-away U.S. states meet and form the Confederate States of America.
1859
The Codex Sinaiticus is discovered in Egypt.
1825
The Ohio Legislature authorizes the construction of the Ohio and Erie Canal and the Miami and Erie Canal.
1820
The Chilean Navy under the command of Lord Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald completes the 2 day long Capture of Valdivia with just 300 men and 2 ships.
1810
1801
1794
The French legislature abolishes slavery throughout all territories of the French Republic.
1789
George Washington is unanimously elected as the first President of the United States by the U.S. Electoral College.
1703
In Edo (now Tokyo), 46 of the Forty-seven Ronin commit seppuku (ritual suicide) as recompense for avenging their master's death.
1454
In the Thirteen Years' War, the Secret Council of the Prussian Confederation sends a formal act of disobedience to the Grand Master.
960
The coronation of Zhao Kuangyin as Emperor Taizu of Song, initiating the Song Dynasty period of China that would last more than three centuries.
211
Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies, leaving the Roman Empire in the hands of his two quarrelsome sons, Caracalla and Geta.