April 4
April 4 is the 95th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 271 days remain until the year's end. It falls in spring (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Aries.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On April 4 the Sun's declination is approximately +5.6°. At this latitude the Sun is north of the celestial equator, giving the Northern Hemisphere longer days than nights.
For specific rise/set times at your location, see the U.S. Naval Observatory, or the NASA APOD archive for any imagery published on a April 4.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Independence Day — Senegal (1960)
- International Day for Mine Awareness (UN)
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
1581 — Sir Francis Drake completed his circumnavigation of the world and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I. ↗(445 years ago)more
Sir Francis Drake was an English explorer and privateer best known for making the second circumnavigation of the world in a single expedition between 1577 and 1580. He is also known for participating in the early English slaving voyages of his cousin, John Hawkins, and John Lovell.
1841 — U.S. President William Henry Harrison died of pneumonia after just 31 days in office. ↗(185 years ago)more
William Henry Harrison was the ninth president of the United States, serving from March to April 1841. He died 31 days into his term, making him the shortest serving president and the first one to die in office.
1949 — Twelve nations signed the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, D.C., creating NATO. ↗(77 years ago)more
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an intergovernmental military alliance between 32 member states—30 in Europe and two in North America. Founded in the aftermath of World War II, NATO was established with the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949.
1968 — Civil-rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. ↗(58 years ago)more
On April 4, 1968, at 6:01 p.m. CST, Martin Luther King Jr., an American civil rights activist, was fatally shot at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. He was rushed to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:05 p.m. at age 39.
Notable births
1928 — Maya Angelou, American writer and civil-rights activist. ↗(98 years ago)more
Maya Angelou was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.
1965 — Robert Downey Jr., American actor. ↗(61 years ago)more
Robert John Downey Jr. is an American actor. His films as a leading actor have grossed over $14.3 billion worldwide, making him one of the highest-grossing actors of all time. Downey was the highest-paid actor in the world annually from 2013 to 2015.
Notable deaths
1968 — Martin Luther King Jr. ↗(58 years ago)more
Martin Luther King Jr. was an American civil rights activist and Baptist minister who was a prominent leader of the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. He advanced civil rights for people of color in the United States through the use of nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience against Jim Crow laws and other forms of legal...
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (95) | 5 × 19 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (271) | 271 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 04042026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | +5.59° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 77 days |