On 4 May in poetry and history
Poets born or who died on this date, plus historical events that happened on this day across history.
610 poets with calendar dates · 6,535 events with calendar dates in the catalogue
1 birthday · 3 death anniversaries · 8 world events on 4 May
Birthdays
Death anniversaries
World events on this day
-
Witwatersrand Gold Rush (Transvaal)
An Australian prospector, George Harrison, discovered gold on the Witwatersrand ridge, leading to the largest gold rush in history. The region's unique conglomerate reefs were the deepest and most extensive gold deposits ever found. This discovery transformed the agrarian Transvaal Republic into the industrial powerhouse of South Africa, attracting massive foreign investment and migrant labor.
-
BOAC opens transatlantic jet passenger service
In 1958 BOAC began transatlantic jet passenger service using the Comet 4. The route linked Europe and North America at a new speed and comfort level. It marked a decisive public opening of the jet age for long-distance travellers.
-
Haymarket Trial
In Chicago, eight anarchist labor organizers were tried for murder after a bomb was thrown at police during a rally at Haymarket Square, killing seven officers. No evidence connected any of the defendants to the bombing, but the trial was conducted in an atmosphere of hysteria with a hostile judge and jury. Four defendants were hanged, one committed suicide, and three were eventually pardoned by Governor John Peter Altgeld in 1893.
-
May Fourth Movement Transforms Chinese Culture
Student protests against Treaty of Versailles terms transferring German concessions in China to Japan sparked broader intellectual movement advocating science, democracy, and vernacular literature over classical Confucian traditions. The movement promoted baihua (vernacular Chinese) in writing, making literature accessible beyond educated elites while critiquing traditional family structures, gender roles, and hierarchical social relations that perpetuated peasant subordination.
-
Kent State Shootings
On May 4, 1970, the Kent State Shootings occurred when the Ohio National Guard opened fire on students protesting the Vietnam War, resulting in the deaths of four students. This tragic event sparked national outrage and became a symbol of the anti-war movement, highlighting the deep divisions in American society during the Vietnam War era. The shootings prompted widespread protests and discussions about civil rights and government accountability.
-
Haymarket Affair Bombing
The Haymarket Affair Bombing occurred in 1886 during a labor rally in Chicago, where a bomb was thrown at police, resulting in the deaths of several officers and civilians. This tragic event highlighted the tensions between labor movements advocating for workers' rights and law enforcement. The aftermath led to the controversial trials and executions of several anarchists, becoming a symbol of the struggle for labor rights and social justice.
-
The PEPCON Industrial Plant Explosion
A fire at the Pacific Engineering and Production Company (PEPCON) chemical plant in Henderson, Nevada, United States, caused a series of massive detonations of ammonium perchlorate, a powerful oxidizer used in rocket boosters. The explosions leveled the facility, caused widespread damage to the surrounding Las Vegas valley, killed two people, and created shockwaves that were recorded by local seismographs. The accident was captured on video, offering a rare study of industrial shock propagation.
-
Poem 'The May-Wine' Published in Springfield Daily Republican
On May 4, 1861, Emily Dickinson's poem 'The May-Wine' was published in the Springfield Daily Republican in Springfield, Massachusetts. The printed version differed significantly from the fascicle version, likely due to editorial changes made without Dickinson's consent.