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What Happened Today in History on February 4

Explore the historical events that shaped our world on February 4th. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.

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272 BCE, February 4

Death of Pyrrhus of Epirus, a skilled military leader known for the Pyrrhic victories.

1004 CE, February 4

King Sweyn I of Denmark reconquers England.

1317 CE, February 4

Pope John XXII issues the papal bull "Quia vir reprobus," condemning the teachings of Marsilius of Padua.

1408 CE, February 4

Death of Roman Catholic theologian and philosopher William of Ockham.

1488 CE, February 4

Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias, reaches the Cape of Good Hope and enters what would later became known as Mossel Bay, during his attempt to establish a sea route to India. He was the first European to sail around the southern tip of Africa. His trip had started in Lisbon, Portugal with a small fleet in July 1487.

1789 CE, February 4

The State electors under the Constitution unanimously elect George Washington, the first president of the United States by all 69 presidential electors who cast their votes. John Adams of Massachusetts, who received 34 votes, was elected vice president. More

1861 CE, February 4

Seven seceding states — South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas meet in Montgomery, Alabama, and create the Confederate Constitution, a document similar to the United States Constitution, but with greater stress on the autonomy of each state.

Jefferson Davis was named provisional president of the Confederacy until elections could be held. Four more States followed the secession path — Virginia (April 17, 1861), Arkansas (May 6, 1861), North Carolina (May 20, 1861), and Tennessee (June 8, 1861). These eleven states eventually formed the Confederate States of America. More

1945 CE, February 4

The Yalta Conference starts. Attended by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin to discuss post-World War II plans. The Yalta Conference took place in a Russian resort town in the Crimea from February 4–11, 1945, during World War Two. Important decisions were made regarding the future progress of the war and the postwar world. More

2004 CE, February 4

The social networking website Facebook is launched by Mark Zuckerberg and his college roommates under the name "TheFacebook" at thefacebook.com. The site allowed students to create profiles, upload photos, and connect with others based on shaered classes and interests. Over 1,200 students registered in the first day and a month later mor than half of Harvard’s undergraduates had signed up.