March 4 in History
March 4 is the birthday of Miyako (actress) (2007) and the anniversary of the death of Roy Ayers (2025). Below are famous birthdays, deaths, events for March 4, plus editor's picks and genealogy records.
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Liu Zhiyuan, founder of the Later Han Dynasty was born in 895, while Adrian and Natalia of Nicomedia, Christian martyrs died in 306.
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Famous people born on March 4
Famous people who died on March 4
2025
Joe Nickell (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
American skeptic and paranormal investigator (1944–2025)
2020
Javier Pérez de Cuéllar (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Peruvian diplomat and politician (1920–2020)
2015
Ray Hatton (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
English educator, author and long-distance runner (1932–2015)
2011
Krishna Prasad Bhattarai (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Nepalese revolutionary, politician, journalist, and novelist (1923–2011)
2011
Arjun Singh (Congress politician) (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Politician from Madhya Pradesh, India
What happened on March 4
- 2020
Nik Wallenda becomes the first person to walk over the Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2018
Former MI6 spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter are poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent in Salisbury, England, causing a diplomatic uproar that results in mass-expulsions of diplomats from all countries involved.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2015
At least 34 miners die in a suspected gas explosion at the Zasyadko coal mine in the rebel-held Donetsk region of Ukraine.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2012
A series of explosions is reported at a munitions dump in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo, killing at least 250 people.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2009
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issues an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. Al-Bashir is the first sitting head of state to be indicted by the ICC since its establishment in 2002.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2002
Afghanistan: Seven American Special Operations Forces soldiers and 200 Al-Qaeda Fighters are killed as American forces attempt to infiltrate the Shah-i-Kot Valley on a low-flying helicopter reconnaissance mission.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2001
BBC bombing: A massive car bomb explodes in front of the BBC Television Centre in London, seriously injuring one person; the attack was attributed to the Real IRA.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1998
Gay rights: Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc.: The Supreme Court of the United States rules that federal laws banning on-the-job sexual harassment also apply when both parties are the same sex.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1996
A derailed train in Weyauwega, Wisconsin (USA) causes the emergency evacuation of 2,300 people for 16 days.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1994
Space Shuttle program: The Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on STS-62.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1990
American basketball player Hank Gathers dies after collapsing during the semifinals of a West Coast Conference tournament game.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1990
Lennox Sebe, President for life of the South African Bantustan of Ciskei, is ousted from power in a bloodless military coup led by Brigadier Oupa Gqozo.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1986
The Soviet Vega 1 begins returning images of Halley's Comet and the first images of its nucleus.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1985
The Food and Drug Administration approves a blood test for HIV infection, used since then for screening all blood donations in the United States.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1980
Nationalist leader Robert Mugabe wins a sweeping election victory to become Zimbabwe's first black prime minister.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab)
Births, deaths and events from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab).
Editor's picks
Born on March 4
- 895 — Liu Zhiyuan, founder of the Later Han Dynasty (died 948)
- 977 — Al-Musabbihi, Fatimid historian and official (died 1030)
- 1188 — Blanche of Castile, French queen consort (died 1252)
Died on March 4
- 306 — Adrian and Natalia of Nicomedia, Christian martyrs
- 480 — Landry of Sées, French bishop and saint
- 561 — Pelagius I, pope of the Catholic Church
Source: Wikipedia historical listings for March 4
Quick answers
Who was born on March 4? Miyako (actress) (2007), Jacob Hopkins (2002), Alexandra Kiroi-Bogatyreva (2002).
Who died on March 4? Roy Ayers (2025), Joe Nickell (2025), Phil Batt (2023).
Explore genealogy records
Researching someone born in March? Search birth records
Live genealogy events
This calendar is live and has its own date controls; it is separate from the March 4 historical article above.
Ancestry
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