This day in history: 4 march

1152: Frederick I Barbarossa was elected King of Germany, marking a pivotal moment in the Holy Roman Empire’s history.
1461: During England’s Wars of the Roses, King Henry VI was deposed by his cousin, Edward IV, who became the new monarch.
1493: Christopher Columbus returned to Lisbon, Portugal, from his first voyage to the Americas, marking an important milestone in European exploration.
1681: King Charles II of England granted a large tract of land to William Penn, which later became Pennsylvania.
1789: The first meeting of the United States Congress under the new Constitution took place in New York City, an event with global implications for democratic governance.
1945: Operation Gisela: This German aerial operation ended in failure on March 4, 1945.
1945: Battle of Kolberg: The battle began for control of Kołobrzeg (then Kolberg) in German Pomerania.
1945: Accidental Bombings in Switzerland: Allied aircraft mistakenly bombed Basel and Zürich during World War II.
2007: Estonia held the world’s first national internet election, showcasing technological advancements in governance.
2022: Amid the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant caught fire after shelling but was later captured by Russian forces. This event raised global concerns about nuclear safety during conflicts.

1789: The U.S. Constitution officially took effect, and the first Congress convened at Federal Hall in New York City. This marked the beginning of the federal government under the new Constitution.
1791: Vermont was admitted as the 14th state, becoming the first addition to the original 13 colonies.
1830: John Quincy Adams, former President, returned to Washington, D.C., as a member of the House of Representatives from Massachusetts, an unusual post-presidency career move.
1861: Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as President amid rising tensions that led to the Civil War.
1933: Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated as the 32nd President during the Great Depression. His inaugural address included the famous line, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”.

1849: Bethune College, the first women’s college in India, was established in Kolkata by John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune. It became a pioneer of women’s education in the country.
1904: During the Russo-Japanese War, Russian troops in Korea retreated toward Manchuria as 100,000 Japanese troops advanced.
1906: Hamdard Dawakhana, a significant medical dispensary, was founded in Delhi by Hakim Abdul Majid. It contributed to advancements in traditional medicine.
1951: The first Asian Games began in New Delhi, India, marking a historic moment for sports in Asia. Around 500 athletes from 11 nations competed in 57 events.
1952: A strong earthquake struck from Southern Hokkaidō to Northeast Honshū in Japan (Tokachi Earthquake), killing 307 people and destroying over 3,300 homes.

1957: Larbi Ben M’Hidi, a prominent Algerian nationalist leader and a key figure in the Algerian War of Independence, was executed by French forces. His death became a symbol of resistance against colonial rule.
1980: Robert Mugabe became Zimbabwe’s first Black prime minister after a landslide victory in the country’s first majority-rule elections. This marked a turning point in Zimbabwe’s transition from white minority rule to independence.