Trivia Of The Day October 4

George Washington ordered a brief ceasefire during the Revolutionary War's Battle of Germantown on October 4, 1777. The truce was arranged to return a lost terrier to its owner, Sir William Howe, a British general. The dog was found wandering the battlefield and was fed and cleaned before being returned to Howe.

A Swedish team of mathematicians calculated there are 177,147 different ways to tie a tie.

Benjamin Franklin invented the rocking chair.

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Happy Birthday October 4

The 19th President of the United States, Rutherford B. Hayes, was born in Delaware, Ohio on October 4, 1822, the son of Rutherford Hayes, Jr. and Sophia Birchard. Hayes's father, a storekeeper, died ten weeks before Rutherford's birth. Sophia took charge of the family, bringing up Hayes and his sister. As President, Hayes is remembered for ending Reconstruction and initiating the beginnings of civil service reform.

Rutherford Hayes

For more October 4th anniversaries, including the introduction of The Gregorian calendar, the marriage of William Wordsworth to Mary Hutchinson and the launch of the first man-made satellite, check out OnThatDay.

Today Is October 4

Saint Francis of Assisi's feast day is observed on October 4th. Francis died on the evening of October 3, 1226 at the Church of St Mary of the Angels in Portinuncula Assisi. He was pronounced a saint by Pope Gregory IX 20 months later.

Many stories have been told of Francis' ability to charm wild animals. It was said that he would talk to the animals and they would talk back. In fact most of these stories originate from a book, The Little Flowers Of Saint Francis, which was written a century after his death.

Legend of St. Francis, Sermon to the Birds, upper Basilica of San Francesco d'Assis

It was often reported that wild animals—rabbits, birds, even a wolf—became tame before Francis of Assisi. He especially cared for animals that were associated with Christ. If he saw a lamb being led off to slaughter, he would try to rescue it by pleading or trading for it.

It has become customary for Catholic and Anglican churches to hold ceremonies blessing animals on his feast day. 

In acknowledgement of his love for the countryside and wild creatures, Francis of Assisi was designated patron saint of ecology in 1980.

World Animal Day is celebrated annually on October 4, the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals.

On This Day October 4

The first US Open Men's Golf Championship was played at the Newport Country Club in Newport, Rhode Island on October 4, 1895. It was a one-day event played over 36 holes immediately after the three-day U.S. Amateur, which received much more attention at the time. The Championship was won by 21-year-old English golfer Horace Thomas Rawlins who worked as an assistant at the club. His prize was $150 plus a $50 golf medal and the silver Open Championship Cup.

Horace Rawlins, winner of the inaugural U.S. Open in 1895.

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Trivia of the Day October 3

Queen Victoria became the first British monarch to be captured on moving film on October 3, 1896 when she was shown taking a pony-and-trap ride at Balmoral Castle. during a visit by Tsar Nicholas II and his wife, Alexandra. The invitation to film this event went to John Downey, the son of the court photographer, William Downey, who had first photographed Queen Victoria in the 1860s.

A bottle of champagne at room temperature contains about 49 million bubbles. 

When she was young the French fashion designer Gabrielle Chanel was a cabaret singer, which was when she acquired the name "Coco."

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Happy Birthday October 3

James Herriot was the nom de plume of English veterinary surgeon and writer James Alfred "Alf" Wight who was born on October 3, 1916. Wright used his many years of experiences as a vet in the Yorkshire Dales to write a series of books each consisting of stories about animals and their owners. He is best known for these semi-autobiographical works, beginning with If Only They Could Talk in 1970, which spawned a series of movies and television series.

James Alfred "Alf" Wight (James Herriot) Wikipedia

For more October 3rd anniversaries, including the establishment of the first Korean kingdom, the marriage of French composer Hector Berlioz to actress Harriet Smithson and the first serving of buffalo chicken wings, check out OnThatDay.

Today is October 3

From 1949 to 1990, Germany was made up of two countries called the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) under a Christian Democrat coalition and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) under a communist regime.

During this time, Berlin was divided into a west and an east part. In 1961, East Germany started building the Berlin Wall between the two parts of Berlin.

On November 9, 1989, Communist-controlled East Germany opened checkpoints in the Berlin Wall allowing its citizens to travel to West Germany. This key event led to the eventual reunification of East and West Germany, and fall of communism in eastern Europe including Russia.

On October 3, 1990, The German Democratic Republic ceased to exist and its territory became part of the Federal Republic of Germany. East German citizens became part of the European Community, which later became the European Union.

The flag of unity at midnight of 3 October 1990 in front of the Reichstag

October 3rd is now celebrated every year as German Unity Day.