This Day in History for September 4

SEP 4 Friday 2026
Featured event 2010

Canterbury earthquake

A magnitude-7.1 earthquake (damage pictured) struck the Canterbury Region of New Zealand, causing two deaths and up to NZ$40 billion in damages.

Notable Births

View all

Notable Deaths

View all

On This Day Quote

“Lost time is never found again.”

— Benjamin Franklin
ClockHorizon daily selection

What happened on this day

View timeline
  1. 2024
    Apalachee High School shooting

    A 14-year-old gunman kills four people and injures seven in a mass shooting at Apalachee High School near Winder, Georgia.

  2. 2022
    Saskatchewan stabbings

    Ten people are killed and 15 are injured in a stabbing spree in 13 locations on the James Smith Cree Nation and in Weldon, Saskatchewan.

  3. 2020
    Pope Benedict XVI becomes the longest-lived pope

    Pope Benedict XVI becomes the longest-lived pope, 93 years, four months, 16 days, surpassing Pope Leo XIII, who died in 1903.

  4. 2007
    bomb plot in Germany

    Three terrorists suspected to be a part of Al-Qaeda are arrested in Germany after allegedly planning attacks on both the Frankfurt International airport and US military installations.

  5. 2002
    The Oakland Athletics win their 20th consecutive game

    The Oakland Athletics win their 20th consecutive game, an American League record, until the Cleveland Indians surpassed it in 2017.

View full historical timeline (40 events)

On This Day Quote

“Lost time is never found again.”

— Benjamin Franklin

People born today

View all

Explore more

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on September 4?

One highlighted entry is from 2010: A magnitude-7.1 earthquake (damage pictured) struck the Canterbury Region of New Zealand, causing two deaths and up to NZ$40 billion in damages.

Who was born on September 4?

People listed for September 4 include Talitha Bateman (2001), Sergio Gómez (footballer, born 2000) (2000), and Neru Nagahama (1998).

What observances fall on September 4?

Observances listed for September 4 include Christian feast day: Blessed Catherine of Racconigi, Christian feast day: Blessed Dina Bélanger, and Christian feast day: Candida the Elder.

An unhandled error has occurred. Reload 🗙