Today in History
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2004 Facebook is founded
The social networking service currently has over 1 billion active users.
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1948 Ceylon (Sri Lanka) proclaims independence within the British Commonwealth
Since the 16th century, the island had been colonized by Portugal, the Netherlands, and Great Britain.
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1861 The Confederate States of America are established
6 slave states met in Montgomery, Alabama to form the Confederacy, which lasted only until 1865.
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1859 German archeologist Constantin von Tischendorf discovers the Codex Sinaiticus
The “Sinai Bible”, a handwritten copy of the Greek Bible, is considered a great historical treasure.
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1789 George Washington is elected as first President of the United States
Washington took office on April 30, 1789.
Births On This Day, February 4
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1948 Alice Cooper
American singer-songwriter, actor
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1913 Rosa Parks
American activist
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1906 Dietrich Bonhoeffer
German pastor, theologian
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1902 Charles Lindbergh
American pilot, activist
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1746 Tadeusz Kościuszko
Polish/American general
Deaths On This Day, February 4
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2006 Betty Friedan
American author, activist
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2001 Iannis Xenakis
Greek/French composer, engineer, theorist
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1987 Liberace
American singer, pianist, actor
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1987 Meena Keshwar Kamal
Afghan activist, founded the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanista
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1894 Adolphe Sax
Belgian musician, invented the saxophone
