Today in History for 4th February 2026

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Historical Events

1194 - Ransom of 100,000 pounds of silver is paid for the release of Richard I, King of England, to Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI
1960 - Giants move their offices to Candlestick Park
1962 - St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital opens in Memphis, Tennessee; funding for the cancer fighting facility led by entertainer Danny Thomas
1983 - US male Figure Skating championship won by Scott Hamilton
1990 - Anders Holmertz swims world record 400 m freestyle (3:40.81)

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Famous Birthdays

1549 - Eustache du Caurroy, French Renaissance composer, born in Gerberoy, France (d. 1609)
1891 - [Madabhushi Ananthasayanam] M. A. Ayyangar, Indian politician (Speaker of Lok Sabha, Governor of Bihar), born in Thiruchanoor, Madras, British India (d. 1978)
1892 - Andreu Nin, Catalan revolutionary politician during the Spanish Civil War (P.O.U.M.) and translator, born in El Vendrell, Spain (d. 1937)
1929 - Paul Burlison, American rockabilly musician (The Rock N Roll Trio), born in Brownsville, Tennessee (d. 2003)
1960 - Tim Booth, British rock singer (James - "Sit Down"), born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England

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Famous Deaths

1909 - John Clarkson, American Baseball HOF pitcher (Triple Crown 1889; no-hitter 1885; 3 × NL wins leader; 3 × NL strikeout leader; Chicago White Stockings, Boston Beaneaters), dies of mental illness and pneumonia at 47
1940 - Nikolai Yezhov, Soviet Head of Soviet NKVD under Stalin responsible for enacting the Great Purge, executed in secret at 44
1987 - (Wladziu) Liberace, American Emmy Award-winning pianist, showman (The Liberace Show), and actor (Batman -"Evil Chandell"), dies of AIDS-related pneumonia at 67
2021 - Lord Samuel Vestey, British food magnate (Vestey Holdings) and Master of the Horse to the Royal Household (1999-2018), dies at 79
2023 - Arnold Schulman, American playwright and screenwriter (A Hole in the Head, Love with the Proper Stranger), dies at 97

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