Today in History for 4th May 2026

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Historical Events

1883 - John Gordon Cashman publishes the first edition of the "Vicksburg Evening Post" in Mississippi
1942 - Battle of Coral Sea begins (1st naval battle fought solely in air) between Japanese, US and Australian navies and air forces
1959 - First Grammy Awards: Perry Como and Ella Fitzgerald win major awards
1966 - The Soviet government signs an agreement with Fiat to build an automobile factory in the Soviet Union
2019 - 145th Kentucky Derby: stewards disqualify first-across-the-line Maximum Security for interference; longshot Country House declared winner; first DQ in race history for race infraction

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Famous Birthdays

1938 - Gillian Tindall, British historian and novelist (The Fields Beneath, Fly Away Home), born in London (d. 2025)
1949 - Zal Cleminson, Scottish guitarist (The Sensational Alex Harvey Band), born in Glasgow, Scotland
1956 - Barrie Masters, British pub-rock singer (Eddie and the Hot Rods), born in Rochford, Essex, England (d. 2019)
1977 - Mariano Pernía, Argentine soccer left back (11 caps Spain; Independiente, Recreativo, Getafe, Atlético Madrid), born in Buenos Aires, Argentina
1984 - Manjural Islam Rana, Bangladeshi cricket all-rounder (6 Tests, 1 x 50, 5 wickets, BB 3/84; Khulna Division), born in Khulna, Bangladesh (d. 2007)

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Famous Deaths

1566 - Luca Ghini, Italian physician and botanist (b. 1490)
1855 - Camille Pleyel, Austrian pianist, piano manufacturer, and music publisher, dies at 66
1953 - T. Tertius Noble, English composer, dies at 85
1984 - Bob Clampett, American cartoonist (b. 1913)
1994 - Karl Francis Hettinger, American police officer (Onion Field survivor), dies at 59

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