HistoryFile is a resource for editors and artists involved in graphic planning, and also provides a source of additional data for the graphics series On This Day. Search for events by day or keyword using the search bar above.

HistoryFile is collated and monitored by Julie Mullins. Please contact Julie if you have any queries or comments about this service.
Date Event Anniversary
August 04, 2011 Syrian military forces killed more than 100 people in 24 hours in Hama, bringing the civilian casualties to more than 200 since tanks and troops stormed the city on July 31 2 years ago
August 04, 2010 Up to 12 million people were now affected by the most severe flooding in Pakistan’s history, while the death toll rose to at least 1,600. The flooding was blamed on unprecedented monsoon rain. The crisis continued throughout August with approximately one-fifth of Pakistan’s total land area underwater at one point. By the end of the month the floods directly affected about 20 million people, mostly by destruction of property, livelihood and infrastructure, with close to 2,000 deaths 3 years ago
August 04, 2009 Former U.S. President Bill Clinton visited Pyongyang, North Korea, and secured the freedom of two detained American journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who had been found guilty of entering North Korea illegally in March and sentenced to 12 years hard labour. The women were pardoned after Clinton met North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in what was billed as a private visit. President Barack Obama stressed that no apology had been made on behalf of the U.S. for the actions of the two reporters, stressing that Clinton carried no message to North Korea. Obama also insisted that future relations with North Korea depended on whether progress could be made on disarming Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme 4 years ago
August 04, 2007 Singer-songwriter Lee Hazlewood, who wrote These Boots are Made for Walkin’ with Nancy Sinatra, died from cancer at age 78 6 years ago
August 04, 2007 An outbreak of foot and mouth disease in cattle on a farm in Surrey, England was identified as a rare strain used for vaccine production at an animal disease research site at Pirbright, three miles from the farm. A UK-wide ban on movement of all livestock was in place and exports of livestock, meat and milk were banned after 60 animals on the farm near Guildford tested positive for the disease which wreaked havoc in Britain in 2001 6 years ago
August 04, 2006 The Domesday Book, the 920-year-old census record of England under William the Conqueror, went online 7 years ago
August 04, 2004 The integrity of U.S. Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry came under scrutiny after an organization called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth began running advertisements attacking his record in the Vietnam War. President Bush did not condemn the commercials specifically, but he called for an end to all attack ads 9 years ago
August 04, 2003 The worst wildfires for 50 years threatened parts of the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia 10 years ago
August 04, 2002 Bolivia’s National Congress voted to elect political centrist Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada as president of the country 11 years ago
August 04, 2001 Queen Elizabeth II opened the gardens of Buckingham Palace to paying visitors for the first time. The secluded grounds in central London are home to 30 types of birds and 350 flowers, some of them rare 12 years ago
August 04, 2000 Britain's Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother celebrated her 100th birthday 13 years ago
August 04, 1999 British athlete Linford Christie was suspended from competition after testing positive for the banned steroid nandrolone. The former Olympic 100m champion, who had always opposed the use of drugs, said it was ridiculous to assume he would take them after retiring from top-level sport 14 years ago

Page 1 of 4