4 December in history

5 events that happened on 4 December, from 771 to 1991.

  1. ✦ Anniversary of the day

    771 CE 1,255 years ago

    Carloman dies, leaving Charlemagne sole king of the Franks

    Carloman I, Charlemagne's brother and co-ruler, died suddenly. Charlemagne took over his kingdom, and Carloman's widow fled with her sons to the Lombards.

    Carolingian EmpireCharlemagneCarloman I

  2. 1791 CE 235 years ago

    The Observer is first published

    The first issue of The Observer appeared in London. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper still in publication.

    London

  3. 1867 CE 159 years ago

    The National Grange is founded

    Oliver Kelley and colleagues founded the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, known as the Grange, in Washington. It became a powerful voice for farmers against railway rates and monopolies.

  4. 1872 CE 154 years ago

    The Mary Celeste is found drifting and abandoned

    The crew of the Dei Gratia found the American brigantine Mary Celeste sailing unmanned in the Atlantic, her cargo intact and lifeboat gone. The fate of the ten people aboard has never been explained.

  5. 1991 CE 35 years ago

    Pan Am ceases operations

    Pan American World Airways flew its last flight after 64 years. The airline had pioneered transoceanic air travel and launched the Boeing 747, but it never recovered from deregulation, recession and the Lockerbie bombing.

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