December 4: Facts & Historical Events On This Day

2018 French couture house Chanel ended its use of fur and exotic skins, following suit of bans by other companies.

2017 The US Supreme Court allowed President Trump’s travel ban to come into effect for six predominantly Muslim countries.

1991 Pan American World Airways ceased operations.

Commonly known as Pan Am, this airline was one of the largest international airlines for over 60 years. However, the company eventually went bankrupt and shut down.

1980 Led Zeppelin announced their break-up, this was two months after the death of drummer John Bonham.

1977 Jean-Bédel Bokassa crowned himself the Emperor of Central Africa.

When he crowned himself, he did so in an extravagant coronation ceremony that cost $20 million. This was one-third of the nation's budget and all of France's aid money for that year.

1966 A military dog “Nemo” saved the life of his handler, Airman Robert A. Throneburg, during the Vietnam War.

Nemo survived a gunshot wound to the nose in the process.

1965 The Gemini 7 launched with Frank Borman and Jim Lovell.

The objective was to investigate the effects of 14 days in space on the human body.

1961 A painting that had been hung upside down in a museum was finally flipped upright after going unnoticed for over a month.

Matisse Le Bateau's painting was accidentally hung upside down at the Museum of Modern Art. This mistake was left for 47 days until a stockbroker noticed it.

1952 A lethal fog began to cover London, lasting for five days, causing the term “smog” to be termed – a combination of smoke and fog.

1906 The first historically Black intercollegiate Greek-lettered fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, was founded.

Founded at Cornell University in New York, Alpha Phi Alpha was initially a club organized for literary and social studies. Since 1945 it has been open to men of all races.

1881 The Los Angeles Times was first published as the Los Angeles Daily Times.

1791 The first edition of the world’s first Sunday newspaper, The Observer, was published.

1786 Mission Santa Barbara was founded in California by Franciscan missionaries from Spain.

Padre Fermín Lasuén founded the mission on this day as it was the Feast of Saint Barbara. Both the Californian city and county were later named after this mission. Saint Barbara herself is the patron saint of military men, miners, military engineers, and armorers, particularly those that work with explosives.

1259 King Louis IX of France and Henry III of England signed the Treaty of Paris, ending 100 years of conflict.