1847 – Samuel Colt sold his first revolver pistol to the United States government on the 4th January 1847.

1854 – The McDonald Islands were discovered by Captain William McDonald aboard the Samarang on the 4th January 1854.

1884 – The Fabian Society was founded in London on the 4th January 1884.

1896 – Utah was admitted as the 45th U.S. state on the 4th January 1896.

1903 – Topsy the elephant that killed 3 men, was electrocuted by Thomas Edison on the 4th January 1903, during the War of Currents campaign.

1958 – Sputnik 1 fell to Earth from its orbit on the 4th January 1958.

1959 – Luna 1 became the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon on the 4th January 1959.

1974 – United States President Richard Nixon refused to hand over materials subpoenaed by the Senate Watergate Committee on the 4th January 1974.

1999 – Former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura was sworn in as governor of Minnesota on the 4th January 1999.

2004 – Spirit, a NASA Mars rover, landed successfully on Mars at 04:35 UTC on the 4th January 2004.

2005 ~ Dragons’ Den the British television series hosted by Evan Davis was first broadcast on the 4th January 2005.

2010 – Burj Khalifa the world’s tallest building was officially opened on the 4th January 2010.

Today in History for the 4th January video produced by Associated Press

 Associated Press official website: www.AP.org