What Happened on August 4?

August 4 is U.S. Coast Guard Day — and National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day — on the same date the Revenue Cutter Service began in 1790, Anne Frank was arrested in 1944, and Britain entered World War I in 1914.

• 1790 — Congress authorizes the Revenue Cutter Service — birth of the U.S. Coast Guard

  On August 4, 1790, President Washington signed legislation creating a fleet of revenue cutters — the beginning of today's Coast Guard. Read the full story →

• 1821 — The Saturday Evening Post begins publication

  On August 4, 1821, the Saturday Evening Post published its first issue — becoming one of America's longest-running magazines. Read the full story →

• 1914 — Britain declares war on Germany

  On August 4, 1914, Britain declared war on Germany after German troops invaded neutral Belgium, bringing the British Empire into World War I. Read the full story →

• 1944 — Anne Frank and others are arrested in Amsterdam

  On August 4, 1944, Nazi police discovered the Secret Annex in Amsterdam and arrested Anne Frank, her family, and four others in hiding. Read the full story →

• 1964 — The Gulf of Tonkin incident escalates U.S. involvement in Vietnam

  On August 4, 1964, reported attacks on U.S. ships in the Gulf of Tonkin led President Johnson to seek broader war powers in Vietnam. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Barack Obama (1961) · Louis Armstrong (1901–1971) · Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) · Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (1981)

Days & observances

Coast Guard Day · National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day · National White Chocolate Chip Cookie Day · Coast Guard Auxiliary Appreciation Day