December 4 has seen many notable historical events across different years and places.

Major historical events

• In 1619, a group of English colonists arrived at Berkeley Hundred in Virginia and designated December 4 as a recurring day of thanksgiving, an early example of a formal thanksgiving observance in North America.

• In 1783, George Washington delivered his famous farewell to his officers at Fraunces Tavern in New York City after the American Revolutionary War.

• In 1791, the first edition of The Observer, regarded as the world’s first Sunday newspaper, was published in Britain.

• In 1829, British authorities issued a regulation effectively banning sati (suttee) in parts of India, treating those who facilitated the practice as guilty of homicide.

• In 1991, journalist Terry A. Anderson, the last and longest‑held American hostage in Lebanon, was released after about seven years in captivity.

• In 1992, U.S. President George H. W. Bush ordered around 28,000 American troops to Somalia as part of an operation during the Somali civil war.

Selected cultural and political notes

• December 4 is associated with key World War II and Cold War–era developments, including various military operations and diplomatic moves listed in historical calendars for that date.

• Many sources also highlight 4 December as a date with numerous other events, births, and deaths (for example, in politics, sports, and the arts), but the specific items above are among the most frequently noted in general “on this day” references.

If you meant December 4 of a specific year or in a particular country, say which year or place, and the focus can be narrowed.