Birthday facts

Born on August 4.

Everyone born on August 4 is a Leo — ruled by the Sun, generous, and would like that noted. The stone is peridot, the flower gladiolus, and the day is shared with Barack Obama and Percy Bysshe Shelley.

Sun sign

Leo ♌︎

the Lion · ruled by the Sun · generous, and would like that noted

Birthstone

Peridot

August

Birth flower

Gladiolus

& poppy

Your book

Born on August 4? Add the year.

Then it is a pop-up book: the sky the day you arrived, the No. 1 that week, the president, what a stamp cost, your life in weeks, and who was exactly your age when they did the thing they are known for — and at the end, a birthday poster of the day, engraved, to take home. One field. The date lives after the # in the link, which no server sees — nothing about you leaves your browser.

Making it for someone else? Send it as a pop-up birthday card.

The old books say

Leo, July 23 to August 22.

The Lion, ruled by the Sun itself, and the books do not pretend otherwise: this is the sign of the centre of the room. A fire sign, credited with warmth, generosity and a need to be seen that its people would call a gift for being seen. The tradition gives Leo courage and a big heart and a weakness for applause, and notes that it tends to earn the applause, which is the annoying part.

Astrology, reported rather than endorsed — the astronomy is the part of the book that is real.

Good company

Also born on August 4.

The names most looked up among everyone who shares the day — leaning on the ones who last.

1961

Barack Obama

44th President of the United States

1792

Percy Bysshe Shelley

English poet and playwright

1981

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

American actress and member of British royal family

1900

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother

Queen Consort of King George VI of the United Kingdom

1955

Billy Bob Thornton

American director and actor

1725

John Newton

slaver turned Christian evangelist and author of “Amazing Grace”

1901

Louis Armstrong

American singer and trumpet player

1965

Dennis Lehane

American author and screenwriter

On this day

What August 4 has seen.

1796French Revolutionary Wars: Commanded by Napoleon Bonaparte, the French Army of Italy decisively defeated Austrian forces led by Peter Vitus von Quosdanovich at the Battle of Lonato.

1830American surveyor James Thompson produced the first plat of Chicago for the Illinois and Michigan Canal Commissioners.

1964Vietnam War: The National Security Agency falsely claimed that a U.S. Navy destroyer was attacked a second time by North Vietnamese vessels in the Gulf of Tonkin, leading Congress to authorize the use of military force.

1995Yugoslav Wars: The Croatian Army initiated Operation Storm, the last major battle of the Croatian War of Independence and the largest European land battle since the Second World War.

The calendar

When August 4 falls.

A Tuesday in 2026, a Wednesday in 2027, a Friday in 2028, a Saturday in 2029, and a Sunday in 2030.