What Happened in 2004

Significant Events

  • Feb 4 Mark Zuckerberg launches Facebook from his Harvard dormitory room
  • Apr 8 Darfur conflict: The Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement is signed by the Sudanese government and two rebel groups
  • May 17 Massachusetts becomes the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage
  • May 26 The United States Army veteran Terry Nichols is found guilty of 161 state murder charges for helping carry out the Oklahoma City bombing.
  • Jul 5 First Indonesian presidential election by the people - first round (eventually won by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono)
  • Nov 11 Yasser Arafat's death through unidentified causes confirmed by Palestine Liberation Organization, Mahmoud Abbas elected PLO chairman minutes later.
  • Dec 8 The Cuzco Declaration is signed in Cuzco, Peru, establishing the South American Community of Nations.
  • Dec 26 9.3 magnitude earthquake creates a tsunami causing devastation in Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Maldives and edges of the Indian Ocean, killing 230,000 people
More Historical Events

Did You Know?

The Republic of Ireland becomes the first country in the world to ban smoking in all work places, including bars and restaurants

On March 29, 2004


World Leaders in 2004

Famous People in 2004

Famous People Born in 2004

  • Jan 21 Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway
  • Feb 6 Princess Louise of Belgium
  • Feb 19 Millie Bobby Brown, English American actress (Stranger Things), born in Marbella, Spain
  • Mar 21 Count Claus-Casimir of Orange-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg
  • May 10 The Gosselin Sextuplets

Would You Believe?

Google introduces Gmail: the launch is met with scepticism on account of the launch date.

On April 1, 2004

Famous Weddings

  • Jan 1 Singer Lou Rawls (71) weds Nina Malek Inman at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee
  • Jan 3 Singer Britney Spears (22) weds childhood pal Jason Allen Alexander in Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Jan 12 Two-time Oscar-winning cinematographer Janusz Kaminski (44) weds ABC-TV correspondent Rebecca Rankin in Los Angeles
  • Jan 24 "Married ... With Children" actor David Faustino (33) weds actress Andrea Elmer (31) at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Jan 24 Actress Selma Blair (31) weds producer Ahmet Zappa (29) at Carrie Fisher's mansion in Beverly Hills, California

Famous Divorces

  • Jan 4 Britney Spears has her surprise marriage annulled less than 55 hours after tying the knot with childhood friend Jason Alexander at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas
  • Mar 30 "Alias" actress Jennifer Garner (30) divorces actor Scott Foley (30) due to irreconcilable differences after nearly 4 years of marriage
  • Apr 26 Model-actress Deborah Falconer (38) divorces actor Robert Downey Jr (39) due to irreconcilable differences after 12 years of marriage
  • Apr 27 Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry files for divorce from her second husband, R&B singer Eric Benet, six months after the couple separated
  • May 12 Model and actress Ali Landry divorces (30) "Saved by the Bell" actor Mario Lopez (30) due to infidelity only less than 2 weeks after getting married
More Weddings & Divorces

Famous Deaths

More Famous Deaths