Today in history—April 4

397: St. Ambrose, the Roman lawyer who was elected Bishop of Milan even though he had not yet even been baptized, dies at Milan.

1581: The farmer’s son who rose to prominence on the first African slave-trading expeditions in British history is knighted as Sir Francis Drake.

1721: Sir Robert Walpole becomes the first prime minister of Great Britain, although there will not technically be such an office as “prime minister” until 1905.

1818: Afraid that the flag will soon look like a pinstripe suit, Congress fixes the number of stripes on Old Glory at 13.

1841: John Tyler becomes the first U.S. Vice President to become President when his predecessor dies in office. He is popularly known as “His Accidentcy.”

1850: With 1,610 residents, the old Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles (“Town of Our Lady, the Queen of the Angels”) is incorporated as the City of Los Angeles.  The new name is easier on the new Anglo population.

1861: U.S. Supreme Court Justice John McLean dies at Cincinnati, Ohio. His opinion in Wheaton v. Peters held that there is no federal common-law copyright in the United States.

1924: Four brothers from Pennsylvania (Sam, Jack, Harry, and Abe) announce the formation of Warner Brothers.

1964: The Beatles set a record by simultaneously occupying the five top positions on the Billboard charts. They are, (1) Can’t Buy Me Love, (2) Twist and Shout, (3) She Loves You, (4) I want to Hold Your Hand, and (5) Please Please Me.

1984: Winston Smith begins keeping a diary in George Orwell’s classic novel.