1. On August 4, 1684, Charles Calvert, the third Lord Baltimore, granted a land patent to English Quakers in what is now Anne Arundel County. This marked an important moment in Maryland history, as the colony had previously been exclusively Catholic-owned and operated.

2. On August 4, 1834, the state legislature voted to abolish slavery in Maryland, making it one of the last states in the Union to do so. However, the law did not go into effect until November 1 of that year, and even then, it only applied to children born after that date.

3. Notable Baltimore resident and filmmaker John Waters was born on August 4, 1946. Waters is known for his cult classics such as "Hairspray" and "Pink Flamingos," and is often seen as an icon of outsider culture.

4. On August 4, 1922, the first-ever radio commercial was broadcast from Wheaton, Maryland. The ad, which promoted a real estate development, was only ten minutes long and aired on station WEAR. It is considered a landmark moment in the history of advertising.

5. August 4, 1892, saw the opening of the Maryland Agricultural College (now the University of Maryland, College Park). The school was chartered in 1856, but did not begin admitting students until 1859. Today, it is one of the largest universities in the state, with over 40,000 students enrolled.