July 1, 982
Buckingham Palace Break-In
Forty years after it took place, the notorious break-in at Buckingham Palace still defies belief.
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July in History
110 events
July 1, 1863
Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; Lee's northward advance halted
On this day in 1863, the bloodiest battle in American history got underway at Gettysburg.
July 1, 1867
What Do You Know About The Old Dominion Day?
Every nation across the globe has its own special day of celebration — a national holiday that brings people together in shared pride.
July 1, 1903
The First Tour de France Bicycle Race
Back on July 1, 1903, the world witnessed something extraordinary — the very first Tour de France, a multi-stage bicycle race that would go on to become one of the most prestigious events in sports.
July 1, 1941
Bulova Watch Co pays $9 for 1st ever network TV commercial
It's hard to imagine a time before television commercials dominated our screens, but there was indeed a moment when it all began. On July 1, 1941, at 2:29 p.m.
July 1, 1947
Alleged and disputed Roswell UFO incident
The crash of a US troop balloon on a ranch in Roswell, New Mexico during July 1947 is what sparked the now-legendary Roswell event.
July 2, 1823
Bahia Independence Day: the end of Portuguese rule in Brazil, with the final defeat of the Portuguese crown loyalists in the province of Bahia
It's hard to overstate the significance of July 2, 1823, in the broader story of Brazil's path to sovereignty.
July 2, 1881
20th President – James Garfield Shot Twice
It was July 2, 1881, and President James A. Garfield had barely served four months in office when he was struck by two bullets at Washington D.C.'s Potomac Railroad Station.
July 2, 1897
Guglielmo Marconi Received a Patent for the Radio
It was on July 2, 1897, that Guglielmo Marconi — the Italian inventor widely celebrated as the "Father of the Radio" — secured a patent for his groundbreaking wireless telegraphy system.
July 2, 1964
US President Lyndon B. Johnson signs Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act into law
On July 2, 1964, Lyndon B. Johnson put pen to paper and signed both the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act into law.
July 3, 1799
The Discovery of the Rosetta Stone
For hundreds of years, the enigmatic drawings scattered across ancient Egypt captivated scholars who desperately sought to unlock their secrets.
July 3, 1863
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg, which raged from July 1 through July 3, 1863, stands as what many regard as the most significant engagement of the entire American Civil War.
July 3, 1988
Iran Flight 655 From Tehran to Dubai
On July 3, 1988, what should have been a routine commercial journey turned into one of aviation's darkest chapters.
July 4, 1187
Battle of Horns of Hattin: Saladin, Sultan of Egypt and Syria, destroys Jerusalem's crusader army
No single clash during the Second Crusade proved more consequential than the Battle of the Horns of Hattin.
July 4, 1776
Declaration of Independence Read for the First Time
It was on July 4th, 1776, that Congress gave its approval to the Declaration of Independence.
July 4, 1803
The Louisiana Purchase is announced to the American people by President Thomas Jefferson
On July 4, 1803, the United States doubled in size — and it had only been 27 years since the nation first fought for its independence.
July 4, 1872
The Birth of Roald Amundsen
Born on July 4, 1872, Roald Amundsen would grow up to become one of Norway's most legendary explorers.
July 5, 1698
Thomas Savery Received a Patent for the First Steam Engine
On July 5, 1698, a breakthrough in engineering took shape when Thomas Savery, an English military engineer with a passion for tinkering, secured a patent for a steam-powered engine.
July 5, 1994
Amazon.com founded in Bellevue, Washington by Jeff Bezos
What started in a garage in Bellevue, Washington, on July 5, 1994, would eventually become one of the most transformative companies in modern commerce.
July 5, 1994
The Start of the Amazon Empire
What started as a modest operation run out of Jeff Bezos' garage in Bellevue, Washington, on July 5, 1994, would eventually become one of the most powerful companies on the planet.
July 6, 1747
the "Father of the American Navy" was born
Born on July 6, 1747, in Scotland, John Paul Jones would go on to earn the legendary title of "Father of the American Navy.
July 6, 1785
The Dollar Becomes Official US Currency
It was July 6, 1785 — roughly a decade after the Continental Congress had first gathered to hash out the Declaration of Independence — when the United States dollar was officially adopted as the
July 6, 1885
The Administration of the First Successful Rabies Vaccination
During the summer of 1885, a rabid dog attacked and severely mauled a young boy called Joseph Meister, who was just 9 years old at the time.
July 7, 1898
Hawaii Becomes U.S. Territory
On July 7, 1898, a joint resolution passed through Congress that officially folded Hawaii into the United States as a territory.
July 7, 1947
The Mysterious Roswell Event
Something strange was buzzing through the conversations of Roswell, New Mexico residents on July 7, 1947 — unexplained flying objects had reportedly been spotted in the sky above town.
July 7, 2000
The Announcement of the First Draft of the Human Genome Project
Understanding the human body ranks among the most vital and intricate pursuits in all of science, involving an enormous volume of data that demands careful investigation.
July 8, 1777
Vermont Prohibits Slavery
On July 8, 1777, the Vermont Colony etched its name into the record books as the first colony to abolish slavery — but the path to that milestone was anything but smooth.
July 8, 1800
Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse Administers Smallpox Vaccinations To His Children, The First Smallpox Vaccinations in the United States
Smallpox ranked among the most devastatingly contagious viral diseases in human history, leaving survivors horribly disfigured and claiming the lives of countless others who fell victim to it.
July 8, 1996
The Release of "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls
Any mention of the 1990s inevitably conjures images of the boy bands and girl groups that defined the era's musical landscape.
July 9, 1812
President James Madison Issued a Proclamation for Public Humiliation and Prayer
Even though the United States had formally broken free from Great Britain back in 1776 following the Revolutionary War, the relationship between these two countries remained deeply troubled for
July 9, 1868
The 14th Amendment is Ratified
On July 9, 1868, the 14th Amendment became part of the Constitution, extending citizenship to every person naturalized in the United States while guaranteeing complete legal protection to all
July 10, 1913
Death Valley's Deadly Temps
Imagine a place so blisteringly hot that it holds the all-time global temperature record — and has for over a century.
July 10, 1940
"The Hardest Day," One of the Largest Air battles of all Time
The Hardest Day stands as one of the most devastating aerial confrontations ever fought, marking a massive incursion by the German Luftwaffe into Great Britain's Airspace.
July 10, 1941
The Massacre in Jedwabne
On July 10, 1941, in the town of Jedwabne, Poland, one of the most horrifying chapters of the early Holocaust unfolded — a massacre of Polish Jews that would remain shrouded in misattributed blame
July 10, 2000
A Massive Pipeline Explosion in Nigeria
On July 10, 2000, disaster struck the small Nigerian town of Jesse when a massive pipeline rupture triggered a devastating explosion.
July 11, 1767
President John Quincy Adams was Born
Few individuals arrive in this world destined for a trajectory as remarkable as that of John Quincy Adams.
July 11, 1900
Charlotte Cooper Became the First Female Olympic Champion
When the first modern Olympic Games were staged in Athens, Greece, in 1896, they set in motion traditions that endure to this day.
July 11, 1960
American Literature Receives an Instant Classic
On July 11, 1960, American author Harper Lee saw her novel _To Kill A Mockingbird_ hit shelves — and it became an immediate sensation.
July 12, 1804
Alexander Hamilton is Fatally Shot by Aaron Burr
On July 12, 1804, a long-simmering political feud reached its deadly conclusion when Vice President Aaron Burr fired a fatal shot at Alexander Hamilton, his bitter rival.
July 12, 1817
Henry David Thoreau Is Born: The Birth of a Transcendentalist
On July 12th, 1817, the small New England town of Concord, Massachusetts — a place destined to become inseparable from the story of American literature — saw the birth of one of its most remarkable
July 12, 1962
The Opening of the First Walmart
Back in 1945, Sam Walton — who had previously worked at J.C. Penney — took a bold step by buying a "Five and Dime" store branch, armed with a vision that would reshape American retail. His goal?
July 13, 1937
The Founding of Krispy Kreme
Ever wonder how one of the world's most beloved doughnut empires got its start? It all traces back to the summer of 1937, when a young entrepreneur named Vernon Rudolph decided to chase an ambitious
July 13, 1941
Eddie Mayo's Big Spit
Decisions made in the blink of an eye by umpires are part of the fabric of baseball — and they don't always sit well with everyone involved.
July 13, 1943
The Greatest Tank Battle in History
The Battle of Kursk in 1943 stands as the most celebrated tank engagement ever fought — a sprawling, ferocious clash that erupted on July 5, 1943, in the midst of World War II and continued to rage
July 14, 1795
France Finds Its Voice: "La Marseillaise" Becomes the National Anthem
It was on July 14, 1795, that "La Marseillaise" officially earned its place as the national anthem of France — forever enshrining a rousing symbol of liberty and patriotic fervor into the nation's
July 14, 1960
Actress Jane Lynch was Born
On July 14, 1960, Jane Marie Lynch came into the world in Evergreen Park, Illinois, born into a Catholic household.
July 14, 2000
A Bastille Day Solar Flare
The year 2000 brought an unexpected twist to Bastille Day festivities — the Sun itself decided to put on a show. Satellites picked up the first signs of a solar disturbance at around 10:00 a.m.
July 15, 1799
An Accidental Find: The Rosetta Stone
On July 15, 1799, the Rosetta Stone was found, unlocking the secrets of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.
July 15, 1916
The Boeing Company was Started
Chances are, if you've ever stepped aboard a commercial flight, you were sitting inside a Boeing aircraft.
July 15, 1988
The Premiere of "Die Hard"
On July 15, 1988, audiences got their first taste of _Die Hard,_ a film that would go on to become one of the most beloved action movies ever made.
July 16, 622
Muhammad Begins His Journey to Medina
It was July 16, 622, when Muhammad set out from Mecca on a fateful trek toward Medina — a departure driven by the relentless persecution he faced for preaching and spreading the message of Islam.
July 16, 1872
The Birth of Roald Amundsen
Growing up surrounded by shipowners and sea captains, Roald Amundsen seemed almost fated to chart his course toward exploration.
July 16, 1945
A New Dawn: The Manhattan Project Detonates the First Atomic Bomb
Deep in the New Mexico desert, physicist and project leader Robert Oppenheimer, alongside his team, triggered a detonation that would usher humanity into the nuclear age.
July 17, 1762
Catherine II Takes Control of Russia
The Senate proclaimed the Manifesto bearing the signature of Empress Catherine II on July 17, 1762, formally declaring her ascension as Russia's sole ruler.
July 17, 1945
The Potsdam Conference Began
Germany's surrender to the Allied powers in May 1945 left Europe reeling from massive destruction and triggered a dramatic realignment of global power.
July 17, 1996
TWA Flight 800 Mid-Air Explosion
On the evening of July 17th, 1996, disaster struck when Trans World Atlantic Flight 800 broke apart in a catastrophic mid-air explosion.
July 18, 1817
The Death of Jane Austen
In a world where societal expectations kept women tethered to domestic responsibilities and far from the publishing world, Jane Austen broke through those barriers with remarkable determination.
July 18, 1918
Nelson Mandela was Born
As the son of Chief Henry Mandela of the Mandiba Clan—part of the Xhosa-speaking Tembu people—Nelson Rolihlala Mandela came into the world on July 18, 1918.
July 18, 1918
The Execution of Tsar Nicholas II
For over 300 years, spanning from the 17th century to the early 20th century, the Romanov dynasty held power in Russia as the country's second and final ruling family.
July 18, 2013
Detroit, Michigan, files for bankruptcy
With a staggering $18.8 billion in debt, the city of Detroit, Michigan, made history on July 18, 2013, by filing for bankruptcy — the largest municipal bankruptcy filing the United States had ever
July 19, 1843
The Launch of The Steamship SS Great Britain
On July 19, 1843, rain fell over Bristol, but no amount of gray sky could dampen the palpable buzz sweeping through the city.
July 19, 1848
1st US women's rights convention held in NY
On July 19, 1848, something revolutionary took place inside the Wesleyan Chapel in Seneca Falls, New York — the USA's first woman's rights convention.
July 19, 1909
Baseball's First Unassisted Triple Play
The Cleveland Naps were squaring off against the Boston Red Sox on July 19, 1909, at League Park in Cleveland, Ohio, when something truly extraordinary unfolded.
July 19, 1941
Tom & Jerry's First TV Appearance
That legendary cat-and-mouse pair, Tom & Jerry, first appeared on television screens on July 19th, 1941, starring in a short film called _The Midnight Snack.
July 20, 1881
Sioux Chief Sitting Bull Surrendered to US Troops
Following the devastating defeat of Lieutenant Colonel Custer at Little Bighorn, Sioux Chief Sitting Bull — long regarded as a symbol of resilience — turned himself over to U.S.
July 20, 1921
Alice Mary Robertson Became 1st Congresswoman
Those who knew Alice Mary Robertson often described her as generous to a fault, fiercely strong-willed, hardworking, and deeply outgoing.
July 20, 1950
The Debut of " The Arthur Murray Party" on ABC
On July 20, 1950, ABC introduced audiences to The Arthur Murray Party, a beloved American variety show that would captivate viewers for an entire decade, running until 1960.
July 20, 1969
Apollo 11 lunar module lands on the Moon
It all started with a jolt. On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik I, hurling the first man-made aircraft into earth's orbit and sending shockwaves through the United States government
July 21, 1904
The Trans-Siberian Railway was Completed
On July 21, 1904, the Trans-Siberian Railway finally opened its doors to the world, capping off an ambitious 25-year construction effort.
July 21, 1925
John T. Scopes was Found Guilty of Teaching Evolution in the “Scopes Monkey Trial”
On July 21, 1925, a verdict of guilty was handed down against John T. Scopes in the now-infamous "Scopes Monkey Trial," held in Dayton, Tennessee.
July 21, 1970
The Opening of the Aswan High Dam
In the wake of Egypt's 1952 Egyptian Revolution, a military regime took power and ushered in an era of sweeping political transformation.
July 22, 1933
Hitler Elected Chancellor of Germany
The path that brought Adolf Hitler to power in Germany was anything but straightforward. After joining the Nazi Party in 1919, he rose rapidly through its ranks to become the organization's leader.
July 22, 1942
The Tragic Deportation to Treblinka
July 22, 1942, stands as one of the darkest dates in human history — the day the Nazis began sending 300,000 Jews to the Treblinka extermination camp, unleashing an unspeakable tragedy.
July 22, 2011
Norway Twin Terror Attacks
On the afternoon of Friday, July 22, 2011, a pair of coordinated terrorist attacks shook Norway to its core.
July 23, 1840
Lower & Upper Canada are United by The Union Act
It's not every day that two territories wage an intense struggle to merge into a single nation — yet that's exactly the story of Upper and Lower Canada under British rule.
July 23, 1944
The End of the Bretton Woods Conference
Armed conflict has a way of reshaping entire societies, and the world of finance is no exception.
July 23, 1961
Grace Bumbry Makes History at The Bayreuth Festival
On July 23, 1961, a 24-year-old African American soprano from St. Louis, Missouri, named Grace Bumbry found herself at the epicenter of a firestorm in West Germany.
July 23, 2000
Tiger Woods wins all 4 major titles
On July 23rd, 2000, Tiger Woods defeated Thomas Bjørn and Ernie Els to claim his first Open title — a victory that cemented his extraordinary ascent among golf's all-time legends.
July 24, 1802
Alexandre Dumas was Born
On 24th July 1902, the world welcomed Alexandre Dumas, a celebrated French playwright and writer whose literary genius would leave an indelible mark on storytelling.
July 24, 1832
The First Wagon Crosses the Oregon Trail
On July 24, 1832, Benjamin Bonneville made history by leading the first wagon trains over the Rocky Mountains, navigating the South Pass in Wyoming along the infamous Oregon Trail.
July 24, 1911
Explorer Hiram Bingham Rediscovered Machu Picchu
Though he lacked formal training as an explorer, Hiram Bingham harbored an intense curiosity about the history of ancient civilizations.
July 24, 1911
Machu Picchu Discovered
It was on the 24th of July 1911 that American archeologist Hiram Bingham first set foot among the ruins of the Inca settlement known as Machu Picchu — a place that would go on to become one of the
July 24, 1932
Amelia Earhart completes transcontinental flight
Born on July 24, 1897, Amelia Earhart would become one of aviation's most celebrated female pilots — and one of its greatest mysteries, vanishing without a trace on July 2, 1937.
July 25, 1908
The Discovery of MSG
It was July 25, 1908, when a seemingly ordinary moment in the kitchen sparked a discovery that would reshape the global food industry.
July 25, 1944
WWII Operation Spring
The Canadian assault on Verrières Ridge, known as Operation Spring, stands as one of the most consequential and painful episodes in Canadian military history.
July 25, 1965
Bob Dylan is booed
By 1965, Bob Dylan had already risen to prominence as one of the leading songwriters fueling America's folk music revival.
July 25, 2000
Concorde Crash at Gonesse
The Concorde fleet had been flying for 27 years without a single fatal incident — until July 25, 2000, when everything changed.
July 26, 1896
Vitascope Hall opens in New Orleans as the first for-profit movie theater
On July 26, 1896, something remarkable happened in New Orleans — the Vitascope Hall swung open its doors, earning its place in history as the first for-profit movie theater anywhere in the United
July 26, 1896
Vitascope Hall: America's First Movie Theater
On this day in 1896, a groundbreaking chapter in American entertainment began when the Vitascope Hall threw open its doors in New Orleans.
July 26, 1908
Office of the Chief Examiner: The Dawn of the FBI
At the dawn of the 1900s, America was being knit together like never before. The telegraph, railroad, and telephone had become powerful tools for shrinking the enormous distances that stretched
July 26, 1990
The Signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act
When President Richard Nixon signed the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, it marked a groundbreaking moment for disability rights — the first official law designed to protect people with disabilities.
July 27, 1586
Walter Raleigh Introduces Tobacco to England
Sir Walter Raleigh is widely credited with bringing tobacco to England upon his return from Virginia on July 27, 1586.
July 27, 1940
Bugs Bunny, first debuts in "Wild Hare"
Everyone familiar with the world of cartoons has surely encountered Warner Bros at some point, but not everyone may realize that Bugs Bunny, one of animation's most beloved figures, made his very
July 27, 1953
The Signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement
In the aftermath of World War II, geopolitical friction escalated rapidly, particularly between the United States and the Soviet Union.
July 28, 1794
The Execution of the Leaders of "The Reign of Terror" in Paris on July 28, 1794
The guillotine's blade fell on July 28, 1794, bringing to a close one of the most harrowing episodes in French history.
July 28, 1914
The Start of World War I
A Serbian nationalist assassinated the archduke and heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary in late June of 1914 — an act widely considered the spark that ignited World War I.
July 28, 1945
Jim Davis Garfield Creator Born
Growing up on a farm in Fairmont alongside his brother Dave, his mother Catherine Anna Davis, and his father William James Davis, the young artist spent much of his free time sketching after
July 28, 1945
Elevator Girl Survives a Fall
On July 28, 1945, 75 years ago, a dense, gloomy fog blanketed New York City. Betty Lou Oliver headed to her job at the Empire State Building that morning, where she served as an elevator girl — a
July 29, 1848
The Tipperary Revolt: A Brief Uprising in Irish History
The events of July 29, 1848, etched the Tipperary Revolt into the annals of Irish history.
July 29, 1954
The Publication of "The Fellowship of the Ring"
_The Lord of the Rings_ trilogy stands as one of the crowning achievements of high fantasy fiction, and its impact on the modern fantasy genre can hardly be overstated. J.R.R.
July 29, 1958
NASA was Formed
The launch of Sputnik by the Soviet Union in late 1957 marked a dramatic turning point in the Cold War, thrusting the rivalry between superpowers into the cosmos.
July 29, 1973
Led Zeppelin Robbed!
According to law enforcement, the legendary British rock and roll group Led Zeppelin had more than $200,000 in cash stolen right out of a hotel safety deposit box.
July 30, 1619
The Formation of America's First Elective Body
On July 30, 1619, something remarkable happened in the American colonies: the Virginia House of Burgesses came into existence, marking the birth of the first democratically elected legislative body
July 30, 1935
1st Penguin book is published
In an era of e-books dominating the market and paperbacks lining the shelves of every online retailer and brick-and-mortar bookshop, it's tough to imagine a time when softcover books were something
July 30, 1937
NKVD Order No. 00447 was Issued
The Soviet Union's feared secret police force, the NKVD, unleashed Order No. 00447 on this day in history.
July 30, 1956
The United States Declared a Motto
The aftermath of World War II ushered in an era of intense geopolitical rivalry, primarily between the United States and the Soviet Union — two former Allied powers now locked in a struggle rooted in
July 31, 1620
Pilgrim Fathers depart for America
The Pilgrim Fathers were a band of separatists who left England in search of religious freedom, fleeing the intolerance directed at Protestant dissenters.
July 31, 1751
Stockholm Fire Destroys 1,000 Homes
It's difficult to fathom how a single catastrophic blaze can utterly transform the physical character of an entire city — yet that's precisely what unfolded in Stockholm.
July 31, 1875
President Andrew Johnson Passed Away
On July 31, 1875, Andrew Johnson — the nation's seventeenth president — died at age 66.
July 31, 1971
First Lunar Roving Vehicle Lands on the Moon
On July 31st, 1971, history was made when a rover touched down on the lunar surface and drove across it for the very first time. The mission responsible for this remarkable achievement was Apollo 15.