On This Day In History
Born on 2nd July
Margot Robbie - 1990
Lindsay Lohan - 1986
Larry David - 1947
Peter Kay - 1973
July 3rd
324 Battle of Adrianople: Roman Emperor Constantine I defeats his co-emperor Licinius, who flees to Byzantium
1187 Battle of Horns of Hattin: Saladin, Sultan of Egypt and Syria, destroys Jerusalem's crusader army
1863 Battle of Gettysburg, largest battle ever fought on the American continent, ends in a major victory for the Union during the US Civil War
1884 Dow Jones publishes its 1st stock index, the Dow Jones Transportation Average
1996 UK House of Commons announces that the Stone of Scone, aka the Stone of Destiny, used in the coronation of Scottish (and subsequently English and British monarchs), will be returned to Scotland after 700 years in Westminster Abbey
Did You Know?
Intergovernmental Conference on Identity Certificates for Russian Refugees, convened by Fridtjof Nansen in Geneva, creates the Nansen passports (for stateless persons)
Today in History in 1922
Would You Believe?
Common tern banded in Maine; found dead in 1919 in Africa (1st bird known to have crossed the Atlantic)
Today in History in 1913
This day 157 years ago - 3 July 1863 - the 69th Pennsylvania Infantry, a regiment in the Union army comprised mainly of Irish immigrants, repelled Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg.
It was commanded by Col. Dennis O'Kane, who had immigrated to the U.S. in the 1840s. pic.twitter.com/0TxT1wPfEO
— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) July 3, 2020
In 1977, Gisèle Rabesahala became the 1st female minister in Madagascar—for Culture & Revolutionary Art. A campaigner for her country's independence, she was also the 1st female municipal councillor and the 1st woman leader of a Malagasy political party. https://t.co/rO3BGLKgRq pic.twitter.com/27ovC4vwAb
— On This Day She (@OnThisDayShe) July 3, 2022
On this day in 1917, white mobs in East St. Louis, IL, attacked Black residents and destroyed their homes. Up to 200 Black men, women, and children were shot, beaten to death, or burned alive. To overcome racial inequality, we must confront our history. https://t.co/kpaCVsohmp
— Equal Justice Initiative (@eji_org) July 3, 2022
3 July 1863. The North gained a major victory over Confederate troops at the end of the Battle of Gettysburg. It resulted in the largest number of casualties of the Civil War. It’s described as a major turning point as it halted General Robert E. Lee’s invasion of the North. pic.twitter.com/UEXOPQgJeO
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) July 3, 2022
3 July 1886. German engine designer, Karl Benz, officially unveiled the “Benz Patent Motorwagen” in a ceremony on the Ringstrasse in Mannheim, Germany. It’s regarded as the world’s first purpose-built motor car. pic.twitter.com/CciIvRIFri
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) July 3, 2022
3 July 1924. Clarence Birdseye founded the General Seafood Corporation. It went on to produce a range of frozen fish products, most notably, fish fingers. The "Birds Eye" name remains a leading frozen-food brand today. pic.twitter.com/VRLMuaF3D7
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) July 3, 2022
3 July 1938. The LNER locomotive No 4468: “Mallard”, achieved the world rail speed record for a steam locomotive of 126 MPH: a record that still stands. Built in Doncaster in March 1938, Mallard was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, the Chief Engineer for LNER. pic.twitter.com/nARHPLS0lD
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) July 3, 2022
3 July 1969. Brian Jones (aged 27), founding member of The Rolling Stones, apparently drowned in the swimming pool of his mansion in Hartfield. He was recently sacked from the group, due to problems with drugs and alcohol and was replaced by Mick Taylor.
pic.twitter.com/0RC9GntHBj— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) July 3, 2022
3 July 1971. Jim Morrison (aged 27), charismatic lead singer of The Doors was found dead in the bath of his apartment in Paris by his partner, Pam Courson. Cause was heart failure, but no autopsy was performed. Heroin addiction was probably a major factor. pic.twitter.com/qjMC4E3Niv
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) July 3, 2022
July 4th
1776 US Congress proclaims the Declaration of Independence and independence from Great Britain
1785 James Hutton, geologist, publicly reads an abstract of his theory of uniformitarianism for the first time at the meeting of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
1803 The Louisiana Purchase is announced to the American people by President Thomas Jefferson
1838 Huskar Colliery Mining Disaster in Silkstone England: mining pit floods drown 26 children, leads to 1842 'Mines and Collieries Act' bans women and children working underground
1934 Hungarian physicist Leo Szilard patents the chain-reaction design for the atomic bomb
2017 North Korea tests first successful intercontinental ballistic missile into Sea of Japan
Did You Know?
Howard Florey and Norman Heatley meet for 1st time, 11 days later they successfully recreate penicillin
Today in History in 1941
Would You Believe?
Western Samoa changes the International Date Line, so that year there were 367 days in this country, with two occurrences of Monday, July 4
Today in History in 1892
This day 65 years ago – 4 July 1957 – Éamon de Valera condemned a boycott of Protestant businesses in Fethard-on-Sea, Co Wexford:
“I regard it as unjust and cruel... I repudiate any suggestion that this boycott is typical of the attitude or conduct of our people.” pic.twitter.com/ZNd65JnV5g
— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) July 4, 2022
Mary Katharine Goddard was a Baltimore publisher and newspaper editor who, in January 1777, printed the Declaration of Independence. This second public printing was the first to name all the signatories, so that people knew who had signed. https://t.co/YuhAfqpCSm #IndependenceDay pic.twitter.com/2msFipO9JP
— On This Day She (@OnThisDayShe) July 4, 2022
On this day in 1933, a white mob broke into a jail cell in South Carolina, lynched Norris Dendy, a Black man, and left his body in a churchyard. To overcome racial inequality, we must confront our history. https://t.co/0nQdC3EvqU
— Equal Justice Initiative (@eji_org) July 4, 2022
4 July 1826. Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd President of the USA, died (aged 83). He’s venerated as a supporter of individual liberty and hailed as the author of the Declaration of Independence, but criticised for being a slave owner. He died on Independence Day. pic.twitter.com/GZfpmkZqRF
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) July 4, 2022
4 July 1826. John Adams died (aged 90). He served as the 2nd US President from 1797 to 1801, having previously served as the first Vice-President. He died on Independence Day, just 5 hours after the former US President, Thomas Jefferson, passed away. pic.twitter.com/RlzlCnRFom
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) July 4, 2022
4 July 1829. The very first bus route in London began. It was a horse-drawn service carrying paying passengers between the Yorkshire Stingo pub in Paddington and the Bank of England in the City. The trip took about 40 minutes. pic.twitter.com/gcQtePY8b9
— Prof. Frank McDonough (@FXMC1957) July 4, 2022