On This Day — July 2

🕰️ Notable Events on July 2

• 2016 — Suicide bombing of Karrada in Baghdad kills at least 341 people. Wikipedia ↗
• 2013 — The International Astronomical Union names Pluto's fourth and fifth moons, Kerberos and Styx. Wikipedia ↗
• 2013 — A magnitude 6.1 earthquake strikes Aceh, Indonesia, killing at least 42 people and injuring 420 others. Wikipedia ↗
• 2010 — The South Kivu tank truck explosion in the Democratic Republic of the Congo kills at least 230 people. Wikipedia ↗
• 2008 — Íngrid Betancourt, a member of the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia, is released from captivity after being held for six and a half years by FARC. Wikipedia ↗
• 2005 — The Live 8 benefit concerts takes place in the G8 states and in South Africa. More than 1,000 musicians perform and are broadcast on 182 television networks and 2,000 radio networks. Wikipedia ↗
• 2002 — Steve Fossett becomes the first person to fly solo around the world nonstop in a balloon. Wikipedia ↗
• 2001 — The AbioCor self-contained artificial heart is first implanted. Wikipedia ↗
• 2000 — Vicente Fox Quesada is elected the first President of México from an opposition party, the Partido Acción Nacional, after more than 70 years of continuous rule by the Partido Revolucionario Institucional. Wikipedia ↗
• 1997 — The Bank of Thailand floats the baht, triggering the Asian financial crisis Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Rodrigo Rojas and Carmen Gloria Quintana are burnt alive during a street demonstration against the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet in Chile. Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Fall of the Republic of Vietnam; Communist North Vietnam declares their union to form the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — The French military explodes a nuclear test bomb code-named Aldébaran in Moruroa, their first nuclear test in the Pacific. Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964 meant to prohibit segregation in public places. Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — The first Wal-Mart store opens for business in Rogers, Arkansas. Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Indian independence leader Subhas Chandra Bose is arrested and detained in Calcutta. Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan are last heard from over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to make the first equatorial round-the-world flight. Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — The Night of the Long Knives ends with the death of Ernst Röhm. Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — World War I: U.S. President Warren G. Harding signs the Knox-Porter Resolution formally ending the war between the United States and Imperial Germany. Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — The first Zeppelin flight takes place on Lake Constance near Friedrichshafen, Germany. Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — Jean Sibelius' Finlandia receives its première performance in Helsinki with the Helsinki Philharmonic Society conducted by Robert Kajanus. Wikipedia ↗
• 1897 — British-Italian engineer Guglielmo Marconi obtains a patent for radio in London. Wikipedia ↗
• 1890 — The U.S. Congress passes the Sherman Antitrust Act. Wikipedia ↗
• 1881 — Charles J. Guiteau shoots and fatally wounds U.S. President James Garfield (who would die of complications from his wounds on September 19). Wikipedia ↗
• 1871 — Victor Emmanuel II of Italy enters Rome after having conquered it from the Papal States. Wikipedia ↗
• 1853 — The Russian Army crossed the Pruth river into the Danubian Principalities, Moldavia and Wallachia—providing the spark that set off the Crimean War. Wikipedia ↗
• 1839 — Twenty miles off the coast of Cuba, 53 rebelling African slaves led by Joseph Cinqué take over the slave ship Amistad. Wikipedia ↗
• 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. Wikipedia ↗
• 1822 — Thirty-five slaves are hanged in South Carolina, including Denmark Vesey, after being accused of organizing a slave rebellion. Wikipedia ↗
• 1816 — The French frigate Méduse struck the Bank of Arguin and 151 people on board had to be evacuated on an improvised raft, a case immortalised by Géricault's painting The Raft of the Medusa. Wikipedia ↗
• 1776 — The Continental Congress adopts a resolution severing ties with the Kingdom of Great Britain although the wording of the formal Declaration of Independence is not published until July 4. Wikipedia ↗
• 1698 — Thomas Savery patents the first steam engine. Wikipedia ↗
• 1645 — Battle of Alford: Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Wikipedia ↗
• 1644 — English Civil War: Battle of Marston Moor. Wikipedia ↗
• 1613 — The first English expedition (from Virginia) against Acadia led by Samuel Argall takes place. Wikipedia ↗
• 1582 — Battle of Yamazaki: Toyotomi Hideyoshi defeats Akechi Mitsuhide. Wikipedia ↗
• 1561 — Menas, emperor of Ethiopia, defeats a revolt in Emfraz. Wikipedia ↗
• 1555 — Ottoman Admiral Turgut Reis sacks the Italian city of Paola. Wikipedia ↗
• 1504 — Bogdan III the One-Eyed becomes Voivode of Moldavia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1494 — The Treaty of Tordesillas is ratified by Spain. Wikipedia ↗
• 1298 — The Battle of Göllheim is fought between Albert I of Habsburg and Adolf of Nassau-Weilburg. Wikipedia ↗
• 963 — The imperial army proclaims Nikephoros II Phokas Emperor of the Romans on the plains outside Cappadocian Caesarea. Wikipedia ↗
• 936 — King Henry the Fowler dies in his royal palace in Memleben. He is succeeded by his son Otto I, who becomes the ruler of East Francia. Wikipedia ↗
• 866 — Battle of Brissarthe: The Franks led by Robert the Strong are defeated by a joint Breton-Viking army. Wikipedia ↗
• 706 — In China, Emperor Zhongzong of Tang inters the bodies of relatives in the Qianling Mausoleum, located on Mount Liang outside Chang'an. Wikipedia ↗
• 626 — Li Shimin, the future Emperor Taizong of Tang, ambushes and kills his rival brothers Li Yuanji and Li Jiancheng in the Xuanwu Gate Incident. Wikipedia ↗
• 437 — Emperor Valentinian III begins his reign over the Western Roman Empire. His mother Galla Placidia ends her regency, but continues to exercise political influence at the court in Rome. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on July 2

• 1996 — Julia Grabher, Austrian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1995 — Ryan Murphy, American swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Madison Chock, American ice dancer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Merritt Mathias, American soccer player Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Danny Rose, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Bill Tupou, New Zealand rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Margot Robbie, Australian actress and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Nadezhda Grishaeva, Russian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Alex Morgan, American soccer player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Lee Chung-yong, South Korean footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Esteban Granero, Spanish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Brett Cecil, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Lindsay Lohan, American actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Rhett Bomar, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Chad Henne, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Ashley Tisdale, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Thomas Kortegaard, Danish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Johnny Weir, American figure skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Michelle Branch, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Kyle Hogg, English cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Nathan Ellington, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Carlos Rogers, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Nicole Briscoe, American model and journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Nyjer Morgan, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Walter Davis, American triple jumper Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Sam Hornish Jr., American race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Joe Thornton, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Jüri Ratas, Estonian politician, 42nd Mayor of Tallinn Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Owain Yeoman, Welsh actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Deniz Barış, Turkish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Krisztián Lisztes, Hungarian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Tomáš Vokoun, Czech-American ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Éric Dazé, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Kristen Michal, Estonian lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Erik Ohlsson, Swedish singer and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Stefan Terblanche, South African rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Sean Casey, American baseball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Peter Kay, English comedian, actor, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Darren Shan, English author Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Troy Brown, American football player and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Evelyn Lau, Canadian poet and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Bryan Redpath, Scottish rugby player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Derrick Adkins, American hurdler Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Colin Edwin, Australian bass player Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Steve Morrow, Northern Irish footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Tim Rodber, English rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Jean-François Richet, French director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Norbert Röttgen, German lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Stéphan Bureau, Canadian journalist and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Jose Canseco, Cuban-American baseball player and mixed martial artist Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Ozzie Canseco, Cuban-American baseball player, coach, and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Joe Magrane, American baseball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Alan Tait, English-Scottish rugby player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Neil Williams, English cricketer (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Clark Kellogg, American basketball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Maria Lourdes Sereno, Filipino lawyer and jurist, 24th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Bret Hart, Canadian wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Jüri Raidla, Estonian lawyer and politician, Estonian Minister of Justice Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Purvis Short, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Jerry Hall, American model and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Kim Carr, Australian educator and politician, 31st Australian Minister for Human Services Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Pete Briquette, Irish bass player, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Chris Huhne, English journalist and politician, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Jean-Claude Borelly, French trumpet player and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Johnny Colla, American guitarist, saxophonist, and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Anatoliy Solomin, Ukrainian race walker and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Lynne Brindley, English librarian and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Jon Trickett, English politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Greg Brown, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Robert Paquette, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Mutula Kilonzo, Kenyan lawyer and politician (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Gene McFadden, American singer-songwriter and producer (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Larry David, American actor, comedian, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Ann Taylor, Baroness Taylor of Bolton, English politician, Minister for International Security Strategy Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Richard Axel, American neuroscientist and biologist, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Ron Silver, American actor, director, and political activist (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Ivi Eenmaa, Estonian politician, 36th Mayor of Tallinn Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Larry Lake, American-Canadian trumpet player and composer (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — John Eekelaar, South African-English lawyer and scholar Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Vicente Fox, Mexican businessman and politician, 35th President of Mexico Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — William Guest, American singer-songwriter and producer (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Wendell Mottley, Trinidadian sprinter, economist, and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Kenneth Clarke, English politician, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Alexandros Panagoulis, Greek poet and politician (d. 1976) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — John H. Sununu, American engineer and politician, 14th White House Chief of Staff Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Paul Williams, American singer and choreographer (d. 1973) Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — David Owen, English physician and politician, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Polly Holliday, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Richard Petty, American race car driver and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Omar Suleiman, Egyptian general and politician, 16th Vice President of Egypt (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Gilbert Kalish, American pianist and educator Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Tom Springfield, English singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Peter Desbarats, Canadian journalist, author, and playwright Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Kenny Wharram, Canadian ice hockey player (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Dave Thomas, American businessman and philanthropist, founded Wendy's (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Carlos Menem, Argentinian lawyer and politician, 50th President of Argentina Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Imelda Marcos, Filipino politician; 10th First Lady of the Philippines Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Lee Allen, American saxophone player (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — James Mackay, Baron Mackay of Clashfern, Scottish lawyer and politician, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Brock Peters, American actor (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Octavian Paler, Romanian journalist and politician (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Medgar Evers, American soldier and activist (d. 1963) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Patrice Lumumba, Congolese politician, 1st Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (d. 1961) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Marvin Rainwater, American singer-songwriter (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Cyril M. Kornbluth, American soldier and author (d. 1958) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Wisława Szymborska, Polish poet and translator, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Pierre Cardin, Italian-French fashion designer Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — John Kneubuhl, Samoan-American historian, screenwriter, and playwright (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Jean Craighead George, American author (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Athos Bulcão, Brazilian painter and sculptor (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Leonard J. Arrington, American author and academic, founded the Mormon History Association (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Ken Curtis, American actor and singer (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Hans-Ulrich Rudel, German colonel and pilot (d. 1982) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Reino Kangasmäki, Finnish wrestler (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Zélia Gattai, Brazilian author and photographer (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington, British peer, politician and soldier (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Frederick Fennell, American conductor and educator (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Ethelreda Leopold, American actress (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Mário Schenberg, Brazilian physicist and engineer (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Erich Topp, German admiral (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Max Beloff, Baron Beloff, English historian and academic (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — Reg Parnell, English race car driver and manager (d. 1964) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Thurgood Marshall, American lawyer and jurist, 32nd Solicitor General of the United States (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
• 1906 — Hans Bethe, German-American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1906 — Károly Kárpáti, Hungarian Jewish wrestler (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1906 — Séra Martin, French middle-distance runner (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
• 1904 — René Lacoste, French tennis player and businessman, created the polo shirt (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1903 — Alec Douglas-Home, English cricketer and politician, 66th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1903 — Olav V of Norway (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1902 — K. Kanapathypillai, Sri Lankan author and academic (d. 1968) Wikipedia ↗
• 1902 — Germaine Thyssens-Valentin, Dutch-French pianist (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — Tyrone Guthrie, English actor and director (d. 1971) Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — Sophie Harris, English costume and scenic designer for theatre and opera (d. 1966) Wikipedia ↗
• 1893 — Ralph Hancock, Welsh gardener and author (d. 1950) Wikipedia ↗
• 1884 — Alfons Maria Jakob, German neurologist and author (d. 1931) Wikipedia ↗
• 1881 — Royal Hurlburt Weller, American lawyer and politician (d. 1929) Wikipedia ↗
• 1877 — Hermann Hesse, German-born Swiss poet, novelist, and painter, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1962) Wikipedia ↗
• 1877 — Rinaldo Cuneo, American artist ("the painter of San Francisco") (d. 1939) Wikipedia ↗
• 1876 — Harriet Brooks, Canadian physicist and academic (d. 1933) Wikipedia ↗
• 1876 — Wilhelm Cuno, German businessman and politician, Chancellor of Germany (d. 1933) Wikipedia ↗
• 1869 — Liane de Pougy, French-Swiss dancer and author (d. 1950) Wikipedia ↗
• 1865 — Lily Braun, German author and publicist (d. 1916) Wikipedia ↗
• 1862 — William Henry Bragg, English physicist, chemist, and mathematician, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1942) Wikipedia ↗
• 1849 — Maria Theresa of Austria-Este (d. 1919) Wikipedia ↗
• 1834 — Hendrick Peter Godfried Quack, Dutch economist and historian (d. 1917) Wikipedia ↗
• 1821 — Charles Tupper, Canadian physician and politician, 6th Prime Minister of Canada (d. 1915) Wikipedia ↗
• 1820 — George Law Curry, American publisher and politician, 5th Governor of the Oregon Territory (d. 1878) Wikipedia ↗
• 1819 — Charles-Louis Hanon, French pianist and composer (d. 1900) Wikipedia ↗
• 1724 — Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock, German poet and author (d. 1803) Wikipedia ↗
• 1714 — Christoph Willibald Gluck, German composer (d. 1787) Wikipedia ↗
• 1667 — Pietro Ottoboni, Italian cardinal and art collector (d. 1740) Wikipedia ↗
• 1665 — Samuel Penhallow, English-American soldier and historian (d. 1726) Wikipedia ↗
• 1648 — Arp Schnitger, German organ builder (d. 1719) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on July 2 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on July 2

🏛️ Public Holidays

Also in: June 30 Revolution (EG) · عيد ثورة ٣٠ يونيو (يوم تعويضي) (EG)

✡️ Religious Observances

• Jewish: Tzom Tammuz
• Islamic: Urs of Shaykh Muhammad Effendi al‑Yaraghi ق