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On This Day in History — July 22
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Highlights of July 22
- 2002 — The Israel Defense Forces bombed the home of Salah Shehade, the leader of the military arm of Hamas, killing him, his family and neighboring civilians. Read more
- 1997 — Written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece, the best-selling manga series in history, debuted in Weekly Shōnen Jump. Read more
- 1991 — American serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was arrested in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, after police discovered human remains in his apartment. Read more
- 1976 — Japan completed its last reparation to the Philippines for war crimes committed during imperial Japan's conquest of the country in the Second World War. Read more
- 1975 — Stanley Forman (pictured) took the Pulitzer Prize–winning photo Fire Escape Collapse, which spurred action to improve the safety of fire escapes across the United States. Read more
- 1963 — The United Kingdom granted self-government to Sarawak (first flag pictured); the day would be celebrated as Sarawak Day. Read more
- 1954 — A limited state of martial law was declared in Russell County, Alabama, due to organized crime. Read more
- 1951 — Soviet space dogs: Dezik and Tsygan were launched into a sub-orbital spaceflight from Kapustin Yar and became the first dogs to fly in space and the first to safely return. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: In opposition to the government-in-exile based in London, the Soviet-backed Polish Committee of National Liberation was proclaimed to govern territory recaptured from Germany. Read more
- 1894 — Jules-Albert de Dion finished first in the world's first motor race, but did not win as his steam-powered car was against the rules. Read more
- 1864 — American Civil War: Confederate forces unsuccessfully attacked Union troops at the Battle of Atlanta. Read more
- 1817 — Windham William Sadler made the first successful aerial crossing of the Irish Sea, which he accomplished by balloon. Read more
- 1802 — Gia Long conquered Hanoi and unified modern-day Vietnam, which had experienced centuries of feudal warfare. Read more
- 1691 — Williamite forces defeated the Jacobites at the Battle of Aughrim, the decisive battle of the Williamite War in Ireland. Read more
- 1298 — First War of Scottish Independence: English forces led by Edward I defeated William Wallace's Scottish troops at the Battle of Falkirk. Read more
- 1209 — A crusading army captured Béziers, France, and massacred the city's inhabitants in the first major military action of the Albigensian Crusade. Read more
- 838 — Arab–Byzantine wars: The forces of the Abbasid Caliphate defeated Byzantine troops led by Emperor Theophilos at the Battle of Anzen, near present-day Dazman, Turkey. Read more
Events
- 2019 — Chandrayaan-2, the second lunar exploration mission developed by Indian Space Research Organisation after Chandrayaan-1 is launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in a GSLV Mark III M1. It consists of a lunar orbiter, and also included the Vikram lander, and the Pragyan lunar rover. Read more
- 2013 — Dingxi earthquakes: A series of earthquakes in Dingxi, China, kills at least 89 people and injures more than 500 others. Read more
- 2012 — Syrian civil war: The People's Protection Units (YPG) captured the cities of Serê Kaniyê and Dirbêsiyê, during clashes with pro-government forces in Al-Hasakah. Read more
- 2011 — Norway attacks: A bomb explodes, targeted at government buildings in central Oslo, followed by a massacre at a youth camp on the island of Utøya. Read more
- 2005 — Jean Charles de Menezes is killed by police as the hunt begins for the London Bombers responsible for the 7 July 2005 London bombings and the 21 July 2005 London bombings. Read more
- 2003 — Iraq War: Members of 101st Airborne of the United States, aided by Special Forces, attack a compound in Iraq, killing Saddam Hussein's sons Uday and Qusay, along with Mustapha Hussein, Qusay's 14-year-old son, and a bodyguard. Read more
- 1997 — The second Blue Water Bridge opens between Port Huron, Michigan and Sarnia, Ontario. Read more
- 1993 — Great Flood of 1993: Levees near Kaskaskia, Illinois rupture, forcing the entire town to evacuate by barges operated by the Army Corps of Engineers. Read more
- 1992 — Near Medellín, Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar escapes from his luxury prison fearing extradition to the United States. Read more
- 1990 — Greg LeMond, an American road racing cyclist, wins his third Tour de France after leading the majority of the race. It was LeMond's second consecutive Tour de France victory. Read more
- 1983 — Martial law in Poland is officially revoked. Read more
- 1981 — The first game of the 1981 South Africa rugby union tour of New Zealand and the United States is held in Gisborne, New Zealand. Read more
- 1977 — Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping is restored to power. Read more
- 1976 — Japan completes its last reparation to the Philippines for war crimes committed during imperial Japan's conquest of the country in the Second World War. Read more
- 1973 — Pan Am Flight 816 crashes after takeoff from Faa'a International Airport in Papeete, French Polynesia, killing 78. Read more
- 1963 — Crown Colony of Sarawak gains self-governance. Read more
- 1962 — Mariner program: Mariner 1 spacecraft flies erratically several minutes after launch and has to be destroyed. Read more
- 1951 — Soviet space dogs: Dezik and Tsygan were launched into a sub-orbital spaceflight from Kapustin Yar and became the first dogs to fly in space and the first to safely return. Read more
- 1946 — King David Hotel bombing: A Zionist underground organisation, the Irgun, bombs the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, site of the civil administration and military headquarters for Mandatory Palestine, resulting in 91 deaths. Read more
- 1944 — The Polish Committee of National Liberation publishes its manifesto, starting the period of Communist rule in Poland. Read more
- 1943 — World War II: Allied forces capture Palermo during the Allied invasion of Sicily. Read more
- 1943 — World War II: Axis occupation forces violently disperse a massive protest in Athens, killing 22. Read more
- 1942 — The United States government begins compulsory civilian gasoline rationing due to the wartime demands. Read more
- 1942 — Grossaktion Warsaw: The systematic deportation of Jews from the Warsaw ghetto begins. Read more
- 1937 — New Deal: The United States Senate votes down President Franklin D. Roosevelt's proposal to add more justices to the Supreme Court of the United States. Read more
- 1936 — Spanish Civil War: The Popular Executive Committee of Valencia takes power in the Valencian Community. Read more
- 1933 — Aviator Wiley Post returns to Floyd Bennett Field in New York City, completing the first solo flight around the world in seven days, 18 hours and 49 minutes. Read more
- 1921 — Rif War: The Spanish Army suffers its worst military defeat in modern times to the Berbers of the Rif region of Spanish Morocco. Read more
- 1916 — Preparedness Day Bombing: In San Francisco, a bomb explodes on Market Street during a parade, killing ten and injuring 40. Read more
- 1894 — The first ever motor race is held in France between the cities of Paris and Rouen. The fastest finisher was the Comte Jules-Albert de Dion, but the "official" victory was awarded to Albert Lemaître driving his three-horsepower petrol engined Peugeot. Read more
- 1893 — Katharine Lee Bates writes "America the Beautiful" after admiring the view from the top of Pikes Peak near Colorado Springs, Colorado. Read more
- 1880 — Abdur Rahman is proclaimed emir of Afghanistan after having been accepted as ruler by the British. Read more
- 1864 — American Civil War: In the Battle of Atlanta, Confederate General John Bell Hood leads an unsuccessful attack on Union troops under General William T. Sherman on Bald Hill outside Atlanta. Read more
- 1833 — The Slavery Abolition Act passes in the British House of Commons, initiating the gradual abolition of slavery in most parts of the British Empire. Read more
- 1812 — Napoleonic Wars: Peninsular War: Battle of Salamanca: British forces led by Arthur Wellesley (later the Duke of Wellington) defeat French troops near Salamanca, Spain. Read more
- 1805 — Napoleonic Wars: War of the Third Coalition: Battle of Cape Finisterre: An inconclusive naval action is fought between a combined French and Spanish fleet under Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve of France and a British fleet under Admiral Robert Calder. Read more
- 1802 — Emperor Gia Long conquers Hanoi and unified Viet Nam, which had experienced centuries of feudal warfare. Read more
- 1797 — Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Battle between Spanish and British naval forces during the French Revolutionary Wars. During the Battle, Rear-Admiral Nelson is wounded in the arm and the arm had to be partially amputated. Read more
- 1796 — Surveyors of the Connecticut Land Company name an area in Ohio "Cleveland" after Gen. Moses Cleaveland, the superintendent of the surveying party. Read more
- 1793 — Alexander Mackenzie reaches the Pacific Ocean becoming the first recorded human to complete a transcontinental crossing of North America. Read more
- 1706 — The Acts of Union 1707 are agreed upon by commissioners from the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland, which, when passed by each country's Parliament, leads to the creation of the Kingdom of Great Britain. Read more
- 1686 — Albany, New York is formally chartered as a municipality by Governor Thomas Dongan. Read more
- 1598 — William Shakespeare's play, The Merchant of Venice, is entered on the Stationers' Register. By decree of Queen Elizabeth, the Stationers' Register licensed printed works, giving the Crown tight control over all published material. Read more
- 1594 — The Dutch city of Groningen defended by the Spanish and besieged by a Dutch and English army under Maurice of Orange, capitulates. Read more
- 1587 — Roanoke Colony: A second group of English settlers arrives on Roanoke Island off North Carolina to re-establish the deserted colony. Read more
- 1499 — Battle of Dornach: The Swiss decisively defeat the army of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor. Read more
- 1484 — Battle of Lochmaben Fair: A 500-man raiding party led by Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany and James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas are defeated by Scots forces loyal to Albany's brother James III of Scotland; Douglas is captured. Read more
- 1456 — Ottoman wars in Europe: Siege of Belgrade: John Hunyadi, Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary, defeats Mehmet II of the Ottoman Empire. Read more
- 1443 — Battle of St. Jakob an der Sihl in the Old Zürich War. Read more
- 1342 — St. Mary Magdalene's flood is the worst such event on record for central Europe. Read more
- 1298 — Wars of Scottish Independence: Battle of Falkirk: King Edward I of England and his longbowmen defeat William Wallace and his Scottish schiltrons outside the town of Falkirk. Read more
- 1227 — A coalition of north-east German towns, counts and princes defeats King Valdemar II of Denmark in the Battle of Bornhöved. Read more
- 1209 — Massacre at Béziers: The first major military action of the Albigensian Crusade. Read more
- 1099 — First Crusade: Godfrey of Bouillon is elected the first Defender of the Holy Sepulchre of The Kingdom of Jerusalem. Read more
- 838 — Battle of Anzen: The Byzantine emperor Theophilos suffers a heavy defeat by the Abbasids. Read more
- 259 — Election of Pope Dionysius after the death of Pope Sixtus II in the persecutions of Emperor Valerian in the previous year. Read more
Born on July 22
- 2013 — Prince George of Wales Read more
- 2006 — Javon Walton, American actor and boxer Read more
- 2003 — Solveig Vik, Norwegian politician Read more
- 2002 — Konstanse Marie Alvær, Norwegian politician Read more
- 2002 — Prince Felix of Denmark Read more
- 2000 — Garrett Wilson, American football player Read more
- 1999 — Sidney Chu, Hong Kong skater Read more
- 1999 — Jason Robertson, American ice hockey player Read more
- 1998 — Marc Cucurella, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1998 — Larray, American YouTuber Read more
- 1998 — Madison Pettis, American actress Read more
- 1998 — Federico Valverde, Uruguayan footballer Read more
- 1998 — Sahaphap Wongratch, Thai actor, model, and singer Read more
- 1996 — Kevin Fiala, Swiss ice hockey player Read more
- 1996 — Skyler Gisondo, American actor Read more
- 1995 — Ezekiel Elliott, American football player Read more
- 1995 — Armaan Malik, Indian playback singer, composer and songwriter Read more
- 1995 — Jonathan Owens, American football player Read more
- 1993 — Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, Kyrgyzstani-American terrorist Read more
- 1992 — Anja Aguilar, Filipino actress and singer Read more
- 1992 — Selena Gomez, American singer and actress Read more
- 1992 — Carolin Schnarre, German Paralympic equestrian Read more
- 1991 — Taylor Lewan, American football player Read more
- 1991 — Matty James, English footballer Read more
- 1991 — Tomi Juric, Australian footballer Read more
- 1989 — Israel Adesanya, New Zealand mixed martial artist and kickboxer Read more
- 1989 — Keegan Allen, American actor, photographer and musician Read more
- 1988 — William Buick, Norwegian-British flat jockey Read more
- 1988 — Paul Coutts, Scottish footballer Read more
- 1988 — George Santos, American politician Read more
- 1988 — Thomas Kraft, German footballer Read more
- 1988 — Sercan Temizyürek, Turkish footballer Read more
- 1987 — Denis Gargaud Chanut, French slalom canoeist Read more
- 1987 — Charlotte Kalla, Swedish skier Read more
- 1986 — Colin de Grandhomme, Zimbabwean-New Zealand cricketer Read more
- 1986 — Stevie Johnson, American football player Read more
- 1985 — Jessica Abbott, Australian swimmer Read more
- 1985 — Takudzwa Ngwenya, Zimbabwean-American rugby player Read more
- 1985 — Akira Tozawa, Japanese wrestler Read more
- 1984 — Stewart Downing, English footballer Read more
Died on July 22
- 2026 — Chuck Russell, American film director and producer (born 1958) Read more
- 2025 — John Fallon, Scottish footballer (born 1940) Read more
- 2025 — George Kooymans, Dutch musician (born 1948) Read more
- 2025 — Ozzy Osbourne, English musician and media personality (born 1948) Read more
- 2025 — Chuck Mangione, American musician (born 1940) Read more
- 2025 — Shelly Zegart, American quilt collector, historian, and advocate (born 1941) Read more
- 2024 — Mark Carnevale, American golfer and radio commentator (born 1960) Read more
- 2024 — Duke Fakir, American singer (born 1935) Read more
- 2024 — John Mayall, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (born 1933) Read more
- 2022 — Maria Petri, English association football supporter (born 1939) Read more
- 2018 — Frank Havens, American canoeist (born 1924) Read more
- 2014 — Johann Breyer, German SS officer (born 1925) Read more
- 2014 — Louis Lentin, Irish director and producer (born 1933) Read more
- 2014 — Nitzan Shirazi, Israeli footballer and manager (born 1971) Read more
- 2013 — Natalie de Blois, American architect, co-designed the Lever House (born 1921) Read more
- 2013 — Dennis Farina, American policeman and actor (born 1944) Read more
- 2013 — Lawrie Reilly, Scottish footballer (born 1928) Read more
- 2013 — Rosalie E. Wahl, American lawyer and judge (born 1924) Read more
- 2012 — Ding Guangen, Chinese engineer and politician (born 1929) Read more
- 2012 — George Armitage Miller, American psychologist and academic (born 1920) Read more
- 2012 — Frank Pierson, American director and screenwriter (born 1925) Read more
- 2011 — Linda Christian, Mexican-American actress (born 1923) Read more
- 2011 — Cees de Wolf, Dutch footballer (born 1945) Read more
- 2010 — Kenny Guinn, American banker and politician, 27th Governor of Nevada (born 1936) Read more
- 2009 — Richard M. Givan, American lawyer and judge (born 1921) Read more
- 2009 — Peter Krieg, German director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1947) Read more
- 2008 — Estelle Getty, American actress (born 1923) Read more
- 2007 — Mike Coolbaugh, American baseball player and coach (born 1972) Read more
- 2007 — László Kovács, Hungarian-American director and cinematographer (born 1933) Read more
- 2007 — Rollie Stiles, American baseball player (born 1906) Read more
- 2006 — Dika Newlin, American composer, singer-songwriter, and pianist (born 1923) Read more
- 2006 — José Antonio Delgado, Venezuelan mountaineer (born 1965) Read more
- 2005 — Eugene Record, American singer-songwriter and producer (born 1940) Read more
- 2004 — Sacha Distel, French singer and guitarist (born 1933) Read more
- 2004 — Illinois Jacquet, American saxophonist and composer (born 1922) Read more
- 2001 — Indro Montanelli, Italian journalist and historian (born 1909) Read more
- 2000 — Eric Christmas, English-born Canadian actor (born 1916) Read more
- 2000 — Carmen Martín Gaite, Spanish author, poet, and playwright (born 1925) Read more
- 2000 — Raymond Lemieux, Canadian chemist and academic (born 1920) Read more
- 2000 — Claude Sautet, French director and screenwriter (born 1924) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Abd-al-Masih; Christian feast day:
Anna Wang; Christian feast day:
Mary Magdalene; Christian feast day:
Markella; Christian feast day:
Nohra (Maronite Church); Christian feast day:
Philip Evans and John Lloyd; Christian feast day:
July 22 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Sarawak Independence Day (Sarawak, Malaysia)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “July 22”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.