On This Day in History — July 29

Highlights of July 29

• 1981 — An estimated worldwide television audience of 750 million watched the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer (combined coat of arms pictured) at St Paul's Cathedral in London. Read more
• 1954 — The Fellowship of the Ring, the first part of J. R. R. Tolkien's novel The Lord of the Rings, was published by Allen & Unwin. Read more
• 1950 — Korean War: Over fears that North Korean soldiers were infiltrating refugee columns, U.S. forces concluded a four-day massacre of hundreds of civilians through shootings and air attacks near the village of Nogeun-ri. Read more
• 1938 — The Essential Commodities Reserves Act, which allowed the British government to build up reserves of essential commodities in anticipation of war, received royal assent. Read more
• 1921 — Adolf Hitler became leader of the National Socialist German Workers' Party. Read more
• 1914 — The Cape Cod Canal (pictured), connecting Cape Cod Bay and Buzzards Bay in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, opened on a limited basis. Read more
• 1914 — The first shots of World War I were fired by the Austro-Hungarian river monitor Bodrog on Serbian defences near Belgrade. Read more
• 1911 — In a case later termed a "legal lynching", Will P. Brady obtained a guilty verdict and death sentence against 15-year-old León Martínez Jr., five days after his arrest for killing a white woman. Read more
• 1900 — Italian anarchist Gaetano Bresci (pictured) assassinated King Umberto I of Italy in Monza. Read more
• 1818 — French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel submitted a memoir on the diffraction of light to the Royal Academy of Sciences, providing strong support for the wave theory of light. Read more
• 1693 — Nine Years' War: French troops defeated the forces of the Grand Alliance led by William III of England at the Battle of Landen in present-day Neerwinden, Belgium. Read more
• 1567 — The infant James VI was crowned King of Scotland at Stirling. Read more
• 1014 — Byzantine–Bulgarian wars: Byzantine forces defeated troops of the Bulgarian Empire at the Battle of Kleidion in the mountains of Belasica near present-day Klyuch. Read more
• 904 — Arab–Byzantine wars: Thessalonica, the Byzantine Empire's second-largest city, was sacked by Saracen raiders. Read more

Events

• 2024 — Three children are stabbed to death and 10 other people injured at a dance studio in Southport, England. This incident, coupled with widespread online misinformation, leads to various racially motivated riots across the UK. Read more
• 2021 — The International Space Station temporarily spins out of control, moving the ISS 45 degrees out of attitude, following an engine malfunction of Russian module Nauka. Read more
• 2019 — The 2019 Altamira prison riot between rival Brazilian drug gangs leaves 62 dead. Read more
• 2015 — The first piece of suspected debris from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 is discovered on Réunion Island. Read more
• 2013 — Two passenger trains collide in the Swiss municipality of Granges-près-Marnand near Lausanne injuring 25 people. Read more
• 2010 — An overloaded passenger ferry capsizes on the Kasai River in Bandundu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, resulting in at least 80 deaths. Read more
• 2005 — Astronomers announce their discovery of the dwarf planet Eris. Read more
• 1996 — The child protection portion of the Communications Decency Act is struck down by a U.S. federal court as too broad. Read more
• 1993 — The Supreme Court of Israel acquits alleged Nazi death camp guard John Demjanjuk of all charges and he is set free. Read more
• 1987 — British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and President of France François Mitterrand sign the agreement to build a tunnel under the English Channel (Channel Tunnel). Read more
• 1987 — Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi and President of Sri Lanka J. R. Jayewardene sign the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord on ethnic issues. Read more
• 1985 — Space Shuttle Challenger launches on STS-51-F. The shuttle ends up in a lower orbit than planned due to an engine failure during ascent. Read more
• 1981 — A worldwide television audience of around 750 million people watch the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul's Cathedral in London. Read more
• 1981 — After impeachment on June 21, Abolhassan Banisadr flees with Massoud Rajavi to Paris, in an Iranian Air Force Boeing 707, piloted by Colonel Behzad Moezzi, to form the National Council of Resistance of Iran. Read more
• 1980 — Iran adopts a new "holy" flag after the Islamic Revolution. Read more
• 1976 — In New York City, David Berkowitz (a.k.a. the "Son of Sam") kills one person and seriously wounds another in the first of a series of attacks. Read more
• 1973 — Greeks vote to abolish the monarchy, beginning the first period of the Metapolitefsi. Read more
• 1973 — Driver Roger Williamson is killed during the Dutch Grand Prix, after a suspected tire failure causes his car to pitch into the barriers at high speed. Read more
• 1972 — Two Avianca Douglas DC-3 airliners collide over Colombia, killing 38. Read more
• 1967 — Vietnam War: Off the coast of North Vietnam the USS Forrestal catches on fire in the worst U.S. naval disaster since World War II, killing 134. Read more
• 1967 — During the fourth day of celebrating its 400th anniversary, the city of Caracas, Venezuela is shaken by an earthquake, leaving approximately 500 dead. Read more
• 1965 — Vietnam War: The first 4,000 101st Airborne Division paratroopers arrive in Vietnam, landing at Cam Ranh Bay. Read more
• 1958 — U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs into law the National Aeronautics and Space Act, which creates the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Read more
• 1957 — The International Atomic Energy Agency is established. Read more
• 1957 — Tonight Starring Jack Paar premieres on NBC with Jack Paar beginning the modern day talk show. Read more
• 1950 — Korean War: After four days, the No Gun Ri Massacre ends when the US Army 7th Cavalry Regiment is withdrawn. Read more
• 1948 — Olympic Games: The Games of the XIV Olympiad: After a hiatus of 12 years caused by World War II, the first Summer Olympics to be held since the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, open in London. Read more
• 1947 — A gas explosion in Harrisonburg, Virginia kills 11 and injures 30. Read more
• 1945 — The BBC Light Programme radio station is launched for mainstream light entertainment and music. Read more
• 1937 — Tongzhou mutiny: In Tongzhou, China, the East Hebei Army attacks Japanese troops and civilians. Read more
• 1932 — Great Depression: In Washington, D.C., troops disperse the last of the "Bonus Army" of World War I veterans using arson, bayonets, sabers, tanks, tear gas, and vomit gas. Read more
• 1921 — Adolf Hitler becomes leader of the National Socialist German Workers' Party. Read more
• 1920 — Construction of the Link River Dam begins as part of the Klamath Reclamation Project. Read more
• 1914 — The Cape Cod Canal opened. Read more
• 1910 — The two-day Slocum massacre commences in Texas, a race riot in which more than 100 African Americans are murdered. Read more
• 1907 — Sir Robert Baden-Powell sets up the Brownsea Island Scout camp in Poole Harbour on the south coast of England. The camp runs from August 1 to August 9 and is regarded as the foundation of the Scouting movement. Read more
• 1901 — Land lottery begins in Oklahoma. Read more
• 1900 — In Italy, King Umberto I of Italy is assassinated by the anarchist Gaetano Bresci. His son, Victor Emmanuel III, 31 years old, succeeds to the throne. Read more
• 1899 — The First Hague Convention is signed. Read more
• 1871 — The Connecticut Valley Railroad opens between Old Saybrook, Connecticut and Hartford, Connecticut in the United States. Read more
• 1862 — American Civil War: Confederate spy Belle Boyd is arrested by Union troops and detained at the Old Capitol Prison in Washington, D.C. Read more
• 1858 — United States and Japan sign the Harris Treaty. Read more
• 1851 — Annibale de Gasparis discovers asteroid 15 Eunomia. Read more
• 1848 — Great Famine of Ireland: Tipperary Revolt: In County Tipperary, Ireland, then in the United Kingdom, an unsuccessful nationalist revolt against British rule is put down by police. Read more
• 1836 — Inauguration of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. Read more
• 1832 — An Egyptian army under Ibrahim Pascha defeats a larger Ottoman army in the battle of Belen Pass. Read more
• 1818 — French physicist Augustin Fresnel submits his prizewinning "Memoir on the Diffraction of Light", precisely accounting for the limited extent to which light spreads into shadows, and thereby demolishing the oldest objection to the wave theory of light. Read more
• 1775 — Founding of the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps: General George Washington appoints William Tudor as Judge Advocate of the Continental Army. Read more
• 1693 — War of the Grand Alliance: Battle of Landen: France wins a victory over Allied forces in the Netherlands. Read more
• 1602 — Elizabeth I visits Harefield Place at Hillingdon and the Harefield Entertainment is performed. Read more
• 1588 — Anglo-Spanish War: Battle of Gravelines: English naval forces under the command of Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake defeat the Spanish Armada off the coast of Gravelines, France. Read more
• 1567 — The infant James VI is crowned King of Scotland at Stirling. Read more
• 1565 — The widowed Mary, Queen of Scots marries Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, Duke of Albany, at Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh, Scotland, in a Catholic ceremony. Read more
• 1148 — The Siege of Damascus ends in a decisive crusader defeat and leads to the disintegration of the Second Crusade. Read more
• 1030 — Ladejarl-Fairhair succession wars: Battle of Stiklestad: King Olaf II fights and dies trying to regain his Norwegian throne from the Danes. Read more
• 1018 — Count Dirk III defeats an army sent by Emperor Henry II in the Battle of Vlaardingen. Read more
• 1014 — Byzantine–Bulgarian wars: Battle of Kleidion: Byzantine emperor Basil II inflicts a decisive defeat on the Bulgarian army, and his subsequent treatment of 15,000 prisoners reportedly causes Tsar Samuil of Bulgaria to die of a heart attack less than three months later, on October 6. Read more
• 923 — Battle of Firenzuola: Lombard forces under King Rudolph II and Adalbert I, margrave of Ivrea, defeat the dethroned Emperor Berengar I of Italy at Firenzuola (Tuscany). Read more
• 904 — Sack of Thessalonica: Saracen raiders under Leo of Tripoli sack Thessaloniki, the Byzantine Empire's second-largest city, after a short siege, and plunder it for a week. Read more
• 615 — Pakal ascends the throne of Palenque at the age of 12. Read more

Born on July 29

• 2003 — Johnny Brackins, American long jumper and hurdler Read more
• 2003 — Jens Castrop, German-South Korean footballer Read more
• 2003 — Renato Veiga, Portuguese footballer Read more
• 2000 — Yacine Adli, French footballer Read more
• 1998 — Mirjam Björklund, Swedish tennis player Read more
• 1998 — Clayton Keller, American ice hockey player Read more
• 1998 — Tijjani Reijnders, Dutch footballer Read more
• 1995 — Neal Pionk, American ice hockey player Read more
• 1994 — Liam O'Brien, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1994 — Daniele Rugani, Italian footballer Read more
• 1993 — Nicole Melichar, American tennis player Read more
• 1993 — Ayoze Pérez, Spanish footballer Read more
• 1993 — Dak Prescott, American football player Read more
• 1992 — Djibril Sidibé, French footballer Read more
• 1992 — Karen Torrez, Bolivian swimmer Read more
• 1991 — Dale Copley, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1991 — Irakli Logua, Russian footballer Read more
• 1990 — Shin Se-kyung, South Korean actress, singer and model Read more
• 1989 — Grit Šadeiko, Estonian heptathlete Read more
• 1988 — Tarjei Bø, Norwegian biathlete Read more
• 1985 — Okinoumi Ayumi, Japanese sumo wrestler Read more
• 1985 — Besart Berisha, Albanian footballer Read more
• 1985 — Jonatan Maidana, Argentine footballer Read more
• 1985 — Simon Santoso, Indonesian badminton player Read more
• 1984 — Oh Beom-seok, South Korean footballer Read more
• 1984 — Chad Billingsley, American baseball player Read more
• 1984 — Wilson Palacios, Honduran footballer Read more
• 1983 — Jason Belmonte, Australian bowler Read more
• 1983 — Inés Gómez Mont, Mexican journalist and actress Read more
• 1983 — Alexei Kaigorodov, Russian ice hockey player Read more
• 1983 — Jerious Norwood, American football player Read more
• 1983 — Elise Testone, American singer-songwriter Read more
• 1982 — Janez Aljančič, Slovenian footballer Read more
• 1982 — Jônatas Domingos, Brazilian footballer Read more
• 1982 — Allison Mack, American actress and criminal Read more
• 1981 — Fernando Alonso, Spanish race car driver Read more
• 1981 — Andrés Madrid, Argentinian footballer Read more
• 1981 — Troy Perkins, American soccer player Read more
• 1980 — Ryan Braun, Canadian-American baseball player Read more
• 1980 — Fernando González, Chilean tennis player Read more

Died on July 29

• 2025 — Alon Abutbul, Israeli film, television and theater actor (born 1965) Read more
• 2018 — Oliver Dragojević, Croatian recording artist (born 1947) Read more
• 2018 — Nikolai Volkoff, Yugoslav-born American professional wrestler (born 1947) Read more
• 2015 — Antony Holland, English-Canadian actor, director, and playwright (born 1920) Read more
• 2015 — Peter O'Sullevan, Anglo-Irish sportscaster (born 1918) Read more
• 2015 — Mike Pyle, American football player and sportscaster (born 1939) Read more
• 2015 — Franklin H. Westervelt, American computer scientist, engineer, and academic (born 1930) Read more
• 2014 — M. Caldwell Butler, American soldier, lawyer, and politician (born 1925) Read more
• 2014 — Jon R. Cavaiani, English-American sergeant, Medal of Honor recipient (born 1943) Read more
• 2014 — Giorgio Gaslini, Italian pianist and composer (born 1929) Read more
• 2014 — María Antonia Iglesias, Spanish journalist and author (born 1945) Read more
• 2014 — Péter Kiss, Hungarian engineer and politician (born 1959) Read more
• 2014 — Idris Muhammad, American drummer and composer (born 1939) Read more
• 2014 — Thomas R. St. George, American soldier and author (born 1919) Read more
• 2013 — Christian Benítez, Ecuadorian footballer (born 1986) Read more
• 2013 — Peter Flanigan, American banker and civil servant (born 1923) Read more
• 2013 — Tony Gaze, Australian soldier, pilot, and race car driver (born 1920) Read more
• 2013 — Munir Hussain, Indian cricketer and sportscaster (born 1929) Read more
• 2012 — Tatiana Egorova, Russian footballer and manager (born 1970) Read more
• 2012 — August Kowalczyk, Polish actor and director (born 1921) Read more
• 2012 — Chris Marker, French photographer and journalist (born 1921) Read more
• 2012 — James Mellaart, English archaeologist and author (born 1925) Read more
• 2012 — John Stampe, Danish footballer and coach (born 1957) Read more
• 2010 — Charles E. Wicks, American chemist and academic (born 1925) Read more
• 2008 — Bruce Edward Ivins, American scientist and bio-defense researcher (born 1946) Read more
• 2007 — Mike Reid, English comedian, actor, and author (born 1940) Read more
• 2007 — Michel Serrault, French actor (born 1928) Read more
• 2007 — Tom Snyder, American journalist and talk show host (born 1936) Read more
• 2007 — Marvin Zindler, American journalist (born 1921) Read more
• 2004 — Rena Vlahopoulou, Greek actress and singer (born 1923) Read more
• 2003 — Foday Sankoh, Sierra Leonean soldier, founded the Revolutionary United Front (born 1937) Read more
• 2001 — Edward Gierek, Polish soldier and politician (born 1913) Read more
• 2001 — Wau Holland, German computer scientist, co-founded Chaos Computer Club (born 1951) Read more
• 2000 — René Favaloro, Argentine cardiac surgeon (born 1923) Read more
• 1998 — Jerome Robbins, American director, producer, and choreographer (born 1918) Read more
• 1996 — Ric Nordman, Canadian businessman and politician (born 1919) Read more
• 1996 — Marcel-Paul Schützenberger, French mathematician and theorist (born 1920) Read more
• 1996 — Jason Thirsk, American singer and bass player (born 1967) Read more
• 1995 — Les Elgart, American trumpet player and bandleader (born 1917) Read more
• 1994 — John Britton, American physician (born 1925) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Lazarus of Bethany; Christian feast day: Lupus of Troyes; Christian feast day: Martha of Bethany (Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran Church); Christian feast day: Mary of Bethany; Christian feast day: Olaf II of Norway; Christian feast day: Simplicius, Faustinus and Beatrix; Christian feast day: William Pinchon; Christian feast day: July 29 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Earliest day on which Somer's Day can fall, while August 4 is the latest; celebrated on Friday before the first Monday in August. (Bermuda); International Tiger Day; Mohun Bagan Day (India); National Anthem Day (Romania); National Thai Language Day (Thailand); Ólavsøka or Olsok, opening of the Løgting session. (Faroe Islands and the Nordic countries)

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