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On This Day in History — July 3
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Highlights of July 3
- 2017 — In the U.S. state of Arizona, the Boundary Fire (pictured) burned out after 32 days, burning 17,788 acres (7,199 ha) of the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests. Read more
- 2013 — General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi led a coalition to depose President Mohamed Morsi in a coup d'état in Cairo, suspending the Egyptian Constitution of 2012. Read more
- 2005 — Same-sex marriage became legal in Spain under a law passed by the Cortes Generales. Read more
- 1988 — The US Navy warship Vincennes shot down Iran Air Flight 655 over the Persian Gulf, killing all 290 people aboard. Read more
- 1979 — US president Jimmy Carter signed a presidential finding, authorizing covert operations to aid the mujahideen against the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. Read more
- 1973 — British singer David Bowie retired his stage persona Ziggy Stardust in a surprise announcement on the last day of a 17-month tour. Read more
- 1970 — Dan-Air Flight 1903 crashed into the slopes of the Montseny Massif in Catalonia, Spain, killing all 112 people aboard. Read more
- 1970 — The Troubles: The British Army began the Falls Curfew in Belfast, Northern Ireland, which resulted in greater Irish republican resistance. Read more
- 1952 — SS United States (pictured) departed New York Harbor on her maiden voyage, on which completion she became the fastest ocean liner to cross the Atlantic. Read more
- 1940 — Second World War: The Royal Navy attacked the French fleet at Mers El Kébir (pictured), fearing that the ships would fall into Axis hands after the French–German armistice. Read more
- 1938 — On the 75th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Gettysburg, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Eternal Light Peace Memorial. Read more
- 1863 — Confederate forces were defeated by the Union Army on the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg (pictured), a turning point in the American Civil War. Read more
- 1810 — Mauritius campaign of 1809–1811: A French frigate squadron under Guy-Victor Duperré defeated a convoy of three British East Indiamen near the Comoro Islands. Read more
- 1778 — American Revolutionary War: Loyalists and Iroquois killed over 300 Patriots at the Battle of Wyoming in Pennsylvania. Read more
- 1754 — French and Indian War: George Washington surrendered Fort Necessity in Pennsylvania, the only military surrender in his career. Read more
- 324 — Civil wars of the Tetrarchy: Roman emperor Constantine the Great defeated his former colleague Licinius at the Battle of Adrianople. Read more
Events
- 2013 — President of Egypt Mohamed Morsi is removed from office by the military after four days of protests all over the country calling for his resignation, to which he did not respond. The president of the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt, Adly Mansour, is declared acting president until further elections are held. Read more
- 2006 — The Valencia Metro derailment kills 41 people. Read more
- 1996 — British Prime Minister John Major announced the Stone of Scone would be returned to Scotland. Read more
- 1988 — United States Navy warship USS Vincennes shoots down Iran Air Flight 655 over the Persian Gulf, killing all 290 people aboard. Read more
- 1988 — The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey is completed, providing the second connection between the continents of Europe and Asia over the Bosphorus. Read more
- 1979 — U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul. Read more
- 1973 — David Bowie retires his stage persona Ziggy Stardust with the surprise announcement that it is "the last show that we'll ever do" on the last day of the Ziggy Stardust Tour. Read more
- 1970 — The Troubles: The "Falls Curfew" begins in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Read more
- 1970 — Dan-Air Flight 1903 crashes into the Les Agudes mountain in the Montseny Massif near the village of Arbúcies in Catalonia, Spain, killing all 112 people aboard. Read more
- 1967 — The Aden Emergency: The Battle of the Crater in which the British Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders retake the Crater district following the Arab Police mutiny. Read more
- 1952 — The Constitution of Puerto Rico is approved by the United States Congress. Read more
- 1952 — The SS United States sets sail on her maiden voyage to Southampton. During the voyage, the ship takes the Blue Riband away from the RMS Queen Mary. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: The Minsk Offensive clears German troops from the city. Read more
- 1940 — World War II: The Royal Navy attacks the French naval squadron in Algeria, to ensure that it will not fall under German control. Of the four French battleships present, one is sunk, two are damaged, and one escapes back to France. Read more
- 1938 — World speed record for a steam locomotive is set in England, by the Mallard, which reaches a speed of 125.88 miles per hour (202.58 km/h). Read more
- 1938 — United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicates the Eternal Light Peace Memorial and lights the eternal flame at Gettysburg Battlefield. Read more
- 1913 — Confederate veterans at the Great Reunion of 1913 reenact Pickett's Charge; upon reaching the high-water mark of the Confederacy they are met by the outstretched hands of friendship from Union survivors. Read more
- 1908 — Start of the Young Turk Revolution in the Ottoman Empire, forcing Sultan Abdul Hamid II leads to restore the Constitution of 1876 and reconvene the parliament. Read more
- 1898 — A Spanish squadron, led by Pascual Cervera y Topete, is defeated by an American squadron under William T. Sampson in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba. Read more
- 1890 — Idaho is admitted as the 43rd U.S. state. Read more
- 1886 — Karl Benz officially unveils the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, the first purpose-built automobile. Read more
- 1886 — The New-York Tribune becomes the first newspaper to use a linotype machine, eliminating typesetting by hand. Read more
- 1884 — Dow Jones & Company publishes its first stock average. Read more
- 1866 — Austro-Prussian War is decided at the Battle of Königgrätz, enabling Prussia to exclude Austria from German affairs. Read more
- 1863 — American Civil War: The final day of the Battle of Gettysburg culminates with Pickett's Charge. Read more
- 1852 — Congress establishes the United States' 2nd mint in San Francisco. Read more
- 1849 — France invades the Roman Republic and restores the Papal States. Read more
- 1848 — Governor-General Peter von Scholten emancipates all remaining slaves in the Danish West Indies. Read more
- 1839 — The first state normal school in the United States, the forerunner to today's Framingham State University, opens in Lexington, Massachusetts with three students. Read more
- 1819 — The Bank for Savings in the City of New-York, the first savings bank in the United States, opens. Read more
- 1814 — War of 1812: American forces capture Fort Erie from British troops in Upper Canada. Read more
- 1778 — American Revolutionary War: The Iroquois, allied with Britain, massacre 360 Patriot soldiers during the Battle of Wyoming. Read more
- 1775 — American Revolutionary War: George Washington takes command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, Massachusetts. Read more
- 1767 — Pitcairn Island is discovered by Midshipman Robert Pitcairn on an expeditionary voyage commanded by Philip Carteret. Read more
- 1767 — Norway's oldest newspaper still in print, Adresseavisen, is founded and the first edition is published. Read more
- 1754 — French and Indian War: George Washington surrenders Fort Necessity to French forces. Read more
- 1608 — Québec City is founded by Samuel de Champlain. Read more
- 1535 — Diego de Almagro leaves the recently conquered Inca capital of Cuzco to lead an expedition to Chile. Read more
- 1450 — Jack Cade and his followers enter London unhindered by the government of king Henry VI. Read more
- 1035 — William the Conqueror becomes the Duke of Normandy, reigning until 1087. Read more
- 987 — Hugh Capet is crowned King of France, the first of the Capetian dynasty that would rule France until the French Revolution in 1792. Read more
- 324 — Battle of Adrianople: Constantine I defeats Licinius, who flees to Byzantium. Read more
Born on July 3
- 2001 — Folarin Balogun, American soccer player Read more
- 2001 — Promise David, Canadian soccer player Read more
- 1999 — Nefisa Berberović, Bosnian tennis player Read more
- 1998 — Kim Dong-han, South Korean singer Read more
- 1997 — T. J. Hockenson, American football player Read more
- 1996 — Cole Tucker, American baseball player Read more
- 1996 — Alex Twal, Australian-Lebanese rugby league player Read more
- 1994 — Chris Jones, American football player Read more
- 1993 — PartyNextDoor, Canadian singer-songwriter and record producer Read more
- 1992 — Crystal Dunn, American soccer player Read more
- 1991 — Alison Howie, Scottish field hockey player Read more
- 1991 — Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Russian tennis player Read more
- 1990 — Nathan Gardner, Australian rugby league player Read more
- 1990 — Bobby Hopkinson, English footballer Read more
- 1990 — Lucas Mendes, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 1990 — Alison Riske-Amritraj, American tennis player Read more
- 1989 — Danilo Cavalcante, Brazilian convicted murderer Read more
- 1989 — Mitchell Dodds, Australian rugby league player Read more
- 1989 — Elle King, American singer, songwriter, and actress Read more
- 1988 — Winston Reid, New Zealand-Danish footballer Read more
- 1988 — Vladislav Sesganov, Russian figure skater Read more
- 1988 — James Troisi, Australian footballer Read more
- 1987 — Sebastian Vettel, German race car driver Read more
- 1986 — Marco Antônio de Mattos Filho, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 1986 — Kisenosato Yutaka, Japanese sumo wrestler Read more
- 1984 — Manny Lawson, American football player Read more
- 1984 — Churandy Martina, Dutch sprinter Read more
- 1984 — Corey Sevier, Canadian actor and producer Read more
- 1983 — Edinson Vólquez, Dominican baseball player Read more
- 1980 — Mazharul Haque, Bangladeshi cricketer (died 2013) Read more
- 1980 — Olivia Munn, American actress and television host Read more
- 1980 — Roland Schoeman, South African swimmer Read more
- 1980 — Harbhajan Singh, Indian cricketer Read more
- 1979 — Jamie Grove, English cricketer Read more
- 1978 — Mizuki Noguchi, Japanese runner Read more
- 1977 — David Bowens, American football player Read more
- 1976 — Wade Belak, Canadian ice hockey player (died 2011) Read more
- 1976 — Henry Olonga, Zimbabwean cricketer and sportscaster Read more
- 1976 — Wanderlei Silva, Brazilian-American mixed martial artist Read more
- 1976 — Bobby Skinstad, Zimbabwean-South African rugby union player Read more
Died on July 3
- 2025 — Borja Gómez, Spanish motorcycle rider (born 2005) Read more
- 2025 — Diogo Jota, Portuguese footballer (born 1996) Read more
- 2025 — David Mabuza, South African politician, 8th Deputy President of South Africa (born 1960) Read more
- 2025 — Michael Madsen, American actor (born 1957) Read more
- 2025 — Peter Rufai, Nigerian footballer (born 1963) Read more
- 2025 — André Silva, Portuguese footballer (born 2000) Read more
- 2025 — Lolit Solis, Filipino talent manager, columnist and talk show host (born 1947) Read more
- 2020 — Saroj Khan, Indian dance choreographer (born 1948) Read more
- 2015 — Diana Douglas, British-American actress (born 1923) Read more
- 2015 — Boyd K. Packer, American religious leader and educator (born 1924) Read more
- 2015 — Wayne Townsend, American farmer and politician (born 1926) Read more
- 2015 — Phil Walsh, Australian footballer and coach (born 1960) Read more
- 2014 — Jini Dellaccio, American photographer (born 1917) Read more
- 2014 — Tim Flood, Irish hurler and coach (born 1927) Read more
- 2014 — Volkmar Groß, German footballer (born 1948) Read more
- 2014 — Ira Ruskin, American politician (born 1943) Read more
- 2014 — Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, Ukrainian-American rabbi and author (born 1924) Read more
- 2013 — Roman Bengez, Slovenian footballer and manager (born 1964) Read more
- 2013 — Francis Ray, American author (born 1944) Read more
- 2013 — PJ Torokvei, Canadian actress and screenwriter (born 1951) Read more
- 2013 — Radu Vasile, Romanian historian and politician, 57th Prime Minister of Romania (born 1942) Read more
- 2013 — Bernard Vitet, French trumpet player and composer (born 1934) Read more
- 2013 — Snoo Wilson, English playwright and screenwriter (born 1948) Read more
- 2012 — Nguyễn Hữu Có, Vietnamese general and politician (born 1925) Read more
- 2012 — Andy Griffith, American actor, singer, and producer (born 1926) Read more
- 2012 — Yvonne B. Miller, American educator and politician (born 1934) Read more
- 2012 — Sergio Pininfarina, Italian engineer and politician (born 1926) Read more
- 2012 — Richard Alvin Tonry, American lawyer and politician (born 1935) Read more
- 2011 — Ali Bahar, Bahraini singer and guitarist (born 1960) Read more
- 2010 — Abu Daoud, Palestinian terrorist, planned the Munich massacre (born 1937) Read more
- 2009 — Alauddin Al-Azad, Bangladeshi author and poet (born 1932) Read more
- 2009 — John Keel, American journalist and author (born 1930) Read more
- 2008 — Clive Hornby, English actor and drummer (born 1944) Read more
- 2008 — Oliver Schroer, Canadian fiddler, composer, and producer (born 1956) Read more
- 2007 — Boots Randolph, American saxophonist (born 1927) Read more
- 2006 — Joseph Goguen, American computer scientist, developed the OBJ programming language (born 1941) Read more
- 2005 — Alberto Lattuada, Italian actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1914) Read more
- 2005 — Gaylord Nelson, American lawyer and politician, 35th Governor of Wisconsin (born 1916) Read more
- 2004 — Andriyan Nikolayev, Russian general, pilot, and astronaut (born 1929) Read more
- 2001 — Mordecai Richler, Canadian author and screenwriter (born 1931) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Anatolius of Constantinople; Christian feast day:
Anatolius of Laodicea; Christian feast day:
Dathus; Christian feast day:
Germanus of Man; Christian feast day:
Gurthiern; Christian feast day:
Heliodorus of Altino; Christian feast day:
Mucian; Christian feast day:
Peregrina Mogas Fontcuberta; Christian feast day:
Pope Leo II; Christian feast day:
Thomas the Apostle; Christian feast day:
July 3 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Emancipation Day (United States Virgin Islands); Independence Day, celebrates the liberation of Minsk from Nazi occupation by Soviet troops in 1944 (Belarus); The start of the Dog Days according to the Old Farmer's Almanac but not according to established meaning in most European cultures; Women's Day (Myanmar)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “July 3”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.