On This Day in History — July 5

Highlights of July 5

• 2012 — The Shard (pictured) in London was inaugurated as the tallest building in Europe, with a height of 310 m (1,020 ft), but was surpassed by Moscow's Mercury City Tower four months later. Read more
• 2009 — A series of violent riots broke out in Ürümqi, the capital city of Xinjiang in China. Read more
• 2009 — The Staffordshire Hoard, the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold ever discovered, consisting of more than 1,500 items (examples pictured), was found near Hammerwich in Staffordshire. Read more
• 2006 — The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting hours after North Korea reportedly tested at least seven ballistic missiles. Read more
• 2004 — Indonesia held its first direct presidential elections, which resulted in the election of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as President of Indonesia after the second round on September 20. Read more
• 1990 — An explosion at a petrochemical plant in Channelview, Texas, United States, killed 17 people and injured 5 others. Read more
• 1989 — United States National Security Council member Oliver North was given a suspended sentence, probation, and community service for his part in the Iran–Contra affair. Read more
• 1973 — Juvénal Habyarimana (pictured) orchestrated a bloodless coup d'état of the Rwandan government and began a totalitarian dictatorship. Read more
• 1969 — Two days after the death of their founder Brian Jones, the Rolling Stones performed at a free festival in Hyde Park, London, in front of more than a quarter of a million fans. Read more
• 1954 — Elvis Presley recorded his first single, "That's All Right", at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. Read more
• 1950 — Korean War: In the first encounter between North Korean and American forces, an unprepared and undisciplined U.S. Army task force was routed at the Battle of Osan. Read more
• 1946 — Named after Bikini Atoll, the site of the nuclear-weapons test Operation Crossroads in the Marshall Islands, the modern bikini was introduced at a fashion show in Paris. Read more
• 1944 — Second World War: Canadian troops defeated the last German counterattacks against Carpiquet, Normandy, France. Read more
• 1937 — The Hormel Foods Corporation introduced Spam, the canned precooked meat product that would eventually enter into pop culture, folklore, and urban legend. Read more
• 1922 — Brazilian Army rebels took over Fort Copacabana and launched a rebellion in Rio de Janeiro against President Epitácio Pessoa and President-elect Artur Bernardes. Read more
• 1841 — Thomas Cook, the founder of the British travel company Thomas Cook & Son, organised his first excursion, escorting about 500 people from Leicester to Loughborough. Read more
• 1830 — Algiers surrendered to French invaders, ending the Regency of Algiers (coat of arms pictured). Read more

Events

• 2024 — Keir Starmer is appointed Prime Minister by Charles III, becoming the first Labour prime minister since Gordon Brown in 2010 and the first one to win a general election since Tony Blair at the 2005 general election. Read more
• 2023 — The last Ariane 5 rocket is launched, carrying the Heinrich Hertz and Syracuse 4B satellites. Read more
• 2022 — British government ministers Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak resign from the second Johnson ministry, beginning the July 2022 United Kingdom government crisis. Read more
• 2016 — The Juno space probe arrives at Jupiter and begins a 20-month survey of the planet. Read more
• 2012 — The Shard in London is inaugurated as the tallest building in Europe, with a height of 310 metres (1,020 ft). Read more
• 2009 — A series of violent riots break out in Ürümqi, the capital city of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China. Read more
• 2009 — The Staffordshire Horde, the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever discovered in Britain, is found near the village of Hammerwich, near Lichfield, Staffordshire. Read more
• 2006 — North Korea tests four short-range missiles, one medium-range missile and a long-range Taepodong-2. The long-range Taepodong-2 reportedly fails in mid-air over the Sea of Japan. Read more
• 2004 — The first direct Indonesian presidential election is held. Read more
• 2003 — The World Health Organization announces that the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak has been contained. Read more
• 1999 — U.S. President Bill Clinton imposes trade and economic sanctions against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Read more
• 1997 — Sri Lankan Civil War: Sri Lankan Tamil MP A. Thangathurai is shot dead at Sri Shanmuga Hindu Ladies College in Trincomalee. Read more
• 1996 — Dolly the sheep becomes the first mammal cloned from an adult cell. Read more
• 1995 — Armenia adopts its constitution, four years after its independence from the Soviet Union. Read more
• 1994 — Jeff Bezos founds Amazon. Read more
• 1989 — Iran–Contra affair: Oliver North is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gerhard A. Gesell to a three-year suspended prison term, two years probation, $150,000 in fines and 1,200 hours community service. His convictions are later overturned. Read more
• 1987 — Sri Lankan Civil War: The LTTE uses suicide attacks on the Sri Lankan Army for the first time. The Black Tigers are born and, in the following years, will continue to kill with the tactic. Read more
• 1984 — The United States Supreme Court gives its United States v. Leon decision providing a good-faith exception from the Fourth Amendment exclusionary rule against use of evidence obtained through defective warrants in criminal trials. Read more
• 1980 — Swedish tennis player Björn Borg wins his fifth Wimbledon final and becomes the first male tennis player to win the championships five times in a row (1976–1980). Read more
• 1977 — The Pakistan Armed Forces under Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq seize power in Operation Fair Play and begin 11 years of martial law. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the first elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, is overthrown. Read more
• 1975 — Arthur Ashe becomes the first black man to win the Wimbledon singles title. Read more
• 1975 — Cape Verde gains its independence from Portugal. Read more
• 1973 — A boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE) in Kingman, Arizona, following a fire that broke out as propane was being transferred from a railroad car to a storage tank, kills eleven firefighters. Read more
• 1973 — Juvénal Habyarimana seizes power over Rwanda in a coup d'état. Read more
• 1971 — The Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 years, is formally certified by President Richard Nixon. Read more
• 1970 — Air Canada Flight 621 crashes in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, killing all 109 people on board. Read more
• 1962 — The official independence of Algeria is proclaimed after an eight-year-long war with France. Read more
• 1954 — The BBC broadcasts its first daily television news bulletin. Read more
• 1954 — Elvis Presley records his first single, "That's All Right", at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. Read more
• 1950 — Korean War: Task Force Smith: American and North Korean forces first clash, in the Battle of Osan. Read more
• 1950 — The Knesset of Israel passes the Law of Return which grants all Jews the right to immigrate to the Land of Israel. Read more
• 1948 — National Health Service Acts create the national public health system in the United Kingdom. Read more
• 1946 — Micheline Bernardini models the first modern bikini at a swimming pool in Paris. Read more
• 1945 — The United Kingdom holds its first general election in 10 years, which would be won by Clement Attlee's Labour Party. Read more
• 1943 — World War II: An Allied invasion fleet sails for Sicily (Operation Husky, July 10, 1943). Read more
• 1943 — World War II: German forces begin a massive offensive against the Soviet Union at the Battle of Kursk, also known as Operation Citadel. Read more
• 1941 — World War II: Operation Barbarossa: German troops reach the Dnieper river. Read more
• 1940 — World War II: Foreign relations of Vichy France are severed with the United Kingdom. Read more
• 1935 — The National Labor Relations Act, which governs labor relations in the United States, is signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Read more
• 1934 — "Bloody Thursday": The police open fire on striking longshoremen in San Francisco. Read more
• 1915 — The Liberty Bell leaves Philadelphia by special train on its way to the Panama–Pacific International Exposition. This is the last trip outside Philadelphia that the custodians of the bell intend to permit. Read more
• 1884 — Germany takes possession of Cameroon. Read more
• 1865 — The United States Secret Service begins operation. Read more
• 1859 — The United States discovers and claims Midway Atoll. Read more
• 1852 — Abolitionist Frederick Douglass delivers his "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" speech at a meeting organized by the Rochester Ladies' Anti-Slavery Society in Rochester, New York. Read more
• 1841 — Thomas Cook organises the first package excursion, from Leicester to Loughborough. Read more
• 1833 — Lê Văn Khôi along with 27 soldiers stage a mutiny taking over the Phiên An citadel, developing into the Lê Văn Khôi revolt against Emperor Minh Mạng. Read more
• 1833 — Admiral Charles Napier vanquishes the navy of the Portuguese usurper Dom Miguel at the third Battle of Cape St. Vincent. Read more
• 1830 — After inflicting a series of defeats on Algerian forces, the French army under the Comte de Bourmont captures Algier. Read more
• 1814 — War of 1812: Battle of Chippawa: American Major General Jacob Brown defeats British General Phineas Riall at Chippawa, Ontario. Read more
• 1813 — War of 1812: Three weeks of British raids on Fort Schlosser, Black Rock and Plattsburgh, New York commence. Read more
• 1811 — The Venezuelan Declaration of Independence is adopted by a congress of the provinces. Read more
• 1809 — The Battle of Wagram between the French and Austrian Empires begins. Read more
• 1807 — In Buenos Aires the local militias repel the British soldiers within the Second English Invasion. Read more
• 1803 — The Convention of Artlenburg is signed, leading to the French occupation of the Electorate of Hanover (which had been ruled by the British king). Read more
• 1775 — The Second Continental Congress adopts the Olive Branch Petition. Read more
• 1770 — The Battle of Chesma between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire begins, resulting in one of the worst naval defeats of the Ottomans since Lepanto. Read more
• 1687 — Isaac Newton publishes Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica. Read more
• 1643 — The battle of Landsdowne results in severe losses for both the Royalist and Parliamentarian forces. Read more
• 1610 — John Guy sets sail from Bristol with 39 other colonists for Newfoundland. Read more

Born on July 5

• 2005 — Sombr, American singer and songwriter Read more
• 2003 — Junior Caminero, Dominican baseball player Read more
• 2000 — Faouzia, Moroccan-Canadian singer and songwriter Read more
• 1999 — Suzan Lamens, Dutch tennis player Read more
• 1999 — Kang Hye-won, South Korean actress and singer Read more
• 1998 — Emily Fox, American soccer player Read more
• 1996 — Aamir Jamal, Pakistani cricketer Read more
• 1996 — Brianna Turner, American basketball player Read more
• 1995 — Danton Heinen, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1994 — Jeon Jong-seo, South Korean actress Read more
• 1994 — Shohei Ohtani, Japanese baseball player Read more
• 1993 — Yaroslav Kosov, Russian ice hockey player Read more
• 1993 — Jorge Polanco, Dominican baseball player Read more
• 1992 — Alberto Moreno, Spanish footballer Read more
• 1992 — Chiara Scholl, American tennis player Read more
• 1991 — Jason Dolley, American actor, musician and Twitch streamer Read more
• 1990 — Abeba Aregawi, Ethiopian-Swedish runner Read more
• 1989 — Adam Cole, American wrestler Read more
• 1989 — Georgios Efrem, Cypriot footballer Read more
• 1988 — Samir Ujkani, Albanian footballer Read more
• 1988 — Ish Smith, American basketball player Read more
• 1987 — Ji Chang-wook, South Korean actor[citation needed] Read more
• 1987 — Safiq Rahim, Malaysian footballer Read more
• 1987 — Alexander Kristoff, Norwegian cyclist Read more
• 1987 — Cam Talbot, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1986 — Iurii Cheban, Ukrainian canoe sprinter Read more
• 1986 — Piermario Morosini, Italian footballer (died 2012) Read more
• 1986 — Alexander Radulov, Russian ice hockey player Read more
• 1985 — Alexandre R. Picard, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1985 — Megan Rapinoe, American soccer player Read more
• 1985 — François Arnaud, Canadian actor Read more
• 1984 — Danay Garcia, Cuban actress Read more
• 1983 — Marco Estrada, Mexican baseball player Read more
• 1983 — Jonás Gutiérrez, Argentinian footballer Read more
• 1983 — Zheng Jie, Chinese tennis player Read more
• 1982 — Fabrício de Souza, Brazilian footballer Read more
• 1982 — Alexander Dimitrenko, Ukrainian-German boxer Read more
• 1982 — Alberto Gilardino, Italian footballer Read more
• 1982 — Philippe Gilbert, Belgian cyclist Read more
• 1982 — Kate Gynther, Australian water polo player Read more

Died on July 5

• 2024 — Jon Landau, American film producer (born 1960) Read more
• 2024 — Bengt I. Samuelsson, Swedish biochemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1934) Read more
• 2024 — Vic Seixas, American tennis player (born 1923) Read more
• 2021 — Raffaella Carrà, Italian singer, dancer, television presenter and actress (born 1943) Read more
• 2021 — Richard Donner, American film director (born 1930) Read more
• 2020 — Nick Cordero, Canadian actor and singer (born 1978) Read more
• 2015 — Uffe Haagerup, Danish mathematician and academic (born 1949) Read more
• 2015 — Yoichiro Nambu, Japanese-American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1921) Read more
• 2014 — Rosemary Murphy, American actress (born 1925) Read more
• 2014 — Volodymyr Sabodan, Ukrainian metropolitan (born 1935) Read more
• 2014 — Hans-Ulrich Wehler, German historian and academic (born 1931) Read more
• 2013 — David Cargo, American politician, 22nd Governor of New Mexico (born 1929) Read more
• 2013 — William Tebeau, American engineer, first African-American man to graduate from Oregon State University (born 1925) Read more
• 2013 — Lambert Jackson Woodburne, South African admiral (born 1939) Read more
• 2012 — Rob Goris, Belgian cyclist (born 1982) Read more
• 2012 — Gerrit Komrij, Dutch author, poet, and playwright (born 1944) Read more
• 2012 — Ruud van Hemert, Dutch actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1938) Read more
• 2011 — Cy Twombly, American-Italian painter, sculptor, and photographer (born 1928) Read more
• 2010 — Bob Probert, Canadian ice hockey player and radio host (born 1965) Read more
• 2008 — Hasan Doğan, Turkish businessman (born 1956) Read more
• 2007 — Régine Crespin, French soprano (born 1927) Read more
• 2007 — George Melly, English singer-songwriter and critic (born 1926) Read more
• 2006 — Gert Fredriksson, Swedish canoe racer (born 1919) Read more
• 2006 — Thirunalloor Karunakaran, Indian poet and scholar (born 1924) Read more
• 2006 — Kenneth Lay, American businessman (born 1942) Read more
• 2005 — James Stockdale, American admiral (born 1923) Read more
• 2004 — Hugh Shearer, Jamaican journalist and politician, 3rd Prime Minister of Jamaica (born 1923) Read more
• 2002 — Katy Jurado, Mexican actress (born 1924) Read more
• 2002 — Ted Williams, American baseball player and manager (born 1918) Read more
• 1998 — Sid Luckman, American football player (born 1916) Read more
• 1997 — A. Thangathurai, Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer and politician (born 1936) Read more
• 1995 — Jüri Järvet, Estonian actor and screenwriter (born 1919) Read more
• 1991 — Howard Nemerov, American poet and essayist (born 1920) Read more
• 1984 — Chic Murray, Canadian politician, 2nd Mayor of Mississauga (born 1914) Read more
• 1983 — Harry James, American trumpet player and actor (born 1916) Read more
• 1976 — Walter Giesler, American soccer player and referee (born 1910) Read more
• 1975 — Gilda dalla Rizza, Italian soprano and actress (born 1892) Read more
• 1969 — Wilhelm Backhaus, German pianist and educator (born 1884) Read more
• 1969 — Walter Gropius, German architect, designed the John F. Kennedy Federal Building and Werkbund Exhibition (born 1883) Read more
• 1969 — Tom Mboya, Kenyan politician, 1st Kenyan Minister of Justice (born 1930) Read more

Holidays & observances

Bloody Thursday (International Longshore and Warehouse Union); Christian feast day: Anthony Maria Zaccaria, priest (died 1539); Christian feast day: Cyril and Methodius (a public holiday in Czech Republic and Slovakia); Christian feast day: Martha, mother of Simeon Stylites the Younger; Christian feast day: Wexford Martyrs (Roman Catholic Church); Christian feast day: Zoe of Rome (Roman Catholic Church); Christian feast day: July 5 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Fifth of July (New York), historic celebration of the abolition of slavery in New York in 1827.; Independence Day (Algeria), celebrating the independence of Algeria from France in 1962.; Independence Day (Cape Verde), celebrating the independence of Cape Verde from Portugal in 1975.; Independence Day (Venezuela), celebrating the independence of Venezuela from Spain in 1811; also National Armed Forces Day.; Tynwald Day, if July 5 is on a weekend, the holiday is the following Monday. (Isle of Man)

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