Historical Events on July

  • Tony Blair

    1997

    China resumes sovereignty over the city-state of Hong Kong, ending 156 years of British colonial rule. The handover ceremony is attended by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Prince Charles of Wales, Chinese President Jiang Zemin, and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

  • George Washington

    1775

    American Revolutionary War: George Washington takes command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, Massachusetts.

  • New York State

    1827

    Slavery is abolished in New York State.

  • September 11 attacks

    2009

    The Statue of Liberty's crown reopens to the public after eight years of closure due to security concerns following the September 11 attacks.

  • Vichy France

    1940

    World War II: The United Kingdom and the Vichy France government break off diplomatic relations.

  • Paul McCartney

    1957

    John Lennon and Paul McCartney meet for the first time, as teenagers at Woolton Fete, three years before forming the Beatles.

  • Vichy France

    1940

    World War II: The Vichy government is established in France.

  • Soviet Union

    1942

    Diplomatic relations between the Netherlands and the Soviet Union are established.

  • Martin Luther King, Jr.

    1966

    The Chicago Freedom Movement, led by Martin Luther King, Jr., holds a rally at Soldier Field in Chicago. As many as 60,000 people attend.

  • Vichy France

    1940

    World War II: Vichy France regime is formally established. Philippe Pétain becomes Prime Minister of France.

  • David Cameron

    2016

    Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron resigns, and is succeeded by Theresa May.

  • Aung San Suu Kyi

    1989

    Burma's ruling junta puts opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest.

  • Pope Benedict XVI

    1992

    A Vatican commission, led by Joseph Ratzinger, establishes that limiting certain rights of homosexual people and non-married couples is not equivalent to discrimination on grounds of race or gender.

  • Sri Lankan Civil War

    1983

    The Black July anti-Tamil riots begin in Sri Lanka, killing between 400 and 3,000. Black July is generally regarded as the beginning of the Sri Lankan Civil War.

  • Spanish Civil War

    1936

    The Axis powers decide to intervene in the Spanish Civil War.

  • Suez Crisis

    1956

    Following the World Bank's refusal to fund building the Aswan Dam, Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal, sparking international condemnation.

  • Maximilien Robespierre

    1794

    French Revolution: Maximilien Robespierre and Louis Antoine de Saint-Just are executed by guillotine in Paris, France.

  • Islamic Revolution

    1980

    Iran adopts a new "holy" flag after the Islamic Revolution.

Famous Birthdays on July

Famous Deaths on July

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