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Major Events
- 622 – The Islamic calendar began with the Hijra, the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina.
- 1439 – Kissing was banned in England to stop the spread of the plague.
- 1945 – The first successful test of an atomic bomb took place in New Mexico under the Manhattan Project, known as the Trinity Test.
- 1969 – Apollo 11 launched from Cape Kennedy, Florida, beginning the first manned mission to land on the moon.
- 1979 – Saddam Hussein became president of Iraq after forcing out Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr.
- 1999 – John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn, and her sister Lauren died in a plane crash off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard.
Famous Birthdays
- Roald Amundsen (1872–c.1928), Norwegian polar explorer and the first to reach the South Pole
- Ginger Rogers (1911–1995), American actress and dancer known for her performances with Fred Astaire
- Will Ferrell (born 1967), American comedian and actor known for Saturday Night Live and numerous comedies
- Corey Feldman (born 1971), American actor famous for roles in The Goonies and Stand By Me
- Jayma Mays (born 1979), American actress known for her role in Glee
Notable Deaths
- Mary Todd Lincoln (d. 1882), Former First Lady of the United States and wife of Abraham Lincoln (b. 1818)
- Harry Chapin (d. 1981), American singer-songwriter and philanthropist (b. 1942)
- John F. Kennedy Jr. (d. 1999), American lawyer, journalist, and son of President John F. Kennedy (b. 1960)
- Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy (d. 1999), American publicist and wife of JFK Jr. (b. 1966)
Holidays
- National Ice Cream Day (United States, observed on the third Sunday in July)
- Guru Purnima (India and Nepal, variable date in July) – A spiritual tradition honoring teachers and mentors
Fun Facts
- The Trinity Test marked the dawn of the nuclear age.
- The Apollo 11 launch was watched live by over half a billion people around the world.
- Ginger Rogers once said she did everything Fred Astaire did, but “backwards and in high heels.”
- Kissing bans during plagues were a common public health measure in medieval Europe.
- John F. Kennedy Jr.’s tragic death shocked the nation and marked the end of an era for America’s “Camelot” family.