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Major Events
- 1608 – Samuel de Champlain founded the city of Quebec in New France (present-day Canada).
- 1775 – George Washington took command of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
- 1863 – The Battle of Gettysburg ended with a decisive Union victory during the American Civil War.
- 1890 – Idaho was admitted as the 43rd state of the United States.
- 1962 – Algeria gained independence from France after a long and bloody war of decolonization.
- 1979 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed a directive to aid opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Afghanistan.
Famous Birthdays
- Franz Kafka (1883–1924), Czech writer known for works such as The Metamorphosis and The Trial
- Tom Cruise (born 1962), American actor and producer known for Top Gun and Mission: Impossible
- Ken Russell (1927–2011), British film director and screenwriter
- Audra McDonald (born 1970), American actress and singer, winner of multiple Tony Awards
- Olivia Munn (born 1980), American actress and television host
Notable Deaths
- Jim Morrison (d. 1971), American singer-songwriter and frontman of The Doors (b. 1943)
- Brian Jones (d. 1969), founding member of The Rolling Stones (b. 1942)
- André Citroën (d. 1935), French industrialist and founder of Citroën automobiles (b. 1878)
Holidays
- Independence Day (Belarus) – Commemorates the liberation of Minsk from Nazi occupation in 1944.
- National Compliment Your Mirror Day (United States, unofficial) – Encourages self-appreciation and positivity.
Fun Facts
- Jim Morrison of The Doors died in Paris at the age of 27, joining the infamous “27 Club” of musicians who died at that age.
- Samuel de Champlain is often called the “Father of New France” for his role in establishing permanent settlements in Canada.
- Tom Cruise shares his birthday with literary icon Franz Kafka, whose surreal and existential works still influence writers today.
- July 3 is sometimes seen as a quiet pause in the U.S., as it sits between normal business days and the July 4th celebrations.