✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 184th day of the year

July 3

A look at July 3 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Julian Assange and Franz Kafka, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 1988

    United States Navy

    United States Navy warship USS Vincennes shoots down Iran Air Flight 655 over the Persian Gulf, killing all 290 people aboard.

    Maritime service branch of
  2. 1979

    Jimmy Carter

    U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul.

    President of the United
  3. 1973

    David Bowie

    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.

    English musician and actor
  4. 1970

    The Troubles

    The Troubles: The "Falls Curfew" begins in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

    1960s–1998 conflict in Northern
  5. 1970

    Dan-Air Flight 1903

    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.

    1970 aviation accident
  6. 1952

    SS United States

    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.

    1951 American ocean liner
  7. 1940

    World War II

    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.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  8. 1775

    American Revolutionary War

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

    1775–1783 conflict in North
  9. 1767

    Norway

    Norway's oldest newspaper still in print, Adresseavisen, is founded and the first edition is published.

    Country in northern Europe
  10. 1754

    French and Indian War

    French and Indian War: George Washington surrenders Fort Necessity to French forces.

    North American theater of
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Famous birthday twins

Born on July 3

Julian Assange

b. 1971

Australian journalist, publisher, and activist, founded WikiLeaks

Franz Kafka

b. 1883

Czech-Austrian author

Louis XI

b. 1423

King of France

Harbhajan Singh

b. 1980

Indian cricketer

Bo Xilai

b. 1949

Chinese politician, Chinese Minister of Commerce

Ralph Barton Perry

b. 1876

American philosopher and academic

Tom Cruise

b. 1962

American actor and producer

Sebastian Vettel

b. 1987

German race car driver

Deaths

  • 2005Alberto Lattuada, Italian actor, director, and screenwriter
  • 1998Danielle Bunten Berry, American game designer and programmer
  • 1995Pancho Gonzales, American tennis player
  • 1971Jim Morrison, American singer-songwriter
  • 1904Theodor Herzl, Austrian journalist, playwright, and father of modern political Zionism
  • 710Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, Emperor of Tang China (684, 705–710)

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

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