EVENTS
- 1861 – In the American Civil War, the first Battle of Bull Run was fought at Manassas, Va.
- 1898 – Guam was ceded to the United States by Spain.
- 1954 – France surrendered North Vietnam to the Communists.
- 1969 – Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the Moon.
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin - 1977 – Libyan–Egyptian War begins. This short war between Libya and Egypt started with Libya striking Egyptian cities. The war lasted for 2 days with a ceasefire on July 24.
- 1980 – Mary Eugenia Charles is elected as PM of Dominica. Her election to office made her the first female and the longest PM of the Commonwealth of Dominica. She is also the first elected female head of state in the Americas.
- 1983 – Lowest temperature ever measured on Earth. Vostok Station, a Russian station on Antarctica experienced the lowest temperatures ever measured in recorded human history. The temperatures fell to −128.6 °F (−89.2 °C).
- 1998 – Astronaut Alan Shepard died at age 74.
- 2011 – STS-135 lands. This space shuttle was the 135th and the last space shuttle flight of American Space Shuttle program.
BIRTHDAYS
- 1693 – Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle (English politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom)
- 1899 – Ernest Hemingway (Author)
- 1911 – Marshall McLuhan (Canadian author, theorist)
- 1920 – Isaac Stern (Violinist)
- 1924 – Don Knotts (Actor)
- 1946 – Ken Starr (American lawyer, judge)
- 1948 – Cat Stevens (English singer-songwriter, musician)
- 1951 – Robin Williams (Comedian)
Robin Williams - 1957 – John Lovitz (Comedian)
- 1968 – Brandi Chastain (Soccer Player)
- 1978 – Josh Hartnett (Actor)
DEATHS
- 1796 – Robert Burns (Scottish poet)
Robert Burns - 1944 – Claus von Stauffenberg (German army officer, member of the 20 July plot)
- 1982 – Dave Garroway (American journalist)
- 2001 – Sivaji Ganesan (Indian actor)
- 2004 – Jerry Goldsmith (American composer, conductor)
