July 3 holidays in 2020

Historical Events on July 3

• 1775: George Washington assumes command of the Continental Army at Cambridge in Massachusetts during the American Revolutionary War.
• 1778: Iroquois warriors who are allies with Great Britain, kill almost 400 people in the Wyoming Valley Massacre during the American Revolutionary War.
• 1819: The first savings bank to open in the U.S., the Bank of Savings, opens in New York City.
• 1848: In what was known as the Danish West Indies, slaves are given their freedom. This area would eventually be called the U.S Virgin Islands.
• 1852: The second U.S mint is established by Congress and located in San Francisco.
• 1863: This date is the final day of the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. It would conclude with Pickett’s Charge.
• 1866: The Battle of Koniggratz is finished during the Austro-Prussian War. As a result of this battle, Prussia would end up becoming the prominent German nation.
• 1886: The Patent Motorwagen is unveiled by Karl Benz.
• 1886: The New York Tribune begins publishing its papers using a linotype machine instead of setting the typeface by hand.
• 1890: Idaho becomes the 43^rd United States’ State.
• 1913: Pickett’s Charge is reenacted by Confederate veterans at the Great Reunion of 1913.
• 1940: At Mers El Kébir, the British fleet bombards the French fleet to prevent that fleet from falling into German hands. 3 battleships are destroyed and over 1,200 French sailors die.
• 1944: Soviet forces liberate Minsk from the Nazis during Operation Bagration.
• 1962: Jackie Robinson enters the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He’s the first African-American ball player to be inducted.
• 1988: Almost 300 people are killed when the U.S Naval warship the USS Vincenne shoots down Iran Air Flight 655 over the Persian Gulf.

Famous Birthdays on July 3

• American actress Susan Peters is born in 1921.
• English author Evelyn Anthony is born in 1928.
• English philosopher Nicholas Maxwell is born in 1937.
• American actor and producer Tom Cruise is born in 1962.
• American actor Thomas Gibson is born in 1962.
• American actress Shawnee Smith is born in 1969.
• Australian publisher and founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange is born in 1971.