1644
382 years ago
UK story
First English Civil War: The combined forces of Scottish Covenanters and English Parliamentarians defeated Royalist troops at the Battle of Marston Moor.
On this day: 2 July
113 things happened on 2 July, from AD 311 to 2016. UK stories come first, then the rest of the world.
In the UK 3
UK history first: stories from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
1645
381 years ago
UK story
Wars of the Three Kingdoms: Battle of Alford.
1776
250 years ago
UK story
American Revolution: The Continental Congress adopts the Lee Resolution severing ties with the Kingdom of Great Britain. The wording of the formal Declaration of Independence was agreed upon and publicly released two days later, on July 4.
Around the world 25
AD 311
1,715 years ago
Beginning of the papacy of Pope Miltiades.
AD 706
1,320 years ago
The bodies of Emperor Gaozong of Tang and Empress Wu Zetian were interred in the Qianling Mausoleum.
AD 866
1,160 years ago
Battle of Brissarthe: The Franks led by Robert the Strong are defeated by a joint Breton-Viking army.
1298
728 years ago
Battle of Göllheim: Albert I of Habsburg defeats Adolf of Nassau-Weilburg.
1494
532 years ago
Age of Discovery: The Treaty of Tordesillas is ratified by Spain.
1582
444 years ago
Battle of Yamazaki: Toyotomi Hideyoshi defeats Akechi Mitsuhide.
1724
302 years ago
On the Feast of the Visitation, Bach led the first performance of his Meine Seel erhebt den Herren, BWV 10, based on the German Magnificat.
1779
247 years ago
American Revolutionary War: French troops landed near St. George's, Grenada, and began their capture of the island.
1816
210 years ago
The French frigate Méduse ran aground off the coast of present-day Mauritania, with the survivors escaping on a makeshift raft, depicted in Théodore Géricault's painting The Raft of the Medusa.
1823
203 years ago
Bahia Independence Day: The Siege of Salvador ends Portuguese rule in Brazil, with the final defeat of the Portuguese crown loyalists in the province of Bahia.
1863
163 years ago
American Civil War: On the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg - the Battle of Little Round Top takes place and results in a Union victory after the Confederate troops unsuccessfully try to assault the Union left flank.
1890
136 years ago
The U.S. Congress passes the Sherman Antitrust Act.
1917
109 years ago
In the leadup to the Battle of Aqaba, T. E. Lawrence and his Arab forces defeat a battalion of Ottomans at Abu al-Lissan.
1921
105 years ago
World War I: U.S. President Warren G. Harding signs the Knox–Porter Resolution formally ending the war between the United States and Germany.
1934
92 years ago
The Night of the Long Knives ends after three days of killings.
1964
62 years ago
The Civil Rights Act was signed into law, outlawing segregation in schools, at the workplace, and other facilities that served the general public in the United States.
1966
60 years ago
France conducts its first nuclear weapon test in the Pacific, on Moruroa Atoll.
1976
50 years ago
More than a year after the end of the Vietnam War, North and South Vietnam officially merged under communist rule to form the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
1976
50 years ago
End of South Vietnam; Communist North Vietnam annexes the former South Vietnam to form the unified Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
1990
36 years ago
Singing Revolution: The Soviet economic blockade of Lithuania (pictured) was lifted when the Lithuanian parliament agreed to suspend the effects of their act to re-establish Lithuania as a state.
1997
29 years ago
The Bank of Thailand floats the baht, triggering the Asian financial crisis.
1998
28 years ago
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling, the second novel of the Harry Potter series, was published.
2000
26 years ago
Vicente Fox Quesada is elected the first President of México from an opposition party, the Partido Acción Nacional, after more than 70 years of continuous rule by the Partido Revolucionario Institucional, in the 2000 Mexican general election.
2005
21 years ago
The Live 8 benefit concerts takes place in the G8 states and in South Africa. More than 1,000 musicians perform and are broadcast on 182 television networks and 2,000 radio networks.
2013
13 years ago
The International Astronomical Union announced that the fourth and fifth moons of Pluto to be discovered would be named Kerberos and Styx, respectively.
Quick quiz
Every answer is somewhere on this page. Have a go, then check!
-
In which year did this happen: “First English Civil War: The combined forces of Scottish Covenanters and”?
- 1644
- 1915
- 1903
Show the answer
A: 1644. 1644 — that’s 382 years ago. Find it on the page
-
In which year did this happen: “American Revolution: The Continental Congress adopts the Lee Resolution”?
- 1776
- 1911
- 1990
Show the answer
A: 1776. 1776 — that’s 250 years ago. Find it on the page
-
Which of these happened first?
- Wars of the Three Kingdoms: Battle of Alford
- American Revolution: The Continental Congress adopts the Lee Resolution
- First English Civil War: The combined forces of Scottish Covenanters and
Show the answer
C: First English Civil War: The combined forces of Scottish Covenanters and. 1645: Wars of the Three Kingdoms: Battle of Alford · 1776: American Revolution: The Continental Congress adopts the Lee Resolution · 1644: First English Civil War: The combined forces of Scottish Covenanters and Find it on the page
-
“William Henry Bragg” happened in 1862. How many years ago was that?
- 164 years
- 154 years
- 174 years
Show the answer
A: 164 years. 2026 − 1862 = 164. Find it on the page
Born on this day 37
Famous people whose birthday is 2 July.
- 1877 Hermann Hesse — German-born Swiss poet, novelist, and painter, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1962) Read more about Hermann Hesse on Wikipedia
- 1862 William Henry Bragg — English physicist, chemist, and mathematician, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1942) UK Read more about William Henry Bragg on Wikipedia
- 1923 Wisława Szymborska — Polish poet and translator, Nobel Prize laureate (died 2012) Read more about Wisława Szymborska on Wikipedia
- 1903 Alec Douglas-Home — English cricketer and politician, 66th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (died 1995) UK Read more about Alec Douglas-Home on Wikipedia
- 1925 Patrice Lumumba — Congolese politician, 1st Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (died 1961) Read more about Patrice Lumumba on Wikipedia
- 1489 Thomas Cranmer — English archbishop, theologian, and Protestant martyr (died 1556) UK Read more about Thomas Cranmer on Wikipedia
- 1929 Imelda Marcos — Filipino politician; 10th First Lady of the Philippines Read more about Imelda Marcos on Wikipedia
- 1990 Danny Rose — English footballer UK Read more about Danny Rose on Wikipedia
- 1986 Lindsay Lohan — American actress and singer Read more about Lindsay Lohan on Wikipedia
- 1906 Hans Bethe — German-American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 2005) Read more about Hans Bethe on Wikipedia
- 1990 Margot Robbie — Australian actress and producer Read more about Margot Robbie on Wikipedia
- 1714 Christoph Willibald Gluck — German composer (died 1787) Read more about Christoph Willibald Gluck on Wikipedia
- 1947 Larry David — American actor, comedian, producer, and screenwriter Read more about Larry David on Wikipedia
- 1930 Carlos Menem — Argentinian lawyer and politician, 50th President of Argentina (died 2021) Read more about Carlos Menem on Wikipedia
- 1985 Ashley Tisdale — American actress, singer, and producer Read more about Ashley Tisdale on Wikipedia
- 1903 Olav V — Norwegian king, 1957–1991 (died 1991) Read more about Olav V on Wikipedia
- 1942 Vicente Fox — Mexican businessman and politician, 35th President of Mexico Read more about Vicente Fox on Wikipedia
- 1940 Kenneth Clarke — English politician, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain UK Read more about Kenneth Clarke on Wikipedia
- 1938 David Owen — English physician and politician, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs UK Read more about David Owen on Wikipedia
- AD 419 Valentinian III — Roman emperor (died 455) Read more about Valentinian III on Wikipedia
- 1724 Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock — German poet and author (died 1803) Read more about Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock on Wikipedia
- 1911 Reg Parnell — English race car driver and manager (died 1964) UK Read more about Reg Parnell on Wikipedia
- 1978 Jüri Ratas — Estonian politician, 42nd Mayor of Tallinn Read more about Jüri Ratas on Wikipedia
- 1989 Alex Morgan — American soccer player Read more about Alex Morgan on Wikipedia
- 1492 Elizabeth Tudor — English daughter of Henry VII of England (died 1495) UK Read more about Elizabeth Tudor on Wikipedia
- 1915 Valerian Wellesley — 8th Duke of Wellington, British peer, politician and soldier (died 2014) UK Read more about Valerian Wellesley on Wikipedia
- 1954 Chris Huhne — English journalist and politician, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change UK Read more about Chris Huhne on Wikipedia
- 1981 Nathan Ellington — English footballer UK Read more about Nathan Ellington on Wikipedia
- 1946 Richard Axel — American neuroscientist and biologist, Nobel Prize laureate Read more about Richard Axel on Wikipedia
- 1922 Pierre Cardin — Italian-French fashion designer (died 2020) Read more about Pierre Cardin on Wikipedia
- 1647 Daniel Finch — 2nd Earl of Nottingham, English politician, Lord President of the Council (died 1730) UK Read more about Daniel Finch on Wikipedia
- 1970 Steve Morrow — Northern Irish footballer and manager UK Read more about Steve Morrow on Wikipedia
- 1916 Hans-Ulrich Rudel — German colonel and pilot (died 1982) Read more about Hans-Ulrich Rudel on Wikipedia
- 1983 Michelle Branch — American singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more about Michelle Branch on Wikipedia
- 1987 Esteban Granero — Spanish footballer Read more about Esteban Granero on Wikipedia
- 1486 Jacopo Sansovino — Italian sculptor and architect (died 1570) Read more about Jacopo Sansovino on Wikipedia
- 1975 Elizabeth Reaser — American actress Read more about Elizabeth Reaser on Wikipedia
Remembering 21
Well-known people who died on 2 July.
- 1778 Jean-Jacques Rousseau — Swiss philosopher and composer (born 1712) Read more about Jean-Jacques Rousseau on Wikipedia
- 1961 Ernest Hemingway — American novelist, short story writer, and journalist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1899) Read more about Ernest Hemingway on Wikipedia
- 1977 Vladimir Nabokov — Russian-born novelist and critic (born 1899) Read more about Vladimir Nabokov on Wikipedia
- 1566 Nostradamus — French astrologer and author (born 1503) Read more about Nostradamus on Wikipedia
- 1850 Robert Peel — English lieutenant and politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (born 1788) UK Read more about Robert Peel on Wikipedia
- 2016 Elie Wiesel — Holocaust survivor, activist, and author (born 1928) Read more about Elie Wiesel on Wikipedia
- 1997 James Stewart — American actor (born 1908) Read more about James Stewart on Wikipedia
- 1743 Spencer Compton — 1st Earl of Wilmington, English politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (born 1673) UK Read more about Spencer Compton on Wikipedia
- 1914 Joseph Chamberlain — English businessman and politician, Secretary of State for the Colonies (born 1836) UK Read more about Joseph Chamberlain on Wikipedia
- 1999 Mario Puzo — American author and screenwriter (born 1920) Read more about Mario Puzo on Wikipedia
- 1621 Thomas Harriot — English astronomer, mathematician, and ethnographer (born 1560) UK Read more about Thomas Harriot on Wikipedia
- 1915 Porfirio Díaz — Mexican general and politician, 29th President of Mexico (born 1830) Read more about Porfirio Díaz on Wikipedia
- 2010 Beryl Bainbridge — English screenwriter and author (born 1932) UK Read more about Beryl Bainbridge on Wikipedia
- 1989 Andrei Gromyko — Soviet economist and politician, Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs (born 1909) Read more about Andrei Gromyko on Wikipedia
- 2013 Douglas Engelbart — American computer scientist, invented the computer mouse (born 1925) Read more about Douglas Engelbart on Wikipedia
- AD 936 Henry the Fowler — German king (born 876) Read more about Henry the Fowler on Wikipedia
- AD 862 Swithun — English bishop and saint (born c. 800) UK Read more about Swithun on Wikipedia
- 2008 Elizabeth Spriggs — English actress and screenwriter (born 1929) UK Read more about Elizabeth Spriggs on Wikipedia
- 1975 James Robertson Justice — English actor (born 1907) UK Read more about James Robertson Justice on Wikipedia
- 2000 Joey Dunlop — Northern Irish motorcycle racer (born 1952) UK Read more about Joey Dunlop on Wikipedia
- 2016 Caroline Aherne — English actress and comedian (born 1963) UK Read more about Caroline Aherne on Wikipedia
Special days 10
Festivals, holidays and saints’ days celebrated on 2 July somewhere in the world.
- Police Day (Azerbaijan) Read more about Public holidays in Azerbaijan on Wikipedia
- Palio di Provenzano (Siena, Italy) Read more about Palio di Siena on Wikipedia
- Flag Day (Curaçao) Read more about Flag Day on Wikipedia
- Christian saints’ and feast days: Oudoceus, Stephen III of Moldavia (Romanian Orthodox Church), Feast of the Visitation (Anglicanism; Levoča at Mariánska hora), Pishoy (Coptic Church), Bernardino Realino, Blessed Eugénie Joubert, July 2 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics).
For older readers 17 Show stories about war, disasters, crime and other difficult history
Content note: these entries mention things like war, violence, deaths, disasters or crime. They are part of history, but they can be upsetting. Grown-ups and teachers: you may want to read them first. They come straight from Wikipedia and have not been rewritten for children.
- 1881 U.S. president James A. Garfield (pictured) was fatally shot by Charles J. Guiteau at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad station in Washington, D.C. Read more about James A. Garfield on Wikipedia
- 2013 In the Indonesian province of Aceh on the northern end of Sumatra, a Mw 6.1 strike-slip earthquake killed at least 35 people and injured 276 others. Read more about Aceh on Wikipedia
- 1941 A German SS unit arrived in Vilnius, Lithuania, and began the systematic execution of up to 100,000 people over the next three years. Read more about Schutzstaffel on Wikipedia
- AD 626 Li Shimin (pictured) led his forces to assassinate his rival brothers in a coup for the imperial throne of Tang China. Read more about Emperor Taizong of Tang on Wikipedia
- 1937 Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan are last heard from over the Pacific Ocean and disappear while attempting to make the first equatorial round-the-world flight. Read more about Amelia Earhart on Wikipedia
- 2020 A landslide at a jade mine in Hpakant killed 175–200 miners, the deadliest mining accident in Burmese history. Read more about 2020 Hpakant jade mine disaster on Wikipedia
- 1993 A mob sets fire to the Hotel Madımak in Sivas, Turkey, where an Alevi cultural festival was taking place, killing 37 people. Read more about Alevism on Wikipedia
- 1994 USAir Flight 1016 crashes near Charlotte Douglas International Airport, killing 37 of the 57 people on board. Read more about USAir Flight 1016 on Wikipedia
- 2024 A stampede during a religious event in Uttar Pradesh, India, leaves at least 121 people dead and 150 others injured. Read more about 2024 Hathras crowd crush on Wikipedia
- 1990 In the 1990 Mecca tunnel tragedy, 1,400 Muslim pilgrims are suffocated to death and trampled upon in a pedestrian tunnel leading to the holy city of Mecca. Read more about 1990 Mecca tunnel tragedy on Wikipedia
- 2013 A magnitude 6.1 earthquake strikes Aceh, Indonesia, killing at least 42 people and injuring 420 others. Read more about 2013 Aceh earthquake on Wikipedia
- 1986 Aeroflot Flight 2306 crashes while attempting an emergency landing at Syktyvkar Airport in Syktyvkar, in present-day Komi Republic, Russia, killing 54 people. Read more about Aeroflot Flight 2306 on Wikipedia
- 1840 A Ms 7.4 earthquake strikes present-day Turkey and Armenia; combined with the effects of an eruption on Mount Ararat, kills 10,000 people. Read more about 1840 Ararat earthquake on Wikipedia
- 1986 Rodrigo Rojas and Carmen Gloria Quintana are burnt alive during a street demonstration against the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet in Chile in the Quemados case. Read more about Rodrigo Rojas de Negri on Wikipedia
- — Christian feast day: Martinian and Processus Read more about Martinian and Processus on Wikipedia
- — Christian feast day: Monegundis Read more about Monegundis on Wikipedia
- — Christian feast day: Aberoh and Atom (Coptic Church) Read more about Aberoh and Atom on Wikipedia
Where these facts come from
Stories with a heading have been written for young readers by A Day in the Past, using the linked articles as sources. Other entries show text from Wikipedia’s “July 2” page and its “On this day” feed, written by Wikipedia contributors and shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 licence. Each “Read more” link goes to the article an entry is based on. Photos are credited under each picture. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us.