12 History Lessons + 6 Births & 6 Deaths for July 4, 2025
Today’s History:
- 1776 – The United States Declaration of Independence is adopted by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia.
- 1802 – The United States Military Academy at West Point officially opens.
- 1826 – Former U.S. Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both die on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
- 1831 – “America (My Country, ‘Tis of Thee)” is first performed in Boston.
- 1863 – Confederate forces under General Lee retreat from Gettysburg; Union gains a decisive victory.
- 1863 – Vicksburg, Mississippi surrenders to U.S. General Ulysses S. Grant, giving the Union control of the Mississippi River.
- 1881 – Booker T. Washington opens the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.
- 1939 – Lou Gehrig delivers his famous “Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth” farewell speech at Yankee Stadium.
- 1960 – The U.S. flag is officially updated to include the 50th star for Hawaii.
- 1997 – NASA’s Pathfinder rover lands on Mars and begins transmitting data back to Earth.
- 2004 – The cornerstone of the Freedom Tower (One World Trade Center) is laid on the World Trade Center site in New York City.
- 2009 – Statue of Liberty’s crown reopens to the public after being closed since the 9/11 attacks.
Today’s Birthdays:
- 1943 – Geraldo Rivera, journalist and TV personality (82)
- 1952 – Álvaro Uribe, former President of Colombia (73)
- 1962 – Pam Shriver, former tennis star and commentator (63)
- 1978 – Becki Newton, actress (Ugly Betty) (47)
- 1989 – Post Malone, rapper, singer, and songwriter (36)
- 1992 – Angelique Kerber, German tennis champion (33)
Today’s Deaths:
- 1826 – Thomas Jefferson, 3rd U.S. President and Declaration author (83)
- 1826 – John Adams, 2nd U.S. President and key founding father (90)
- 1831 – James Monroe, 5th U.S. President (73)
- 1934 – Marie Curie, Nobel Prize-winning physicist and chemist (66)
- 1971 – Puyi, last Emperor of China (61)
- 2003 – Barry White, American singer and music producer (58)
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