July 31, 1790
In 1790, the first U.S. patent was granted to Samuel Hopkins of Vermont for a process for making potash and pearl ashes. Potash was important as an ingredient in soap and fertilizer.
July 30, 1920
Marie Tharp, the Woman who discovered the Backbone of Earth. Marie Tharp was born July 30, 1920 in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Already in early years she followed her father, a soil surveyor for the United States Department of Agriculture, into the field.
July 29. 1958
President Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 establishing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
July 28, 1914
Using the assassination of the Austrian archduke Francis Ferdinand as a pretext to present Serbia with an unacceptable ultimatum, Austria-Hungary declared war on the Slavic country on this day in 1914, sparking World War I.
July 27, 1921
At the University of Toronto Dr. Frederick Banting, a Canadian surgeon and Charles Best, a medical student, successfully isolated the hormone insulin for the first time.
July 26, 1775:
The Second Continental Congress of the United States established the United States Post Office (USPO), with Benjamin Franklin appointed as the first postmaster general. The USPO is one of the oldest institutions in the United States. Indeed, it is an essential part of the country’s infrastructure and has played a crucial role in the nation’s development. It is responsible for receiving mail and packages for millions of Americans every day.
Trademark applicants and attorneys can now use software to electronically sign declarations in the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) and TEAS International. Learn more: https://t.co/zON6Ic1FDy pic.twitter.com/KlEs67nqvK
— USPTO (@uspto) July 22, 2023
July 25, 1911:
International Business Machines was granted its first patent #998,631 for a perforating machine’, essentially a punch card system used for tabulation.
July 24, 1923:
The Treaty of Lausanne, the final treaty concluding World War I, was signed at Lausanne, Switzerland.
July 23, 1967:
A riot began in Detroit as African Americans and the city’s police department were involved in violent confrontations following a police raid on an illegal drinking club; the unrest, which lasted for five days, is considered one of the catalysts of the militant Black Power movement.
July 22, 1933:
American aviator Wiley Post completed the first solo flight around the world; he covered 15,596 miles (25,099 km) in 7 days, 18 hours, 49 minutes.
July 21, 1925:
The trial of high-school teacher John T. Scopes ended with his conviction in Tennessee; he had taught Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution in violation of a state law.
July 20,1969:
On this day in 1969, the Eagle lunar landing module, carrying U.S. astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin (“Buzz”) Aldrin, landed on the Moon, and several hours later Armstrong became the first person to set foot on its surface.
One small step.
OTD 54 years ago, Apollo 11 crewmembers became the first human beings to set foot on the lunar surface.
Today, we’re building on the legacy of Apollo as we prepare to establish a long-term human infrastructure on the Moon with #Artemis. #InternationalMoonDay pic.twitter.com/6BCAwbHSsd
— NASA (@NASA) July 20, 2023
July 19, 1903:
French bicyclist Maurice Garin won the first Tour de France, which covered 2,428 km (1,508 miles).
July 18, A.D. 64:
The Great Fire of Rome began, consuming most of the city for about a week. (Some blamed the fire on Emperor Nero, who in turn blamed Christians.)
July 17, 1888:
Granville Woods received a patent for the “tunnel construction for electric railways.”
July 16, 1878:
Thaddeus Hyatt was granted a patent for reinforced concrete. Apollo 11 Heads for the Moon.
July 15, 1912:
American Jim Thorpe (Haskell Indian Nations University) won a gold medal for the decathlon at the Olympics in Stockholm; he also captured a gold medal for the pentathlon.
July 14, 1965:
Launched from the the United States Mariner 4 flyby of Mars takes the first close-up photos of another planet. The photographs take approximately six hours to be transmitted back to Earth.
July 13, 1956:
The Dartmouth workshop is the first conference on artificial intelligence.
July 12, 1812:
The American Army of the Northwest briefly occupies the Upper Canadian settlement at what is now at Windsor, Ontario — adjacent to the Southeast Michigan, across the Detroit River.
July 11, 1804:
Outraged over disparaging remarks that Alexander Hamilton had allegedly made at a dinner party, Aaron Burr challenged his longtime rival to a duel, and on this day in 1804 he fatally shot Hamilton in Weehawken, New Jersey.
July 10, 1925:
The Scopes Trial began in Dayton, Tennessee, with William Jennings Bryan arguing for the prosecution and Clarence Darrow for the defense.
July 9, 1850:
Zachary Taylor, 12th president of the United States, died only 16 months after taking office.
July 8, 1497:
On this day Vasco da Gama sailed from Lisbon with a fleet of four vessels which opened a sea route from western Europe to Asia by way of the Cape of Good Hope, ushering in a new era in world history. This voyage depended on the expertise of experienced sailors, accumulated knowledge from previous explorations, and interactions with local navigators and traders along the way. A combination of historical charts, astrolab, magnetic compass, coastal plotting, seasonal winds and dead reckoning enabled da Gama to successfully navigate his way to Asia.
July 7, 1914:
Robert Goddard, age 31, was issued U.S. patent US1102653A — the first of the 214 he would obtain in his lifetime as a pioneer rocket scientist.
July 6. 1885:
Louis Pasteur successfully tested an antirabies vaccine.
July 5, 1687:
5.VII
On this day in 1687, Isaac Newton's Principia was published.
"Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica" pic.twitter.com/GTpVN5O4A5
— Mathematics & Statistics St Andrews (@StA_Maths_Stats) July 5, 2023
July 4, 1776:
The United States Declaration of Independence secession from British King George III’s government was signed and presented to the public in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing took place in the Pennsylvania State House, which is now known as Independence Hall. This historic event occurred on July 4, 1776. After the signing, the Declaration of Independence was publicly read for the first time on July 8, 1776, in the courtyard of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Square.
July 3, 1776:
The day before the United States Declaration of Independence was issued, on July 3, 1776, the Continental Congress continued its debate and revisions of the text of the declaration. The Congress had been working on the document for several days, making edits and amendments. The final version of the declaration was presented to the Congress for approval. The actual signing of the document did not occur until August 2, 1776.
July 2, 1909:
Fritz Haber demonstrated nitrogen fixation process (Haber process for synthetic ammonia) to Badische Aniline und Soda-Fabrik (BASF). The invention of synthetic ammonia has had far-reaching effects on agriculture, industry, energy, and the economy. It has revolutionized food production, helped meet global food demand, facilitated industrial processes, and paved the way for sustainable energy solutions.
July 1, 1867:
The national day of Canada. A federal statutory holiday, it celebrates the anniversary of Canadian Confederation which occurred on July 1, 1867, with the passing of the British North America Act, 1867, when the three separate colonies of the United Canadas, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick were united into a single dominion within the British Empire called Canada.
