This Day In History : July 25

1850 United States

Gold discovered in Oregon (Rogue River)

Gold was discovered in Oregon's Rogue River on July 25, 1850. This discovery sparked the Rogue River Gold Rush, drawing prospectors from all over the United States in search of fortune. The gold rush significantly impacted the region's economy and development, leading to the establishment of mining towns and the growth of settlements in the area.

Also on This Day in History July 25

Discover what happened on July 25 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, July 25
  • 1920 Rosalind Franklin

    English chemist and co-discoverer of the structure of DNA

  • 1857 Frank Sprague

    American inventor who installed the first U.S. electric trolley system in Richmond

  • 1884 Davidson Black

    Canadian paleoanthropologist and doctor of anatomy who identified "Peking Man"

  • 1922 John B. Goodenough

    American materials scientist (lithium-ion battery), solid-state physicist and Nobel laureate in chemistry

  • 1932 Paul J. Weitz

    American test pilot and NASA astronaut (Skylab 2; STS-6)

Deaths on This Day, July 25
  • 1993 Vincent Joseph Schaefer

    American chemist and meteorologist (cloud seeding)

  • 1933 Gustav Georg Embden

    German physiological chemist who conducted studies on the chemistry of carbohydrate metabolism and muscle contraction and was the first to discover and link together all the steps involved in the conversion of glycogen to lactic acid

  • 1843 Charles Macintosh

    Scottish chemist and inventor who manufactured rubberized cloth used for waterproof clothing

  • 1865 James Barry [Margaret Ann Bulkley]

    British military surgeon and the 1st woman in Great Britain to become a qualified medical doctor

  • 1963 Ugo Cerletti

    Italian neurologist (discovered the method of electroconvulsive therapy)

1978

Louise Joy Brown is the first human born after conception by IVF, or in vitro fertilization

Louise Joy Brown holds the distinction of being the first human born after conception by in vitro fertilization (IVF). Born on July 25, 1978, in Oldham, England, Louise's birth marked a significant milestone in reproductive medicine. IVF, a groundbreaking technique developed by British scientists Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe, involves fertilizing an egg with sperm outside the body and implanting the resulting embryo into the uterus.
1973

Soviet Mars 5 space probe is launched

The Soviet Mars 5 space probe was launched on July 25, 1973. This unmanned spacecraft was part of the Soviet Union's Mars program, which aimed to explore the planet Mars. Mars 5 was intended to study the Martian atmosphere, surface, and climate, as well as to search for signs of life.
1946

First underwater nuclear test

The first underwater nuclear test, code-named "Operation Crossroads," took place on July 25, 1946. This test was conducted by the United States in the Bikini Atoll of the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean. The test, known as "Test Able," involved the detonation of a nuclear bomb (a plutonium implosion-type device) suspended underwater.
1952

Puerto Rico becomes a self-governing US commonwealth (Constitution Day)

Puerto Rico officially became a self-governing U.S. commonwealth on July 25, 1952. The Constitution of Puerto Rico was enacted, establishing the island's government structure and granting it a measure of self-governance while maintaining its political ties with the United States.
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