Also on This Day in History July 4
Discover what happened on July 4 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.
Births on This Day, July 4
-
1816
Hiram Walker
American businessman who founded Canadian club whiskey
-
1847
James Anthony Bailey
American circus ringmaster ho co-founded Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
-
1872
Calvin Coolidge
American lawyer and politician who was the 30th President of the United States
-
1906
Vincent Joseph Schaefer
American chemist and meteorologist (cloud seeding)
-
1950
Steven Sasson
American inventor of the digital camera
Deaths on This Day, July 4
-
1826
John Adams
American politician and 2nd President of the United States
-
1934
Marie Curie
French-Polishphysicist and chemist
-
1840
Karl Ferdinand von Graefe
German surgeon who helped create modern plastic surgery
-
1902
Swami Vivekananda
Indian Hindu spiritual leader and a key figure in the introduction of Yoga to the Western world
-
1910
Giovanni Schiaparelli
Italian astronomer (discovered canals of Mars)
1946
The Philippines attains full independence from the United States
The Philippines attained full independence from the United States on July 4, 1946. This date marks the end of a long process of colonization and occupation by the United States and the establishment of the Philippines as a sovereign nation.
1776
The United States Declaration of Independence is adopted by the 2nd Continental Congres
The United States Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. This historic document declared the thirteen American colonies' independence from British rule and laid out the principles of self-government and individual rights that would shape the United States' foundation.
1789
1st US tariff act signed by President Washington
The first U.S. tariff act, officially titled "An Act to provide for the Collection of Duties on Imports," was signed into law by President George Washington on July 4, 1789. This act established the framework for the collection of duties on imported goods, marking an early step in the development of the United States' economic policies.
1884
Statue of Liberty presented to US in Paris
The Statue of Liberty was presented to the United States in Paris on July 4, 1884. This iconic statue, designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, was a gift from the people of France to commemorate the centennial of American independence and to celebrate the friendship between the two nations.