July 4 Historical Events

The following events took place on July 4. The list is arranged in chronological order.

Found 80 events. Showing 1 - 30.

• 362 BC
  Battle of Mantinea: The Thebans, led by Epaminondas, defeated the Spartans.
• 414
  Emperor Theodosius II, age 13, yields power to his older sister Aelia Pulcheria, who reigned as regent and proclaimed herself empress (Augusta) of the Eastern Roman Empire.
• 836
  Pactum Sicardi, a peace treaty between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples, is signed.
• 993
  Ulrich of Augsburg is canonized as a saint.
• 1054
  A supernova, called SN 1054, is seen by the Chinese Song dynasty, Arab and possibly Amerindian observers near the star Zeta Tauri. For several months it remains bright enough to be seen during the day. Its remnants form the Crab Nebula.
• 1120
  Jordan II of Capua is anointed as prince after his infant nephew’s death.
• 1187
  The Crusades: Battle of Hattin: Saladin defeats Guy of Lusignan, King of Jerusalem.
• 1253
  Battle of West-Capelle: John I of Avesnes defeats Guy of Dampierre.
• 1359
  Francesco II Ordelaffi of Forlì surrenders to the Papal commander Gil de Albornoz.
• 1456
  Ottoman wars in Europe: The Siege of Nándorfehérvár (Belgrade) begins.
• 1534
  Christian III is elected King of Denmark and Norway in the town of Rye.
• 1584
  Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe arrive at Roanoke Island
• 1610
  The Battle of Klushino is fought between forces of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and Russia during the Polish–Muscovite War.
• 1634
  The city of Trois-Rivières is founded in New France (now Quebec, Canada).
• 1744
  The Treaty of Lancaster, in which the Iroquois cedes lands between the Allegheny Mountains and the Ohio River to the British colonies, was signed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

• 1754
  French and Indian War: George Washington surrenders Fort Necessity to French Capt. Louis Coulon de Villiers.
• 1774
  Orangetown Resolutions are adopted in the Province of New York, one of many protests against the British Parliament’s Coercive Acts
• 1776
  American Revolution: The United States Declaration of Independence is adopted by the Second Continental Congress.
• 1778
  American Revolutionary War: American forces under George Clark capture Kaskaskia during the Illinois campaign.
• 1802
  At West Point, New York, the United States Military Academy opens.
• 1803
  The Louisiana Purchase is announced to the American people.
• 1817
  In Rome, New York, construction on the Erie Canal begins.
• 1826
  Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States, dies the same day as John Adams, second president of the United States, on the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the United States Declaration of Independence.
• 1827
  Slavery is abolished in New York State.
• 1831
  Samuel Francis Smith writes “My Country, 'Tis of Thee” for the Boston, Massachusetts July 4 festivities.
• 1837
  Grand Junction Railway, the world’s first long-distance railway, opens between Birmingham and Liverpool.
• 1838
  The Iowa Territory is organized.
• 1855
  In Brooklyn, New York City, the first edition of Walt Whitman’s book of poems, Leaves of Grass, is published.
• 1862
  Lewis Carroll tells Alice Liddell a story that would grow into Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and its sequels.
• 1863
  American Civil War: Siege of Vicksburg: Vicksburg, Mississippi surrenders to Ulysses S. Grant after 47 days of siege. One hundred fifty miles up the Mississippi River, a Confederate Army is repulsed at the Battle of Helena, Arkansas.