History Events on July 03

Space Race: The biggest explosion in the history of rocketry occurs when the Soviet N-1 rocket explodes and subsequently destroys its launchpad.

#Space_Race

Congress establishes the United States' 2nd mint in San Francisco.

#San_Francisco_Mint

Idaho is admitted as the 43rd U.S. state.

#Idaho

World War II: To stop ships from falling into German hands the French fleet of the Atlantic based at Mers El Kébir, is bombarded by the British fleet, coming from Gibraltar, causing the loss of three battleships: Dunkerque, Provence and French battleship Bretagne. One thousand two hundred sailors perish.

#World_War_II

The Troubles: The "Falls Curfew" begins in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

#The_Troubles

United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicates the Eternal Light Peace Memorial and lights the eternal flame at Gettysburg Battlefield.

#Franklin_D._Roosevelt

The Constitution of Puerto Rico is approved by the United States Congress.

#Constitution_of_Puerto_Rico

U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul.

#Jimmy_Carter

The New-York Tribune becomes the first newspaper to use a linotype machine, eliminating typesetting by hand.

#New-York_Tribune

Austro-Prussian War is decided at the Battle of Königgrätz, resulting in Prussia taking over as the prominent German nation from Austria.

#Austro-Prussian_War

Governor-General Peter von Scholten emancipates all remaining slaves in the Danish West Indies.

#Peter_von_Scholten

The SS United States sets sail on her maiden voyage to Southampton. During the voyage, the ship takes the Blue Riband away from the RMS Queen Mary.

#SS_United_States

The Aden Emergency: The Battle of the Crater in which the British Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders retake the Crater district following the Arab Police mutiny.

#Aden_Emergency

French and Indian War: George Washington surrenders Fort Necessity to French forces.

#French_and_Indian_War

Egyptian coup d'état: President of Egypt Mohamed Morsi is overthrown by the military after four days of protests all over the country calling for Morsi's resignation, to which he did not respond. President of the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt Adly Mansour is declared acting president.

#2013_Egyptian_coup_d'état

Stone of Scone is returned to Scotland.

#Stone_of_Scone

The last pair of great auks is killed.

#Great_auk

Norway's oldest newspaper still in print, Adresseavisen, is founded and the first edition is published.

#Adresseavisen

The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey is completed, providing the second connection between the continents of Europe and Asia over the Bosphorus.

#Fatih_Sultan_Mehmet_Bridge

World speed record for a steam locomotive is set in England, by the Mallard, which reaches a speed of 125.88 miles per hour (202.58 km/h).

#Steam_locomotive

American Civil War: The final day of the Battle of Gettysburg culminates with Pickett's Charge.

#American_Civil_War

Confederate veterans at the Great Reunion of 1913 reenact Pickett's Charge; upon reaching the high-water mark of the Confederacy they are met by the outstretched hands of friendship from Union survivors.

#Confederate_States_of_America

Hugh Capet is crowned King of France, the first of the Capetian dynasty that would rule France until the French Revolution in 1792.

#Hugh_Capet

The first state normal school in the United States, the forerunner to today's Framingham State University, opens in Lexington, Massachusetts with three students.

#Normal_school

World War II: Minsk is liberated from Nazi control by Soviet troops during Operation Bagration.

#Minsk

United States Navy warship USS Vincennes shoots down Iran Air Flight 655 over the Persian Gulf, killing all 290 people aboard.

#United_States_Navy

Battle of Adrianople: Constantine I defeats Licinius, who flees to Byzantium.

#Battle_of_Adrianople_(324)

American Revolutionary War: George Washington takes command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, Massachusetts.

#American_Revolutionary_War

A Spanish squadron, led by Pascual Cervera y Topete, is defeated by an American squadron under William T. Sampson in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba.

#Pascual_Cervera_y_Topete

Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party wins the general elections and is restored to power after being in opposition for 15 years.

Karl Benz officially unveils the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, the first purpose-built automobile.

Dow Jones & Company publishes its first stock average.

France invades the Roman Republic and restores the Papal States.

The Bank for Savings in the City of New-York, the first savings bank in the United States, opens.

American Revolutionary War: Iroquois allied to Britain kill 360 people in the Wyoming Valley massacre.

Pitcairn Island is discovered by Midshipman Robert Pitcairn on an expeditionary voyage commanded by Philip Carteret.

Québec City is founded by Samuel de Champlain.

William the Conqueror becomes the Duke of Normandy, reigns until 1087.