July 4

.
. The phrase "Fourth of July" has acquired widespread significance in American culture as a reference to the Independence Day celebration in the United States and that celebration's many cultural accoutrements. In general it's the angle of the sun's rays and the number of hours of light per day that actually affects the seasons in most regions on the planet. July 4 is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 180 days remaining. But the distance from the sun doesn't affect the seasons on Earth to a measurable amount, since Earth's eliptical orbit is almost circular. In astronomy, the approximate date of Earth's aphelion. Conversely, the northern summer is when the sun is farthest from the earth.

Filipino-American Friendship Day. Through an interesting coincidence in the Earth's orbit, the northern hemisphere's winter occurs roughly when the sun is actually closest to the earth (Perihelion is actually on or about January 4). United States and Denmark - Independence Day (1776). The first civilization to celebrate the winter solstice were the Ancient Persians, deriving from their Zoroastrian religion. 1923). Many cultures celebrate or celebrated a holiday near (within a few days) the winter solstice; examples of these include Yalda, Saturnalia, Christmas, Karachun, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Zamenhof Day. 2005 - Hank Stram, American football coach (b. The winter solstice is the time when the Germanic festival of Yule was celebrated; it is celebrated today by Ásatrúar and is recognized by some Neopagan groups as a Neopagan Sabbat.

1920).
. 2004 - Jean-Marie Auberson, Swiss conductor (b. Rather confusingly, the character zhì may also mean "arrival" in other contexts, but it is clear that the Chinese consider "winter's arrival" (立冬, lì dōng, literally "establishment of winter") to be a separate jiéqì which falls on or around November 7 instead. 1944). It is traditionally regarded as one of the year's most important jiéqìs (solar terms), comparable to Chinese New Year. 2003 - Barry White, American singer and record producer (b. In the Chinese calendar, the winter solstice too marks midwinter and is called dōng zhì (冬至, "winter's extreme").

1912). The dramatic event lasts for 17 minutes at dawn from the 19th to the 23rd of December. Davis Jr., American general (b. A shaft of sunlight shines through the roof box over the entrance and penetrates the passage to light up the chamber. 2002 - Benjamin O. The passage and chamber of Newgrange, a tomb in Ireland, are illuminated by the winter solstice sunrise. 1934). For example, winter begins on November 1, and ends on January 31.

1997 - Charles Kuralt, American television reporter (b. In Ireland's calendars, the solstices and equinoxes all occur at about midpoint in each season. 1919). At this time, the Sun appears over the Tropic of Cancer. 1995 - Eva Gabor, Hungarian-born actress (b. In the southern hemisphere, winter solstice falls on June 21/June 22, which is the northern hemisphere's summer solstice. 1921). At this time, the Sun appears over the Tropic of Capricorn, roughly 23.5 degrees South of the earth's equator.

1992 - Astor Piazzolla, Argentinian composer (b. In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice usually falls on December 21/December 22, which is the southern hemisphere's summer solstice. 1936). The day of the winter solstice is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Victor Chang, Australian physician (murdered) (b. Solstice is a Latin borrowing and means "sun stand still", referring to the appearance that the Sun's noontime elevation change stops its progress, either northerly or southerly. 1991 - Dr. This causes the Sun to appear at its farthest below the celestial equator when viewed from the far hemisphere.

1899). In astronomy, the winter solstice is the moment when the earth is at a point in its orbit where one hemisphere is most inclined away from the Sun. 1986 - Oscar Zariski, Russian mathematician (b. 1918). 1977 - Gersh Budker, Russian physicist (b.

1895). 1976 - Antoni Słonimski, Polish poet and writer (b. 1902). 1975 - Georgette Heyer, English author (b.

1909). 1971 - August Derleth, American writer and editor (b. 1905). 1970 - Barnett Newman, American artist (b.

1881). 1941 - Antoni Łomnicki, Polish mathematician (b. 1867). 1934 - Maria Skłodowska-Curie, Polish-born scientist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in chemistry and physics (b.

1931 - Buddie Petit, American jazz cornetist. 1901). 1926 - Pier Giorgio Frassati, Italian mountaineer (b. 1835).

1910 - Giovanni Schiaparelli, Italian astronomer (b. 1830). 1905 - Élisée Reclus, French geographer and anarchist (b. 1863).

1902 - Swami Vivekananda, Indian spiritual leader (b. 1843). 1901 - Johannes Schmidt, German linguist (b. 1809).

Vice President (b. 1891 - Hannibal Hamlin, U.S. 1797). 1882 - Joseph Brackett, American religious leader and composer (b.

1806). 1881 - Johan Vilhelm Snellman, Finnish statesman (b. 1786). Marcy, American statesman (b.

1857 - William L. 1759). 1850 - William Kirby, English entomologist (b. 1768).

1848 - François-René de Chateaubriand, French writer and diplomat (b. 1758). 1831 - James Monroe, 5th President of the United States (b. 1743).

1826 - Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States (b. 1735). 1826 - John Adams 2nd President of the United States (b. 1742).

1821 - Richard Cosway, English artist (b. 1715). 1787 - Charles de Rohan, prince de Soubise, Marshal of France (b. 1712).

1780 - Prince Charles of Lorraine, Austrian military leader (b. 1689). 1761 - Samuel Richardson, English writer (b. 1680).

1754 - Philippe Néricault Destouches, French dramatist (b. 1671). 1742 - Guido Grandi, Italian mathematician (b. 1623 - William Byrd, English composer.

1521). 1603 - Philippe de Monte, Flemish composer (b. 1495). 1541 - Pedro de Alvarado, Spanish explorer (b.

1187 - Raynald of Chatillon, Prince of Antioch (executed). 965 - Pope Benedict V. 1995 - María Isabel, Spanish singer. 1976 - Daijiro Kato, Japanese motorcycle racer.

1974 - La'Roi Glover, American football player. 1973 - Gackt, Japanese singer. 1967 - Andy Walker, Canadian television personality. 1967 - Vinny Castilla, Mexican Major League Baseball player.

1962 - Pam Shriver, American tennis player. 1961 - Richard Garriott, English video game designer. 1951 - Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, American politician. 1948 - Tommy Körberg, Swedish singer.

1946 - Ed O'Ross, American actor. 1946 - Ron Kovic, American peace activist. 1943 - Geraldo Rivera, American reporter and talk show host. 1943 - Konrad "Conny" Bauer, German jazz trombonist.

1942 - Floyd Little, American football player. 1941 - Brian Willson, American peace activist. 1938 - Bill Withers, American singer and songwriter. 1977).

1931 - Stephen Boyd, Northern Irish actor (d. 1930 - George Steinbrenner, baseball team owner. 1929 - Bill Tuttle, baseball player. - Neil Simon, American playwright.

1927 - Gina Lollobrigida, Italian actress. 1926 - Alfredo Di Stefano, Argentinian footballer. 1924 - Eva Marie Saint, American actress. 1923 - Rudolf Friedrich, Swiss Federal Councilor.

2003). 1921 - Tibor Varga, Hungarian violinist and conductor (d. 2004). 1921 - Gerard Debreu, French-born economist, Nobel Prize laureate (d.

1920 - Norm Drucker, prominent National Basketball Association referee. 1920 - Leona Helmsley, American hotel operator and real estate investor. 1918 - Pauline Phillips (Abigail Van Buren), American advice columnist and twin sister to Ann Landers. 2002).

1918 - Ann Landers, American advice columnist (d. 1947). 1917 - Manolete, Spanish bullfighter (d. 1911 - Mitch Miller, American bandleader and television personality.

1910 - Gloria Stuart, American actress. 1991). 1905 - Irving Johnson, American author and adventurer (d. 1976).

1904 - Angela Baddeley, English actress (d. 1992). 1902 - George Murphy, American dancer, actor, and Senator from California (d. 1983).

1902 - Meyer Lansky, Russian-born mobster (d. this date). 1971) (see article re. 1900 - Louis Armstrong, American musician (d.

1997). Pilar Barbosa, Puerto Rican historian (d. 1898 - Dr. 1981).

1896 - Mao Dun, Chinese writer (d. 1970). 1883 - Rube Goldberg, American cartoonist (d. 1957).

Mayer, American film producer (d. 1882 - Louis B. 1968). Grant III, American soldier and planner (d.

1881 - Ulysses S. 1942). Cohan, American singer, dancer, composer, actor, and writer (d. 1878 - George M.

1933). 1872 - Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States (d. 1906). 1847 - James Anthony Bailey, American circus impresario (d.

1926). 1854 - Victor Babeş, Romanian bacteriologist (d. 1905). 1845 - Thomas Barnardo, Irish humanitarian (d.

1864). 1826 - Stephen Foster, American songwriter (d. 1882). 1807 - Giuseppe Garibaldi, Italian patriot (d.

1864). 1804 - Nathaniel Hawthorne, American writer (d. 1859). 1799 - King Oscar I of Sweden (Joseph François Oscar Bernadotte), French Napoleonic general (d.

1797). 1719 - Michel-Jean Sedaine, French dramatist (d. 1769). 1715 - Christian Fürchtegott Gellert, German poet (d.

1772). 1694 - Louis-Claude Daquin, French composer (d. 1595). 1546 - Murat III, Ottoman Sultan (d.

1367). 1330 - Ashikaga Yoshiakira, Japanese shogun (d. 2005 - The Deep Impact collider hits the comet Tempel 1. 2004 - National Team of Greece won the EURO 2004 Cup 1-0 after the Final against Portugal.

(This was largely a symbolic event; actual construction would not start for several weeks). 2004 - The cornerstone of the Freedom Tower is laid on the site of the World Trade Center in New York City. 2002 - A Prestige Airlines cargo Boeing 707 crashes just short of the runway in Bangui, Central African Republic killing 25. The gunman is shot and killed by a security officer.

2002 - Three people are shot at the El Al check-in booth at Los Angeles International Airport. 1998 - Lin "Spit" Newborn and Daniel Shersty are murdered by neonazis in the desert just outside Las Vegas. 1997 - NASA's Pathfinder space probe lands on the surface of Mars. 1993 - The Argentine national football team defeats mexico to win the Copa América 1993 in Guayaquil.

1987 - In France, former Gestapo chief Klaus Barbie (aka the "Butcher of Lyon") is convicted of crimes against humanity and is sentenced to life imprisonment. 1984 - NASCAR driver Richard Petty wins his 200th and final career victory at the Firecracker 400 race. 1982 - Four Iranian diplomats have been kidnapped upon Israel invasion of lebanon. 1976 - The citizens of the United States celebrate their country's bicentennial.

1976 - Israeli commandos raid Entebbe airport in Uganda, rescuing all of the passengers and crew of an Air France jetliner seized by Palestinian terrorists. The act goes into effect the next year. Johnson signs the Freedom of Information Act into United States law. 1966 - President Lyndon B.

state on August 21, 1959, the 50-star flag of the United States debuts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania almost ten and a half months later (see Flag Act). 1960 - Due to the post-Independence Day admission of Hawaii as the 50th U.S. state earlier in the year, the 49-star flag of the United States debuts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 1959 - With the admission of Alaska as the 49th U.S.

1950 - First broadcast by Radio Free Europe. 1946 - After 381 years of colonial rule, the Philippines is granted full independence by the United States. 1941 - Mass murder of Polish scientists and writers, committed by Nazi Germans in captured Polish city of Lwów. 1939 - Lou Gehrig, recently diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, tells a crowd at Yankee Stadium that he considered himself "The luckiest man on the face of the earth" as he announces his retirement from major league baseball.

1934 - Leo Szilard patents the chain-reaction design for the atomic bomb. 1934 - Joe Louis wins his first professional boxing match. 1927 - First flight of the Lockheed Vega. 1918 - Bolsheviks kill Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and his family (Julian calendar date).

1918 - Ottoman sultan Mehmed VI ascends to the throne. 1910 - African-American boxer Jack Johnson knocks out white boxer Jim Jeffries in a heavyweight boxing match sparking race riots across the United States. Dole. 1894 - The short-lived Republic of Hawaii is proclaimed by Sanford B.

1881 - In Alabama, the Tuskegee Institute opens. 1865 - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is published. Grant after 47 days of siege. 1863 - American Civil War: Battle of Vicksburg - Vicksburg, Mississippi surrenders to Ulysses S.

1862 - Lewis Carroll tells Alice Liddell a story that would grow into Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequels. 1859 - Franco-Piedmontese War: The Battle of Magenta. 1855 - In Brooklyn, New York, the first edition of Walt Whitman's book of poems titled Leaves of Grass is published. 1845 - Near Concord, Massachusetts, Henry David Thoreau embarks on a two-year experiment in simple living at Walden Pond (see Walden).

1840 - The Cunard Line's 700 ton wooden paddle steamer RMS Britannia departs from Liverpool bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia on the first transatlantic passenger cruise. 1838 - The Iowa Territory is organized. 1837 - Grand Junction Railway, world's first long-distance railway, opens between Birmingham and Liverpool. 1831 - James Monroe dies on the fifty-fifth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

1827 - Slavery is abolished in New York State. 1826 - Fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, on which John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, died. 1817 - At Rome, New York, United States, construction on the Erie Canal begins. 1810 - The French occupy Amsterdam.

1803 - The Louisiana Purchase is announced to the American people. 1802 - At West Point, New York the United States Military Academy opens. 1776 - American Revolutionary War: The Continental Congress approves a Declaration of Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. 1712 - 12 slaves are executed in New York for starting an uprising that killed 9 whites.

1636 - City of Providence, Rhode Island forms. 1584 - Sir Walter Ralegh first sees the coast of North Carolina. 1187 - Saladin defeats Guy of Lusignan, King of Jerusalem, at the Battle of Hattin. Its remnants form the Crab Nebula.

For several months it remains bright enough to be seen during the day. 1054 - A supernova is observed by the Chinese and Amerindians near the star ζ Tauri. 993 - Saint Ulrich of Augsburg canonized.