July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, leaving 181 days until the year’s end.
In this post, we revisit historical events reflecting the day’s rich and diverse impact on history and society.
July 3, 2013: Following days of national demonstrations demanding his removal, Egypt President Mohamed Morsi is ousted from office in a military coup led by General Abdul Fatah el-Sisi. Sisi appoints the head of the Constitutional Court as interim president, a role he assumes himself in 2014.
July 3, 2007: The Democratic Republic of Congo bans cars with right-side steering wheels, leading to chaos in half of the country. Kinshasa and the western regions have left-side steering cars to match the right-hand driving roads. However, vehicles imported from neighboring countries and Asia with right-side steering are now illegal in the eastern parts of the nation.
July 3, 1988: In the Persian Gulf, the U.S. Navy cruiser Vincennes shoots down an Iranian passenger jet mistakenly identified as a hostile Iranian fighter aircraft. The incident results in the death of all 290 people aboard the aircraft.
July 3, 1986: Morocco’s Royal Air Maroc becomes Africa’s first airline to operate the new Boeing 757. The aircraft sets a distance record by flying 9,103 km from Seattle, Washington, USA to Casablanca, Morocco, consuming 37,563 liters (10,000 gallons) of fuel during the journey.
July 3, 1952: The SS United States, the largest ocean liner built entirely in the United States and the fastest to cross the Atlantic in either direction, embarks on her maiden voyage to Southampton. She sets the Blue Riband for highest average speed, a title she holds away from the RMS Queen Mary.
July 3, 1945: Somali Sheikh Bashir leads a revolt against a police post and prison in British Somaliland. British, Indian, and South African troops struggle to pursue his followers, eventually locating them in the Bur Dhab Mountains on July 7. Bashir becomes a martyr in the Somali independence movement after being killed. Britain withdraws from the country’s interior, acknowledging the difficulty in defending against such resistance.
July 3, 1942: The “1 Squadron Stuka Party” air battle over Libya showcases the prowess of South Africa’s 1 Squadron pilots during World War II. In just 45 minutes, they destroy 14 German Ju 87 dive bombers, damage two more, and shoot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter, with the squadron losing only one of its own aircraft.
July 3, 1940: World War II: The Royal Navy attacks the French naval squadron in Algeria to prevent it from falling under German control. During the attack, one French battleship is sunk, two are damaged, and one manages to escape back to France.
July 3, 1938: The world speed record for a steam locomotive is set in England by the LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard, reaching a speed of 125.88 miles per hour (202.58 km/h).
July 3, 1886: The New-York Tribune becomes the first newspaper to use a linotype machine, revolutionizing printing by eliminating the need for hand typesetting.
July 3, 1886: Karl Benz officially unveils the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, the first purpose-built automobile. This groundbreaking invention marks the beginning of the modern automotive era.
July 3, 1767: Norway’s oldest newspaper still in print, Adresseavisen, is founded and the first edition is published.
You can also read about historical events of July 2.
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