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what happened on 22nd july

22nd July In History

BY CATEGORY

American writer Sarah Vowell, known for her creations on American history, once said, "History is full of really good stories. That's the main reason I got into this racket: I want to make the argument that history is interesting." While not many agree that history can be interesting several stories from the pages that talk about the post are capable of enchanting even the non-believer. The bygone days are storehouses of many interesting tales and prove that to understand the present better, we need to delve into the past. Isn't it compelling to wonder why dictators like Adolf Hitler did what they did? The pages of history hold the answers to many such confounding mysteries. From how society has evolved to how lands were explored and sea routes were chartered, from how industrialization came into being to how technology was improved, from how topology achieved its present state to why borders were erected between nations, the past has the key to unlock these riddles. The date July 22 is one such important day that has witnessed several events that have made a significant impact on the civilization. Without further ado let us take a look at the events of this day. Tune in to Today in History.

HISTORICAL EVENTS ON 22nd July

1209

Politics

Massacre At Béziers

As per the instruction of Pope Innocent III, who ordered that Catharism be eliminated by any means even if it requires force, Arnaud Amalric the official representative of the Pope led an army of crusaders to Béziers. On this day in 1209, a brawl ensued between the crusaders and armed civilians from the town. Taking the opportunity, the crusaders breached the defenses of Béziers and by nightfall, the city was in ruins.

1862

Politics

Lincoln’s Cabinet Is Informed About Emancipation Proclamation

President Abraham Lincoln made a strategically calculated move for saving the Union that was torn by the Civil War. He decided to wait for the Union to make a substantial headway in the war before putting the Emancipation Proclamation to effect, which shall free all the slaves. He strongly banked on appeasing the slaves and winning their loyalty towards the Union. It was on July 22, 1862, that Lincoln informed the members of his cabinet about the proclamation; however, it was only September that the policy is made effective.

1937

Politics

Judicial Procedures Reform Bill Voted Out

Elected for his second term, President Franklin D. Roosevelt passed a number of legislations as a part of the New Deal. The Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937 was one among them. The Bill which aimed at increasing the number of justices in the United States Supreme Court was voted out 70–20 by the Senate on this day in 1937.

1944

Politics

PKWN Communist Manifesto Is Released

The Polish Committee of National Liberation, also recognized as the Lublin Committee was the nemesis of Polish Government, which ruled in exile from London. The Committee was backed and controlled by the Communist Soviet and the PKWN Manifesto published by them on this day in 1944 in Chelm, marked their official proclamation as the provisional government.

1965

Politics

Sir Alec Resigns As The Leader Of Opposition

Sir Alec Douglas-Home served as the British Prime Minister during the period 1963-64, after which he served as the leader of opposition. On July 22, 1965 Sir Alec surprised the members of his party by announcing his retirement.

1967

Politics

Taylor And Clifford Tour The Pacific Region

US representatives began a tour of South Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea on this day in 1967. The purpose of the visit by presidential adviser Clark Clifford and General Maxwell Taylor was to gauge the stand of these nations over the Vietnam Conflict.

1968

Politics

North Vietnamese Criticize Unite States’ Stand Towards The Vietnam Crisis

Post U.S President Lyndon B. Johnson's meeting with South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu in Honolulu, the North Vietnamese spokesman Nguyen Thanh Le, released a statement. Thanh Le had criticized U.S stand during the Paris peace talks on this day in 1968. Thanh Le also added that the conflict can never be resolved as long as U.S remains determined to save the 'Puppet government' in South Vietnam.

1976

Politics

Japan Completes Its Last Reparation To The Philippines

As a means of reparation for the crimes committed during World War II, Japan entered into an agreement with Philippines to pay the latter a sum of 550 million US dollars, over a span of two decades. On this day in 1976, the final reparations were paid by Japan.

1983

Politics

Martial Law Revoked In Poland

Prime Minister Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski of Poland imposed martial law in the country citing security reasons. The military crackdown was suspended in December 1982 and finally revoked on this day in 1983.

1987

Politics

Gorbachev Announces His Acceptance Of Ban On Intermediate-Range Nuclear Missiles

In line with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's decision to improve relations with the United States, he announced his support for banning intermediate-range nuclear missiles on July 22, 1987. Prior negotiations between the two parties had ended on a sour note after the exchange between President Ronald Reagan and Gorbachev turned animated.

1991

Politics

Citizen's Charter Launched By British Prime Minister John Major

British Prime Minister John Major launched the Citizen's Charter on this day in 1991. It aimed at utilizing government funds efficiently for bringing a positive change in public services in the country.

2002

Politics

California Governor Approves Auto Emissions Legislation

The State of California adopted stringent auto emissions legislations, on this day in 2002, to combat the damaging effects of greenhouse gases. The law was enacted despite vehement opposition from ‘United Auto Workers (UAW)’ and the auto industry.

2003

Politics

Uday And Qusay Hussein Killed By US Army

The U.S troops gunned down the two sons of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein on this day in 2003. Uday and Qusay Hussein were involved in illegal smuggling of oil and were known for carrying the ruthless legacy of their father. The U.S military operation in the city of Mosul resulted in the death of two tormentors, who were known for torturing citizens.

1499

Wars

Battle Of Dornach

The Swabian War was fought between the Holy Roman Empire and the Old Swiss Confederacy. The Roman Emperor Maximilian I was defeated by the Swiss in the Battle of Dornach on this day in 1499, thus marking the end of the war.

1779

Wars

Battle Of Minisink Ford

The troops of Mohawk Indian Chief Joseph Brant clashed with the Patriot militia at Minisink, New York on July 22, 1779. The battle ended in Brant's victory and militia leader Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Tusten, along with 50 other militiamen was killed.

1797

Wars

Battle Of Santa Cruz De Tenerife

The Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife was fought as a part of the French Revolutionary Wars, on this day in 1797. The Royal Navy, led by Rear Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson, attacked the Spanish fleet stationed at Canary Islands. The battle ended in a defeat for the redcoats and Nelson, who was severely injured had to amputate his arm.

1802

Wars

Hanoi Is Conquered By Emperor Gia Long

After capturing the city of Hanoi, on this day in 1802, Nguyễn Ánh adopted the name Gia Long and proclaimed himself the Emperor of Vietnam. He became the first ruler to unify the war torn lands of North and South Vietnam.

1805

Wars

Battle Of Cape Finisterre

Under the command of Napoleon I, troops of France and the Sister republic waged a war against the Third Coalition constituted by the Holy Roman Empire and Russia. The squadron under Vice-Admiral Sir Robert Calder engaged the Franco-Spanish fleet led by Vice-Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve in the Battle of Cape Finisterre on this day in 1805. Two of the Franco-Spanish ships were captured in the clash.

1812

Wars

Peninsular War: Battle Of Salamanca

On this day in 1812, as a part of the Peninsular War, the combined troops of Britain and Portugal launched an assault on the French forces. The Battle of Salamanca, as it is known, saw the defeat of France at the hands of Duke of Wellington, who was at the helm of Anglo-Portuguese army.

1864

Wars

Battle Of Atlanta

As the Confederates gain momentum in the Battle of Atlanta, General John Bell Hood constantly assaulted the Union. On July 22, 1864, Hood attacked the Yankees' contingent, led by James McPherson, but failed to breach through the enemy defenses.

1943

Wars

World War II: Sicilian Capital City Of Palermo Captured By Allies

Operation Husky was the code name for the military operation undertaken by the Allied Forces to capture the island of Sicily. A massive scale air and land assault was launched in July 1943 and on 22nd the Provisional Corps captured the capital city of Palermo.

1946

Disasters & Natural Calamities

King David Hotel Bombings

July 22, 1946, witnessed the prelude to one of the most deadly conflicts of the twentieth century. The King David Hotel bombings, plotted by ‘Irgun’, an Israel-based Zionist militant outfit, were carried out on this fateful day. Close to 100 people were killed, which included government officials and the rescue operation to save survivors from the debris carried on for three days.

1993

Disasters & Natural Calamities

Great Flood Of 1993

On this day in 1993, the United States suffered from one of its worst floods of all time when a levee broke down along the Mississippi River. The flooding waters gushed towards the city of Illinois forcing people to flee, devastating everything in its path. The total damage caused by the Great Flood of 1993 stood at a staggering $18 billion.

2013

Disasters & Natural Calamities

Earthquakes Destroy Dingxi

China's northwest Gansu Province was rocked by a series of high intensity earthquakes on July 22, 2013. The local authorities reported the death of as many as 94 people and more than a thousand were believed to be injured.

2015

Disasters & Natural Calamities

Collision Between Train And Lorry In Czech Republic Kills Three

The town of Studénka in Czech Republic woke up to the commotion caused by a collision between a passenger train and a truck on this day in 2015. The accident claimed three lives and over a dozen others were injured.

1894

Sports

France Conducts The First Ever Motor Race

‘Le Petit Journal’, a Parisian daily, staged what will become the world's first automotive race, on this day in 1894. The race, which required participants to cover a 79-mile stretch between the cities of Paris and Rouen, was won by Albert Lemaître, who was driving a 3hp petrol ‘Peugeot’.

1990

Sports

Second Tour De France Concludes

Team Z cyclist Greg LeMond created history on this day in 1990 when he clinched his second Tour de France title. The American became the first non-European winner of the cycling championship.

2005

Literature & Entertainment

‘March Of The Penguins’ Debuts In US

It was on this day in 2005 that the Oscar winning documentary 'March of the Penguins' was released in the United States. Brainchild of French director Luc Jaquet the documentary chronicles the reproductive cycle of emperor penguins.

1598

Literature & Entertainment

‘The Merchant Of Venice’ Makes It To The Stationers’ Register

The literary classic ‘Merchant of Venice’ created by William Shakespeare, was inducted into the Stationers' Register on July 22, 1958. The entry would give the publishing rights of the play to the British Crown.

1977

Literature & Entertainment

Elvis Costello’s My Aim Is True, Is Released

The world got a first glimpse of English musician Elvis Costello's work on this day in 1977. The unconventional music and lyrics of his debut album ‘My Aim Is True’ which released on July 22, 1977, proved Costello’s mettle.

1587

Trivia

A Second Group Of English People Come To Roanoke Island

Sir Walter Raleigh set out to explore the New World with his men and arrived at the Roanoke Island. The first group of settlers was killed apparently in a skirmish with the Native Americans. Despite the setback, Sir Raleigh sent another group of settlers who arrived at the islands on this day in 1587.

1686

Trivia

Albany, New York Becomes A Municipality

On this day in July 1686, the settlement of Albany in New York was deemed a municipality after Governor Thomas Dongan awarded it a charter. Known as the Dongan Charter, it listed the rights and responsibilities of the citizens.

1706

Trivia

The Treaty Of Union Was Accepted By England And Scotland

On this day in 1706, the Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland agreed to the terms of Treaty of Union. The agreement paved the path for unification of the two kingdoms as Great Britain.

1793

Trivia

Alexander Mackenzie Reaches The Pacific Ocean

It was on this day in 1793 that the famous Spanish explorer inscribed the message “Alexander Mackenzie, from Canada, by land, the twenty-second of July, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three,” on a rock in present day Vancouver Island. It was the historical day when a Euro-American crossed North America to reach the Pacific Ocean for the first time.

1796

Trivia

Cleveland Was Founded

It was on this day in 1796 that a party of surveyors led by Moses Cleaveland reached the mouth of Cuyahoga River. The surveyors from Connecticut Land Company named the nearby area Cleveland— as a tribute to their chief who had initiated the division of the land into lots for settlement.

1916

Trivia

Preparedness Day Bomb Attack

Preparedness Day was observed in San Francisco on this day in 1916 as United States was gearing up to participate in World War I. The celebrations, which included a massive parade, however, turned into a disaster when a suitcase bomb exploded, killing ten and injuring several others.

1923

Trivia

Dillinger Enlists In The Navy

John Herbert Dillinger —America's most wanted fugitive—fled from Indiana and joined the US Navy on July 22, 1923 to avoid conviction on charges of auto theft. However his facade didn't help him for long and he was arrested the following year in Indiana.

1933

Trivia

Wiley Post Completes Solo Flying Mission Around The World

Wiley Post, an American aviator created history on this day when he landed at the Floyd Bennett Field, New York on July 22, 1933. He was the first person to circumnavigate the earth flying solo. He accomplished the feat in 7 days, 18 hours, and 49 minutes.

1934

Trivia

America’s ‘Public Enemy No. 1’ Dies

John Herbert Dillinger was named as America's ‘Public Enemy No. 1’ after he was involved in 11 bank robberies in a span of just one year. In a skirmish with ‘FBI’, outside Chicago's ‘Biograph Theatre’, Dillinger received multiple gun wounds which caused his death.

1942

Trivia

The Holocaust Begins

The Holocaust during WWII which resulted in the death of nearly six million Jews began on July 22, 1942. On this unfortunate day, the first inmates for the concentration camp in Treblinka, Poland were deported from the Warsaw ghetto.

1951

Trivia

Dezik And Tsygan Become The First Dogs To Make A Sub-Orbital Flight

The Soviet used dogs in their space experiments and on this day in 1951, two dogs, namely Dezik and Tsygan, made the first ever sub-orbital flight. The canines travelled to an altitude of 110 kilometers and returned to earth safely.

1962

Trivia

‘Mariner 1’ Flies Erratically And Has To Be Aborted

The Mariner program was an initiative by ‘NASA’ to gather scientific data from the planets of Mars, Venus and Mercury using robotic interplanetary probes. ‘Mariner 1’ was the first spacecraft launched as a part of this program that aimed at accomplishing a planetary flyby of Venus. However, the ill-fated spacecraft had to be destroyed minutes after launch as it began to fly erratically.

1977

Trivia

Deng Xiaoping Back In Politics

The Chinese Prime Minister was stripped off his powers by the Gang of Four citing his failure to prevent the Tiananmen Square uprising. However, on this day in 1977, the Chinese Communist Party brought the sidelined leader back to the center of politics. He was appointed to look after several offices. These included that of the Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army, Vice-Chairman of the Central Committee, Vice Premier of the State Council, and Vice-Chairman of the Military Commission.

1987

Trivia

Palestinian Cartoonist Shot In London Street

Naji Salim al-Ali, a cartoonist from Palestine, who was expelled from Kuwait for his satiric creations, criticizing Arabic politics and actions of renowned leader Ayatollah Khomeini, sought refuge in the city of London. On this day in 1987, Salim was shot by two unidentified gunmen at point blank when he was leaving from his office on Ives Street, Chelsea. Salim succumbed to the attack and died on July 29.

1991

Trivia

Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer Is Arrested

On July 22, 1991 horror unfolded in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin when police searched the house of Jeffrey Dahmer after Tracy Edwards' disturbing testament that Dahmer had held him hostage and wanted to kill him. Dahmer was almost successful in convincing the cops that it was a misunderstanding, but a few Polaroid pictures of dismembered bodies gave him away. A search of his residence revealed remains of human bodies.

1992

Trivia

Drug Lord Pablo Escobar Escapes From Prison

Pablo Escobar, the dreaded Colombian drug lord was held in house arrest in a resort-like prison. However, with an extradition to the United States looming over the horizon, Escobar made a dramatic escape from the prison on this day in 1992, which involved gunfight with the prison guards.

1997

Trivia

The Second Blue Water Bridge

A second three lane bridge was opened to public near the original Blue Water Bridge, on this day in 1997. Known as the Second Blue Water Bridge, it connects Port Huron in Michigan and Sarnia in Ontario. The architecture is impressive and has earned several accolades.

2003

Trivia

Rescued U.S Army Private Jessica Lynch Returns Home

U.S. Army Private Jessica Lynch, who was held captive in Iraq after their vehicle was caught in an ambush returned to her hometown in West Virginia on July 22, 2003. She was in an Iraqi hospital receiving treatment for multiple fractures when she was rescued.

2005

Trivia

Jean Charles De Menezes Is Killed By Police During Investigation

An apparent bomb attack on July 21, 2005 in the city of London was foiled by officers of the law. The attack came close in the heels of the July 7 bomb explosions. On July 22nd, the police gunned down a man named Jean Charles de Menezes at the Stockwell underground station while investigating the bomb explosions.

2011

Trivia

Twin Terror Attacks On Norway

Norway was shattered by two incidents of terror that occurred on July 22, 2011. The first incident was a bomb explosion that rocked the capital city of Oslo. It caused the death of at least seven and resulted in damage to government buildings. In a second incident of terror, an unidentified gunman spewed a flurry of bullets at an ongoing Labor Party youth camp. The perpetrator was arrested and it was rumored that he was also responsible for the Oslo bombings.