What Happened On July 22nd?

Historical Events And Tragedies

1934: Notorious gangster and bank robber John Dillinger was shot to death by FBI agents outside Chicago’s Biograph Theater. He was known for his daring prison escapes, charismatic personality, and ruthlessness towards law enforcement.

1991: American serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer admitted to murdering 17 people. Dahmer’s gruesome crimes shocked the nation and forever changed the way society viewed serial killers. Though he pleaded not guilty, he was still charged with 15 life terms in prison.

Scientific Breakthroughs

1933: Wiley Post became the first person to fly solo around the world, completing the journey in just 7 days, 18 hours, and 49 minutes. Using a Lockheed Vega aircraft. He made stops in several countries, including Germany, Russia, and Japan, before returning to the United States.

1962: Mariner 1 space probe was forced to self-destruct only minutes after launching. Due to a system malfunction, it veered off course from Venus and was on a collision course with Earth and the self-destruct mechanism was initiated to contain extensive damage. The incident was a devastating blow to NASA and the United States space program, but it also served as a valuable lesson in the importance of rigorous testing and quality control in space missions.

Political Milestones

1298: The Battle of Falkirk was fought between the forces of King Edward I of England and the Scottish army led by Sir William Wallace, one of the greatest warriors in history. The battle was a significant event in the First War of Scottish Independence and marked a turning point in the conflict.

Cultural Events

1997: The first-ever fine print of the One Piece manga was published in Japan’s Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine. This event marked the beginning of what would become a global phenomenon like Pokemon, with the manga series gaining a massive following worldwide and eventually becoming one of the best-selling manga series of all time. Monkey D Luffy is one of the most famous anime characters in the world.

1999: Woodstock ’99 took place on a former Air Force base in Rome, New York. The heat and crowd on the site led to numerous incidents of heat exhaustion and dehydration, and many concertgoers complained about the high prices of food and water. Fans set fires, destroyed property, and engaged in looting. Women reported being sexually assaulted, and the heavy police presence on the site did little to control the situation.

Notable Birthdays

1. Emma Lazarus (1849–1887) – An American poet and author of the poem, “The New Colossus. The poem’s most famous lines, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” have become iconic and symbolize the spirit of welcome and inclusivity that America aspires to.
2. Carl Sandburg (1878–1967) – An American poet, writer, and biographer. He is best known for his poetry, which often focused on working-class people and their struggles, as well as his biographies of Abraham Lincoln and other historical figures. Sandburg was a champion of the working class and an advocate for social justice.
3. Bob Dole (1923) – An American politician, statesman, and World War 2 veteran. Dole served in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996, representing the state of Kansas, and was the Republican Party’s nominee for President of the United States in the 1996 election.
4. George Clinton (1941) – An American musician and songwriter, he is best known as the founder and leader of the influential funk bands Parliament and Funkadelic, and for his innovative contributions to the development of funk music.
5. Mireille Mathieu (1946) – A French singer, Mathieu began her singing career in the early 1960s, and quickly gained popularity both in France and internationally. She is known for her interpretations of classic French songs such as “La Vie en Rose” and “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien,” as well as her own original compositions.
6. Danny Glover (1946) – An American actor and activist, he has appeared in many films and TV shows throughout his career and is known for his powerful performances and socially conscious roles. Some of his best roles include those in “The Color Purple,” “Predator 2,” and “Saw.
7. David Spade (1964) –  An American actor and comedian, he gained fame as a cast member of the sketch comedy series “Saturday Night Live” in the 1990s. He appeared in numerous TV shows and films throughout his career, including the sitcom “Just Shoot Me!” the movies “Tommy Boy” and “Joe Dirt,” and the animated series “The Emperor’s New Groove.
8. Selena Gomez (1992) – An American actress and singer who rose to fame as a child actress on the Disney Channel, starring in the hit TV series “Wizards of Waverly Place” from 2007 to 2012. Gomez is also an advocate for mental health awareness and has been open about her own struggles with anxiety and depression.
9. Prince George of Cambridge (2013) – He is the first child of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and is third in line to the British throne.

Final Word

July 22nd is no doubt a day of accomplishment as we celebrate the achievements of figures like Danny Glover and remember the legacies of those like Carl Sandburg, we gain a deeper appreciation for the multifaceted nature of our past. By recognizing the importance of July 22nd and the impact it has had on our world, we can continue to learn from history and broaden our understanding of the events that have shaped our collective memory.