On This Day — 3 July

2013

President of Egypt Mohamed Morsi is removed from office by the military after four days of protests all over the country calling for his resignation, to which he did not respond. The president of the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt, Adly Mansour, is declared acting president until further elections are held.

President of Egypt

2006

The Valencia Metro derailment kills 41 people.

Valencia Metro derailment

1996

British Prime Minister John Major announced the Stone of Scone would be returned to Scotland.

John Major

1988

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

United States Navy

1988

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

1979

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

Jimmy Carter

1973

David Bowie retires his stage persona Ziggy Stardust with the surprise announcement that it is "the last show that we'll ever do" on the last day of the Ziggy Stardust Tour.

David Bowie

1970

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

The Troubles

1970

Dan-Air Flight 1903 crashes into the Les Agudes mountain in the Montseny Massif near the village of Arbúcies in Catalonia, Spain, killing all 112 people aboard.

Dan-Air Flight 1903

1967

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

1952

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

Constitution of Puerto Rico

1952

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

1944

World War II: The Minsk Offensive clears German troops from the city.

Minsk offensive

1940

World War II: The Royal Navy attacks the French naval squadron in Algeria, to ensure that it will not fall under German control. Of the four French battleships present, one is sunk, two are damaged, and one escapes back to France.

World War II

1938

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

1938

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

Franklin D. Roosevelt

1913

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

1898

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

1890

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

Idaho

1886

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

Carl Benz

1886

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

New-York Tribune

1884

Dow Jones & Company publishes its first stock average.

Dow Jones & Company

1866

Austro-Prussian War is decided at the Battle of Königgrätz, enabling Prussia to exclude Austria from German affairs.

Austro-Prussian War

1863

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

American Civil War

1852

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

San Francisco Mint

1849

France invades the Roman Republic and restores the Papal States.

Roman Republic (1849–1850)

1848

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

Peter von Scholten

1839

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

1819

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

Bank for Savings in the City of New-York

1778

American Revolutionary War: The Iroquois, allied with Britain, massacre 360 Patriot soldiers during the Battle of Wyoming.

Battle of Wyoming

1775

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

American Revolutionary War

1767

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

Pitcairn Island

1767

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

Norway

1754

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

French and Indian War

1608

Québec City is founded by Samuel de Champlain.

Quebec City

1535

Diego de Almagro leaves the recently conquered Inca capital of Cuzco to lead an expedition to Chile.

Diego de Almagro

1035

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

William the Conqueror

987

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

324

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

Battle of Adrianople (324)