July 3
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1863: The end of the Battle of Gettysburg
On this day in 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg ended with a crushing Southern defeat and marked the turning point in the American Civil War. The fighting began two days earlier when Gen. Robert E. Lee led Confederate troops into Pennsylvania and attacked Union forces. The climax occurred on July 3, with the spectacular failure of Pickett’s Charge, in which Confederate troops tried to break through Union lines. Lee was forced to retreat the next day. Gettysburg was the bloodiest battle of the war, with more than 50,000 casualties.
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Featured Event
© Pgiam—iStock/Getty Images
On this day in 1608, Samuel de Champlain founded the city of Quebec, the first permanent European base in Canada. Its splendid views and unique character were noted as early as 1842 during a visit by Charles Dickens, who called Quebec the “Gibraltar of North America.”
Featured Biography
Featured Biography
Eastfoto
From an early age, Janác̆ek believed that music should follow the natural rhythms of human speech, animals, and birds. He went on to produce works…that are romantic, delight in the natural, and have an ‘angular’ and even ascetic quality and a rhythmic vitality, all at the same time.
Czech composer Leoš Janáček, born this day in 1854, was a leading exponent of musical nationalism during the 20th century, and he developed a style that was intimately connected with the inflections of the Czech language.
Famous Birthdays
More on July 3
Mario Tama/Getty Images
2013
Following massive demonstrations against his rule, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi was removed from office by a military action. [Test your knowledge of Egyptian history.]
© Norbert Schiller—AFP/Getty Images
1988
The USS Vincennes shot down an Iranian airliner over the Strait of Hormuz, killing all 290 people on board; the passenger plane, which was in Iranian airspace, had been incorrectly identified as a fighter jet. [Read our timeline about U.S.–Iran relations.]
Peter Kramer/Getty Images
1985
The comedy Back to the Future, directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, was released in American theaters; a huge hit, it was followed by several sequels. [Take our quiz about movies.]
Keystone/Hulton Archive /Getty Images
1976
An Israeli commando squad, led by Dan Shomron, launched a rescue of hostages held by airplane hijackers in Entebbe, Uganda.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
1971
American singer and songwriter Jim Morrison, who was a member of the psychedelic rock group the Doors, died at age 27 in Paris; the official cause of death was heart failure. [Take our quiz about rock music.]
© Terry O'Neill—REX/Shutterstock.com
1969
Just weeks after being fired from the rock band the Rolling Stones, British musician Brian Jones was found dead in his swimming pool. [How much do you know about musical groups?]
Paramount Pictures
1962
American actor Tom Cruise—who was one of Hollywood’s most popular leading men, known for his clean-cut good looks and versatility—was born. [Test your knowledge of A-list actors.]
© Corbis
1856
The U.S. House of Representatives voted to admit Kansas to statehood under the antislavery resolution known as the Topeka Constitution, despite the opposition of the Senate and President Franklin Pierce. [How much do you know about U.S. history?]
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (reproduction no. LC-DIG-pga-0288)
1775
George Washington officially assumed command of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, several weeks after being appointed to the post. [Take our quiz about the American Revolution.]