History for July 5

History for July 5 - On-This-Day.com:
David G. Farragut 1801 - Officer in U.S. Navy durin the U.S. Civil War, known for the paraphrased quote: "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!", P.T. Barnum (Phineas Taylor Barnum) 1810 - American showman, businessman, entertainer, Cecil John Rhodes 1853 - British business man, politician in South Africa


Jean Cocteau (Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau) 1889 - Poet, novelist, dramatist, boxing manager, playwright, Henry Cabot Lodge 1902 - American statesman, historian, Huey Lewis 1951 - Musician (Huey Lewis and the News)



1811 - Venezuela became the first South American country to declare independence from Spain.

1865 - William Booth founded the Salvation Army in London.


1865 - The U.S. Secret Service Division was created to combat currency counterfeiting, forging and the altering of currency and securities..


1943 - The battle of Kursk began as German tanks attack the Soviet salient. It was the largest tank battle in history.


1946 - The bikini bathing suit, created by Louis Reard, made its debut during a fashion show at the Molitor Pool in Paris. Micheline Bernardini wore the two-piece outfit.


1948 - Britain's National Health Service Act went into effect, providing government-financed medical and dental care.


1951 - Dr. William Shockley announced that he had invented the junction transistor.


1975 - Arthur Ashe became the first black man to win a Wimbledon singles title when he defeated Jimmy Connors.