July 2 in history — What Happened Today in History
July 2 in history is full of turning points. This page walks you through what happened on July 2 in history, who was born on July 2 and who passed away on July 2, so nothing about this day slips past you.
On this page, July 2 in history is arranged as a timeline of major events in reverse order, with birthdays and deaths in their own sections, plus a short FAQ about July 2 in history at the bottom.
Major Events on July 2 in History 26
- 2024
A stampede during a religious event in Uttar Pradesh, India, leaves at least 121 people dead and 150 others injured.
- 2013
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake strikes Aceh, Indonesia, killing at least 42 people and injuring 420 others.
- 2005
The Live 8 benefit concerts takes place in the G8 states and in South Africa. More than 1,000 musicians perform and are broadcast on 182 television networks and 2,000 radio networks.
- 2000
Vicente Fox Quesada is elected the first President of México from an opposition party, the Partido Acción Nacional, after more than 70 years of continuous rule by the Partido Revolucionario Institucional, in the 2000 Mexican general election.
- 1997
The Bank of Thailand floats the baht, triggering the Asian financial crisis.
- 1994
USAir Flight 1016 crashes near Charlotte Douglas International Airport, killing 37 of the 57 people on board.
- 1993
A mob sets fire to the Hotel Madımak in Sivas, Turkey, where an Alevi cultural festival was taking place, killing 37 people.
- 1990
In the 1990 Mecca tunnel tragedy, 1,400 Muslim pilgrims are suffocated to death and trampled upon in a pedestrian tunnel leading to the holy city of Mecca.
- 1986
Rodrigo Rojas and Carmen Gloria Quintana are burnt alive during a street demonstration against the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet in Chile in the Quemados case.
- 1986
Aeroflot Flight 2306 crashes while attempting an emergency landing at Syktyvkar Airport in Syktyvkar, in present-day Komi Republic, Russia, killing 54 people.
- 1976
End of South Vietnam; Communist North Vietnam annexes the former South Vietnam to form the unified Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
- 1966
France conducts its first nuclear weapon test in the Pacific, on Moruroa Atoll.
All entries for July 2（+14）
- 1964
Civil rights movement: U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964 meant to prohibit segregation in public places.
- 1937
Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan are last heard from over the Pacific Ocean and disappear while attempting to make the first equatorial round-the-world flight.
- 1934
The Night of the Long Knives ends after three days of killings.
- 1921
World War I: U.S. President Warren G. Harding signs the Knox–Porter Resolution formally ending the war between the United States and Germany.
- 1917
In the leadup to the Battle of Aqaba, T. E. Lawrence and his Arab forces defeat a battalion of Ottomans at Abu al-Lissan.
- 1890
The U.S. Congress passes the Sherman Antitrust Act.
- 1881
Charles J. Guiteau shoots and fatally wounds U.S. President James A. Garfield (who will die of complications from his wounds on September 19).
- 1863
American Civil War: On the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg - the Battle of Little Round Top takes place and results in a Union victory after the Confederate troops unsuccessfully try to assault the Union left flank.
- 1840
A Ms 7.4 earthquake strikes present-day Turkey and Armenia; combined with the effects of an eruption on Mount Ararat, kills 10,000 people.
- 1823
Bahia Independence Day: The Siege of Salvador ends Portuguese rule in Brazil, with the final defeat of the Portuguese crown loyalists in the province of Bahia.
- 1776
American Revolution: The Continental Congress adopts the Lee Resolution severing ties with the Kingdom of Great Britain. The wording of the formal Declaration of Independence was agreed upon and publicly released two days later, on July 4.
- 1645
Wars of the Three Kingdoms: Battle of Alford.
- 1644
English Civil War: Battle of Marston Moor.
- 1582
Battle of Yamazaki: Toyotomi Hideyoshi defeats Akechi Mitsuhide.
Famous Birthdays on July 2 in History 25
- 1996
Julia Grabher, Austrian tennis player
- 1995
Ryan Murphy, American swimmer
- 1994
Henrik Kristoffersen, Norwegian skier
- 1994
Derrick White, American basketball player
- 1993
Vince Staples, American rapper and actor
- 1993
Saweetie, American rapper
- 1992
Madison Chock, American ice dancer
- 1992
Jānis Timma, Latvian basketball player
- 1990
Kayla Harrison, American judoka
- 1990
Merritt Mathias, American soccer player
- 1990
Morag McLellan, Scottish field hockey player
- 1990
Margot Robbie, Australian actress and producer
All entries for July 2（+13）
- 1990
Danny Rose, English footballer
- 1990
Bill Tupou, New Zealand rugby league player
- 1989
Nadezhda Grishaeva, Russian basketball player
- 1989
Alex Morgan, American soccer player
- 1988
Lee Chung-yong, South Korean footballer
- 1987
Esteban Granero, Spanish footballer
- 1986
Brett Cecil, American baseball player
- 1986
Lindsay Lohan, American actress and singer
- 1985
Chad Henne, American football player
- 1985
Ashley Tisdale, American actress, singer, and producer
- 1984
Thomas Kortegaard, Danish footballer
- 1984
Elise Stefanik, American politician
- 1984
Johnny Weir, American figure skater
Notable Deaths on July 2 in History 25
- 2025
Sophia Hutchins, American socialite (born 1996)
- 2025
Julian McMahon, Australian-American actor (born 1968)
- 2020
Ángela Jeria, Chilean archaeologist and human rights activist (born 1926)
- 2020
Byron Bernstein, American Twitch streamer (born 1989)
- 2019
Lee Iacocca, American automotive executive (born 1924)
- 2018
Alan Longmuir, Scottish musician (born 1948)
- 2017
Vladislav Rastorotsky, a Russian (and former Soviet) artistic gymnastics coach, (born 1933)
- 2017
Smith Hart, American-born Canadian professional wrestler (born 1948)
- 2016
Caroline Aherne, English actress and comedian (born 1963)
- 2016
Michael Cimino, American director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1939)
- 2016
Patrick Manning, 4th & 6th Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago (born 1946)
- 2016
Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor, activist, and author (born 1928)
All entries for July 2（+13）
- 2015
Ronald Davison, New Zealand lawyer and judge, 10th Chief Justice of New Zealand (born 1920)
- 2015
Charlie Sanders, American football player and sportscaster (born 1946)
- 2015
Jim Weaver, American football player and coach (born 1945)
- 2015
Jacobo Zabludovsky, Mexican journalist (born 1928)
- 2014
Emilio Álvarez Montalván, Nicaraguan ophthalmologist and politician (born 1919)
- 2014
Manuel Cardona, Spanish physicist and academic (born 1934)
- 2014
Mary Innes-Ker, Duchess of Roxburghe (born 1915)
- 2014
Harold W. Kuhn, American mathematician and academic (born 1925)
- 2014
Louis Zamperini, American runner and World War II US Army Air Forces captain (born 1917)
- 2013
Anthony G. Bosco, American bishop (born 1927)
- 2013
Douglas Engelbart, American computer scientist, invented the computer mouse (born 1925)
- 2013
Armand Gaudreault, Canadian ice hockey player (born 1921)
- 2013
Anthony Llewellyn, Welsh-American chemist, academic, and astronaut (born 1933)
That is the story of July 2 in history. Bookmark this page and come back next year on July 2 to relive these world-changing moments — or take a random trip through time and see what happened on another day in history.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on July 2 in history?
The biggest event on July 2 in history is: 2024 — A stampede during a religious event in Uttar Pradesh, India, leaves at least 121 people dead and 150 others injured.. In total, 26 major events are recorded for this day.
Who was born on July 2?
25 famous people were born on July 2 in history, the best known being 1996 — Julia Grabher, Austrian tennis player.
Who died on July 2?
25 notable people died on July 2 in history, including 2025 — Sophia Hutchins, American socialite (born 1996).
Why should I read about July 2 in history?
Exploring July 2 in history helps you grasp the day's place in history in just a few minutes: events, birthdays and deaths in one read — perfect for students, teachers and curious minds.
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What happened on your birthday?
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