Today In History [2nd July, 2015]

A chronological timetable of historical events that occurred on this day in history. Historical facts of the day in the areas of military, politics, science, music, sports, arts, entertainment and more. Discover what happened today in history.

Today in History
July 2

1298		An army under Albert of Austria defeats forces led by Adolf of Nassau.
1625		The Spanish army takes Breda, Spain, after nearly a year of siege.
1644		Oliver Cromwell crushes the Royalists at the Battle of Marston Moor.
1747		Marshall Saxe leads the French forces to victory over an Anglo-Dutch force under the Duke of Cumberland at the Battle of Lauffeld.
1776		The Continental Congress resolves with the Declaration of Independence that the American colonies “are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States.”
1822		Denmark Vesey is executed in Charleston, South Carolina, for planning a massive slave revolt.
1858		Czar Alexander II frees the serfs working on imperial lands.
1863		The Union left flank holds at Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg.
1881		Charles J. Guiteau fatally wounds President James A. Garfield in Washington, D.C.
1926		Congress establishes the Army Air Corps.
1937		American aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart disappears in the Central Pacific during an attempt to fly around the world.
1961		Novelist Ernest Hemingway commits suicide at his home in Ketchum, Idaho.
1964		President Lyndon Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act into law.
1967		The U.S. launches Operation Buffalo in Vietnam.
1976		North and South Vietnam are officially reunified.
1980		President Jimmy Carter reinstates draft registration for males 18 years of age.
Born on July 2
1489		Thomas Cranmer, first Protestant archbishop of Cantebury (1533-1556).
1877		Hermann Hesse, German novelist and poet.
1894		Andre Kertesz, photographer.
1900		Tyrone Guthrie, English theater director.
1908		Thurgood Marshall, first African-American Supreme Court Justice.
1916		Barry Gray, radio talk show host.
1918		Robert Sarnoff, president of NBC.
1926		Medgar Evers, American civil rights activist.