1775: Congress issues a “Declaration on the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms” On July 6, 1775, one day after restating their fidelity to King George III and wishing him “a long and prosperous reign” in the Olive Branch Petition, Congress sets “forth the causes and necessity of their taking up arms” against British authority in the American colonies. The declaration also proclaimed their preference “to die free men rather than live as slaves.”
1885: Louis Pasteur successfully tested an ant rabies vaccine.
You will also like...
1892: Britain’s first non-white MP was elected when Dadabhai Naoraji won the Central Finsbury seat.
1912: King Gustaf V officially opens the fifth Summer Olympics in Stockholm
The international multi-event sports meet was the first such event in history to introduce the photo finish and automatic timing devices for track competitions. 28 countries, including Japan, participated in the games, making it the first time representatives from all 6 continents were present at an Olympics.
1930: The death of Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle, best known for his detective fiction featuring the character Sherlock Holmes. He was a pupil at Stonyhurst College and he named Sherlock Holmes’ nemesis, Moriarty, after a fellow pupil.
1944: Fire engulfs circus big top in Hartford, killing 167
1957: Two Liverpool music-minded teenagers named John Lennon and Paul McCartney meet for the first time in a church auditorium. It would be the start of one of the most fruitful musical partnerships in history. Seven years later, they—along with George Harrison and Ringo Starr—would become worldwide phenomenon known as the Beatles.
1957: Althea Gibson is first African American to win Wimbledon. On July 6, 1957, Althea Gibson claims the women’s singles tennis title at Wimbledon and becomes the first African American to win a championship at London’s All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
1964: Malawi gains its independence from Britain
Between 1953 and 1963, the Southeast African country was part of a British-controlled federation called the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. After the dissolution of the federation and independence, Nyasaland changed its name to Malawi.
1967: The head of Nigeria’s military government Yakubu Gowon declares war on the breakaway Republic of Biafra, beginning the Nigerian Civil War. The conflict will be characterised by crimes against humanity that will see over one million Biafran civilians die of starvation.
1971: Louis Armstrong dies of a heart attack. Nicknamed “Satchmo”, “Satch”, and “Pops”, he was a trumpeter and vocalist and among the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades and several eras in the history of jazz. He died at the age of 69.
1975: Comoros becomes independent
The Comoros Islands gained independence after about 137 years of French rule. Their official name is the Union of the Comoros.
1976: First women inducted into the U.S. Naval Academy. In Annapolis, Maryland, the United States Naval Academy admits women for the first time in its history with the induction of 81 female midshipmen. In May 1980, Elizabeth Anne Rowe became the first woman member of the class to graduate. Four years later, Kristine Holderied became the first female midshipman to graduate at the top of her class.
1982: The trial in Seychelles of six mercenaries from South Africa and Zimbabwe for the 1981 attempted coup d’état against Prime Minister France-Albert René finds all defendants guilty of treason. Four are sentenced to death. However, none of the men will be punished. They will be returned to South Africa after the South African government bribes René with US$3 million.
2002: Serena Williams
American tennis player Serena Williams defeated her sister Venus to win her first Wimbledon singles title.
2014: A nationwide mystery grips Ghana when “highlife” musician Castro disappears along with his girlfriend. They might have had a jet ski accident at Ghana’s Ada Estuary, but an intensive search fails to find their bodies. Castro will be declared legally dead on 6 July 2021.
2014: From 4:30 am cash could no longer be used on any of London’s 24,500 buses, in a move that Transport for London (TfL) said would save £24m a year. A prepaid or concessionary ticket, Oyster card, or a contactless payment card would be needed to travel.
2016: After the South Africa Supreme Court of Appeal overturns celebrity Paralympian Oscar Pistorius’ conviction of culpable homicide, and rules he is guilty of murdering his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp in the infamous 2013 “Valentine’s Day Killing,” he is sentenced to six years in prison. The sentence will later be lengthened to 15 years, the minimum term for murder under South African law. Gender rights activists have protested his previous.
BIRTHS ON THIS DAY: July 06
George W. Bush, 77years
George Walker Bush is an American politician and businessman who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009 was born on 6 July 1946. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 46th governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000.
Richard Mofe-Damijo, 62 years
Richard Evans Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD, is a veteran Nigerian actor, writer, producer, lawyer, and former journalist who was born on 6 July 1961. He was also a former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Delta State in 2009. In 2005, he won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
Like, comment, follow, and share.
