On This Day
Discover events that happened On This Day including famous birthdays and notable deaths. Each day we highlight famous people, past and present, who have impacted our world. Browse sections by selecting the links below or click the calendar to view events on another day.
July 3
Events on This Day
-
1775
238 years agoGeneral George Washington takes command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, Massachusetts, in revolt against British rule.
-
1962
51 years agoJackie Robinson is inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Robinson made his major league debut at Ebbets Field in 1947 as a Brooklyn Dodger.
-
1985
28 years agoBack to the Future opens in theaters, directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Michael J. Fox as a time-traveling teen with a souped-up DeLorean car.
-
2009
4 years agoSarah Palin, former running mate for presidential candidate John McCain, announces her resignation as Alaska's governor.
July 3
Born on This Day
-
Tom Cruise
- In these groups:
- Famous Celebrity Couples
- Famous Fathers
- Vampires
Tom Cruise
Film Actor, Producer / 1962 -
A-list actor and Scientologist Tom Cruise is the star of many box office hits, including Risky Business, A Few Good Men, The Firm, and Jerry Maguire.
Born: July 3, 1962
Age: 50 years old
Birthplace: Syracuse, New York, United States
Occupation: Film Actor, Producer -
Franz Kafka
- In these groups:
- Famous Cancerians
- Famous People Named Franz
- Famous Fiction Authors
Franz Kafka
Author / 1883 - 1924
Author Franz Kafka explored the human struggle for understanding and security in his novels such as Amerika, The Trial and The Castle.
1883 | 40 years old
Author -
John Singleton Copley
- In these groups:
- Famous Cancerians
- Famous Painters
- Famous Artists
John Singleton Copley
Painter / 1738 - 1815
John Singleton Copley was an American painter of portraits and historical subjects. He is generally acclaimed as the finest artist of colonial America.
1738 | 77 years old
Painter -
Elizabeth Edwards
- In these groups:
- Famous People Involved in Sex Scandals
- Famous Cancerians
- Famous Lawyers
Elizabeth Edwards
Lawyer / 1949 - 2010
Lawyer Elizabeth Edwards supported her husband John Edwards' presidential campaigns even when he admitted to infidelity. She died of breast cancer in 2010.
Born: July 3, 1949
Birthplace: Jacksonville, Florida, United States
Occupation: Lawyer -
Julian Assange
- In these groups:
- Famous Cancerians
- Famous Computer Programmers
- Famous Activists
Julian Assange
Activist, Computer Programmer, Journalist / 1971 -
Julian Assange came to international attention as the founder of the whistle-blowing Web site, Wikileaks.
1971 | 41 years old
Activist, Computer Programmer, ... -
Dave Barry
- In these groups:
- Famous Cancerians
- Famous People Named David
- Famous Pulitzer Prize Winners
Dave Barry
Writer / 1947 -
A popular humorist, Dave Barry has poked fun at an array of topics, from bad songs to historical events, for more than 30 years.
1947 | 65 years old
Writer
July 3
Died on This Day
-
Jim Morrison
- In these groups:
- The 27 Club
- Celebrity Bookings
- The Ed Sullivan Show Guests
Jim Morrison
Songwriter, Singer, Poet / 1943 - 1971
Jim Morrison was the charismatic singer and songwriter for the 1960 rock group the Doors until his death in a Paris bathtub at age 27.
Died: July 3, 1971
Age: 27 years old
Place: Paris , France
Occupation: Songwriter, Singer, Poet -
Jim Backus
- In these groups:
- People Who Played Scrooge
- Famous Pisceans
- Famous Actors
Jim Backus
Film Actor, Television Actor, Radio Personality, Writer / 1913 - 1989
Jim Backus was a film and TV actor known for his roles in Rebel Without a Cause and Gilligan’s Island, as well as being the voice of Mr. Magoo.
1989 | 76 years old
Film Actor, Television Actor, ... -
Hetty Green
- In these groups:
- Famous Scorpios
- Famous People Born in 1834
- Famous Self-Made Millionaires
Hetty Green
Business Leader / 1834 - 1916
Hetty Green was an American businesswoman who lived in the 1800s and was best known as one of the first women to make a fortune on Wall Street.
1916 | 81 years old
Business Leader -
Brian Jones
- In these groups:
- The 27 Club
- The Rolling Stones
- Swinging London - Cultural Icons: 1960s
Brian Jones
Guitarist / 1942 - 1969
Brian Jones was a guitarist for rock-and-roll band the Rolling Stones.
Died: July 3, 1969
Age: 27 years old
Place: Hartfield, East Sussex, England , United Kingdom
Occupation: Guitarist -
Theodor Herzl
- In these groups:
- Famous Taureans
- Famous Activists
- Famous Playwrights
Theodor Herzl
Activist, Journalist, Playwright / 1860 - 1904
Journalist Theodor Herzl responded to the anti-Semitism he witnessed while covering the Dreyfus Affair by starting the World Zionist Organization.
1904 | 44 years old
Activist, Journalist, Playwright -
Rudy Vallee
- In these groups:
- The Ed Sullivan Show Guests
- Famous Leos
- Famous Singers
Rudy Vallee
Singer, Radio Talk Show Host / 1901 - 1986
Rudy Vallée was an American singer and entertainer best known as the host of the variety hour The Rudy Vallee Show (1929-43).
1986 | 84 years old
Singer, Radio Talk Show Host
Email Updates
Quiz
about Biography?
Answer questions and see how you rank against other players.
Play Nowprofile name: Tom Cruise profile occupation: Film Actor, Producer
profile id: 9359401
profile name: Franz Kafka profile occupation: Author
profile id: 9257088
profile name: John Singleton Copley profile occupation: Painter
profile id: 442558
profile name: Elizabeth Edwards profile occupation: Lawyer
profile id: 20688499
profile name: Julian Assange profile occupation: Activist, Computer Programmer, ...
profile id: 20699073
profile name: Dave Barry profile occupation: Writer
profile id: 9415576
profile name: Jim Morrison profile occupation: Songwriter, Singer, Poet
profile id: 273645
profile name: Jim Backus profile occupation: Film Actor, Television Actor, ...
profile id: 9319276
profile name: Hetty Green profile occupation: Business Leader
profile id: 248867
profile name: Brian Jones profile occupation: Guitarist
profile id: 9337320
profile name: Theodor Herzl profile occupation: Activist, Journalist, Playwright
profile id: 9514804
profile name: Rudy Vallee profile occupation: Singer, Radio Talk Show Host
profile id: 9524786
profile name: George Washington profile occupation: U.S. President
profile id: 9460813
profile name: Jackie Robinson profile occupation: Baseball Player
profile id: 212184
profile name: Robert Zemeckis profile occupation: Director
profile id: 9542279
profile name: Michael J. Fox profile occupation: Actor
profile id: 360398
profile name: Sarah Palin profile occupation: U.S. Governor
profile id: 9243971
profile name: Samuel de Champlain profile occupation: Diplomat
profile id: 20617237
profile name: Bud Abbott profile occupation: Film Actor
profile id: 162971
profile name: Lou Costello profile occupation: Television Actor
profile id: 9525664
profile name: John Wayne profile occupation: Film Actor
profile id: 9225949
profile name: Jeff Bridges profile occupation: Film Actor
profile id: 9188901
profile name: Lance Armstrong profile occupation: Philanthropist
profile id: 37481
profile name: Tokyo Rose profile occupation: Radio Personality
profile id: 9199751
profile name: P.T. Barnum profile occupation: Entrepreneur
profile id: 38160
profile name: Maximilian profile occupation: Military Leader
profile id: 38398
profile name: Ezzard Charles profile occupation: Boxer
Your Connections
Sign in with Facebook to see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons.

John F. Kennedy
Famous Military Veterans
Anthony Weiner
My Ghost Story
I Survived
Babe Ruth
Johnny Cash
Georgia O'Keefe
I Survived


