History for July 5

History for July 5 - On-This-Day.com
David G. Farragut 1801 - Officer in U.S. Navy during 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, Warren Oates 1928 - Actor 

Shirley Knight 1936 - Actress, Huey Lewis 1951 - Musician (Huey Lewis and the News), Edie Falco 1963 - Actress ("The Sapranos")


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.. 


1892 - Andrew Beard was issued a patent for the rotary engine. 


1935 - U.S. President Roosevelt signed the National Labor Relations Act into law. The act authorized labor to organize for the purpose of collective bargaining. 


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.