Once Upon A Time – July 2 – 1823 – Bahia Independence Day: End Of Portuguese Rule In Brazil

626 Incident at Xuanwu Gate: in fear of assassination, Li Shimin ambushes and kills his rival brothers Li Yuanji and Li Jiancheng

1776 Continental Congress resolves “these United Colonies are and of right ought to be Free and Independent States”

1823 Bahia Independence Day: the end of Portuguese rule in Brazil, with the final defeat of the Portuguese crown loyalists in the province of Bahia

1964 US President Lyndon B. Johnson signs Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act into law

1990 1,426 pilgrims trampled to death after a panic in a tunnel in Mecca, Saudi Arabia

HISTORICAL EVENTS TODAY

TODAY IN FILM & TV

1928 The Jenkins Television Corporation (owned by Charles Jenkins) goes on air with W3XK, the first television broadcasting station in the USA

TODAY IN MUSIC

2005 10 Live 8 concerts held around the world organised by Bob Geldof to raise awareness of poverty

TODAY IN SPORT

1989 American jockey Steve Cauthen wins Irish Derby on Old Vic to become the first rider in history to sweep the world’s 4 major Derbies (Kentucky, Epsom, French, Irish)

MORE FACTS…

1839 Slaves aboard a Spanish schooner La Amistad revolt to secure their freedom while being transported from one Cuban port to another

1816 French frigate “La Méduse” runs aground under incompetent leadership of Viscount of Chaumareys, 400 passengers evacuated. 150 men, 1 woman are left on “la Machine,” a poorly provisioned raft. 13 days later only 15 survivors remain, inspires Théodore Géricault’s painting “The Raft of the Medusa”

FAMOUS WEDDINGS

1918 Jazz orchestra band leader Duke Ellington (19) weds high school sweetheart Edna Thompson

1932 Platinum blonde screen goddess Jean Harlow (21) weds MGM producer Paul Bern (42)

1939 Syndicated columnist Ann Landers (21) weds business executive Julius Lederer