Historical Events
- Jul 1 The first operation of Qinghai-Tibet Railway in the People's Republic of China
Sports History
Jul 2 Michael Schumacher wins US F1 Grand Prix for the 5th time, 1st driver in any series to win 5 races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Cricket Record
Jul 2 Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya (152) and Upul Tharanga (109) compile world record cricket ODI opening stand of 286 vs England at Headingley
- Jul 3 Asteroid labeled as 2004 XP14 flies 432,308 km (268,624 miles) by Earth.
Smile
Jul 3 British singer-songwriter Lily Allen releases her debut single "Smile"
Sports History
Jul 3 Detroit Red Wings legend Steve Yzerman officially retires from the NHL, finishing with 692 goals and 1,755 points
US Women's Golf Open
Jul 3 US Open Women's Golf, Newport CC: Annika Sörenstam wins her 10th and final major title by 4 strokes in a playoff with Pat Hurst
- Jul 4 North Korea tests four short-range missiles, one medium-range missile, and a long-range Taepodong-2. The long-range Taepodong-2 reportedly fails in mid-air over the Sea of Japan/East Sea.
Event of Interest
Jul 4 Richard Branson sells Virgin Mobile to NTL for £962.4 million
- Jul 4 Space Shuttle program: STS-121 Mission - Space Shuttle Discovery launches at 18:37:55 UTC.
- Jul 4 Sri Lanka sets new ODI cricket record score 443-9 in a World Cup win over Netherlands in Amstelveen (Jayasuriya 157, Dilshan 117no)
- Jul 5 Emergency United Nations Security Council meeting at the U.N in New York City because of North Korean missile tests that day
- Jul 5 North Korea tests at least two short-range Nodong-2 missiles, one SCUD missile and one long-range Taepodong-2 missile
- Jul 6 The Nathula Pass between India and China, sealed during the Sino-Indian War, re-opens for trade after 44 years
- Jul 7 Cleveland Indians first baseman Travis Hafner becomes first player in MLB history to hit 5 grand slams before the All-Star break when he homers off Baltimore's Kris Benson
Wimbledon Women's Tennis
Jul 8 Wimbledon Women's Tennis: Amélie Mauresmo of France wins her 2nd and last Grand Slam singles event; beats Justine Henin-Hardenne 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
- Jul 9 At least 122 people killed after a Sibir Airlines Airbus A310 passenger jet, carrying 200 passengers veers off the runway while landing at Irkutsk Airport in Siberia in wet conditions
- Jul 9 FIFA World Cup Final, Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany: Italy beats France, 5-3 on penalties; 1-1 after extra time
US Senior Golf Open
Jul 9 US Senior Open Men's Golf, Prairie Dunes GC: Defending champion Allen Doyle wins by 2 strokes ahead of Tom Watson for his 4th Champions Tour major title
Wimbledon Men's Tennis
Jul 9 Wimbledon Men's Tennis: Roger Federer wins 4th straight Wimbledon title beating Rafael Nadal of Spain 6-0, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3
- Jul 10 Pakistan International Flight PK-688 crashes in Multan, Pakistan shortly after takeoff, killing all 45 people on board
- Jul 11 209 people are killed in a series of bomb attacks in Mumbai, India
- Jul 11 77th All Star Baseball Game: AL wins 3-2 at PNC Park, Pittsburgh
- Jul 12 Hezbollah initiates Operation True Promise.
- Jul 13 UK singer-songwriter Lily Allen releases her debut album "Alright, Still" (Grammy nominee Best Alternative Music Album)
ESPY Awards
Jul 16 14th ESPY Awards: Lance Armstrong, Annika Sörenstam win
- Jul 16 Senior Players Championship Men's Golf, TPC of Michigan: Bobby Wadkins his lone career major title by 1 stroke from Jim Thorpe
- Jul 20 39th San Diego Comic-Con International opens at San Diego Convention Center
TV Show Appearance
Jul 20 During an appearance on "The Tonight Show", Colin Farrell is confronted by telephone sex worker Dessarae Bradford, who had been stalking the actor
- Jul 23 93rd Tour de France won by Oscar Pereiro of Spain
British Golf Open
Jul 23 British Open Men's Golf, Royal Liverpool GC: Tiger Woods wins his 2nd consecutive Open Championship title and 3rd overall; holds off fellow American Chris DiMarco by 2 strokes
- Jul 27 The Federal Republic of Germany is deemed guilty in the loss of Bashkirian 2937 and DHL Flight 611, because it is illegal to outsource flight surveillance
- Jul 30 British Senior Open Men's Golf, Turnberry: American Loren Roberts wins in a playoff with Eduardo Romero of Argentina
- Jul 30 Bruce Sutter, relief pitcher for Cubs, Cardinals, and Braves, inducted into MLB Hall of Fame, in Cooperstown, New York
- Jul 30 World's longest running music show "Top of the Pops" is broadcast for the last time on BBC Two. The show aired for 42 years.
Castro Hands Power to Brother
Jul 31 Fidel Castro temporarily hands over power to brother Raúl Castro, leading to a celebration in Little Havana (La Pequeña Habana), Miami, Florida, where many Cuban Americans participated.
Famous Weddings
- Jul 1 "Hi-5" actress and singer Jennifer Peterson-Hind (26) weds recording artist Tom Korbee in Madison, Wisconsin
- Jul 6 "National Treasure" director Jon Turteltaub (42) weds co-founder of Creative Visions Foundation Amy Eldon at Saddlerock Ranch and Vineyard in Malibu, California
- Jul 7 "Extreme Makeover" Bill Dorfman (47) weds former contestant on "The Apprentice" and beauty queen Jennifer Murphy (27) at the Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes, California
- Jul 7 Anchor and Skating with Celebrities runner-up Jillian Barberie (39) weds actor Grant Reynolds (33) in Tarzana, California
- Jul 7 Three-time "Survivor" contestant Stephenie LaGrossa (26) weds Michael Ward in Seaside Heights, New Jersey
- Jul 8 Canadian-American "Good Day L.A." co-host Jillian Barberie (39) weds second husband actor Grant Reynolds in San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles; divorce in 2014
- Jul 8 Danish actress and "The Surreal Life" personality Brigitte Nielsen (43) weds 5th husband Italian model and producer Mattia Dessi (27) at the Radisson SAS Golden Sands Resort and Spa in Malta
Avril Lavigne
Jul 15 Singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne (21) weds "Sum 41" lead singer and guitarist Deryck Whibley (26) at a private estate in Montecito, California
- Jul 15 Soccer star player Ashley Cole (25) weds "Girls Aloud" member Cheryl Tweedy (23) at Holy Trinity Church in Wrotham Park, Hertfordshire
- Jul 17 "Wheel of Fortune" original host Chuck Woolery (65) weds Kim Barnes at The Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas
- Jul 22 British TV presenter Ant McPartlin (30) weds former member of "Deuce" Lisa Armstrong (29) at St. Nicholas Church in Taplow, Buckinghamshire, England
- Jul 22 Spanish singer David Bustamante (24) weds Spanish TV star Paula Echevarria at Basilica de Santa Maria la Real de Covadonga in the Asturias
- Jul 23 "The Young and The Restless" actor John Enos (44) weds Disney executive Jennie Lee on the patio of Hollywood hotspot The Cabana Club
- Jul 26 "The Da Vinci Code" actor Jean Reno (58) weds Polish model Zofia Borucka (35) at the city hall in Baux-de-Provence
- Jul 27 NASCAR driver Kurt Busch (27) weds Eva Bryan in Eastville, Virginia
- Jul 29 "Providence" actress Paula Cale (36) weds screenwriter Michael Lisbe at Sopris Mountain Ranch in Basalt, Colorado
Pamela Anderson & Kid Rock
Jul 29 Canadian-American "Baywatch" actress Pamela Anderson (39) weds American singer Kid Rock (35) on Thunder Gulch yacht in Saint-Tropez, France; divorce in 2007
- Jul 29 Scottish "Primal Scream" lead singer Bobby Gillespie (44) weds British fashion stylist Katy England at St. Margaret's Church in Betley, Staffordshire, England
Famous Divorces
David Hasselhoff
Jul 26 Former Baywatch actor David Hasselhoff (54) divorces actress and singer Pamela Bach (42) due to irreconcilable differences after 16 years of marriage
Mel Gibson
Jul 29 Robyn Denise Moore divorces Oscar-winning actor Mel Gibson (55) due to irreconcilable differences after 31 years of marriage
Famous Deaths
- Jul 1 Fred Trueman, England cricket fast bowler (England 67 Tests, 307 wickets), dies of small cell carcinoma at 75
- Jul 1 Ryutaro Hashimoto, Japanese politician (Prime Minister of Japan 1996-98), dies at 68
- Jul 2 Jan Murray, American comedian and TV game show host (Treasure Hunt, Who Killed Teddy Bear), dies at 89
- Jul 3 Benjamin Hendrickson, American stage and screen actor (As The World Turns, 1985-2006 - "Hal Munson"), dies of a self-inflicted gunshot at 55
- Jul 3 Joseph Goguen, American computer scientist (professor of Computer Science at the University of California and University of Oxford), dies at 65
- Jul 3 Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, American violist and operatic mezzo-soprano, dies of cancer at 52
Gert Fredriksson (1919-2006)
Jul 5 Swedish canoeist (6 Olympic gold 1948, 52, 56, 60), dies at 86
- Jul 5 Kenneth Lay, American businessman (CEO and Chairman of Enron, 1985-2001), dies at 64
- Jul 6 Cal Lampley, American session pianist, record producer (Miles Davis; Nina Simone, Mahalia Jackson, Groove Holmes), music critic, and educator (Peabody Institute), dies from complications of multiple sclerosis at 82
- Jul 6 Kasey Rogers, American actress (Bewitched), dies at 80
- Jul 6 Tom Weir, Scottish climber, author and broadcaster (The Scots Magazine, Weir's Way), dies at 91
- Jul 7 John Money, Sexologist (b. 1921)
- Jul 7 Juan de Ávalos, Spanish sculptor (b. 1911)
- Jul 7 Kees Andrea, Dutch textile artist, dies at 92
Syd Barrett (1946-2006)
Jul 7 British guitarist and singer-songwriter (Pink Floyd, 1964-68 - "See Emily Play"; solo -"The Madcap Laughs"), dies of pancreatic cancer at 60
- Jul 8 June Allyson [Eleanor Geisman], American stage and screen actress (Best Foot Forward; Too Young to Kiss; The Glenn Miller Story; The DuPont Show with June Allyson), dies of respiratory failure and bronchitis at 88
- Jul 8 Peter Hawkins, British actor/voice actor (b. 1924)
- Jul 9 Milan Williams, American keyboardist (Commodores - "Three Times A Lady"), dies of cancer at 58
- Jul 10 Shamil Basayev, Chechen rebel (b. 1965)
- Jul 11 Barnard Hughes, American stage and screen actor (Doc; Tron; Best Friends; Where's Poppa?), dies at 90
- Jul 11 Bill Miller, American jazz pianist and arranger (Frank Sinatra, Frank Sinatra, Jr.), dies of a heart attack while on tour at 91
- Jul 11 John Spencer, English snooker player (b. 1935)
- Jul 12 Hubert Lampo, Flemish writer and essayist (The Coming of Joachim Stiller), dies at 85
- Jul 13 Red Buttons [Aaron Chwatt], American comedian (The Red Buttons Show), and Academy Award-winning actor (Sayonara; The Poseidon Adventure), dies from cardiovascular disease at 87
- Jul 15 Robert H. Brooks, founder of Hooters of America (b. 1937)
- Jul 16 Artie Malvin, American vocalist (Glenn Miller; Jimmy Dorsey), arranger and music director (Julie LaRosa; Pat Boone; Carol Burnett), dies at 83
- Jul 16 Bob Orton, Sr., American professional wrestler (b. 1929)
- Jul 16 Ossi Reichert, German alpine skier (Olympic gold women's giant slalom 1956; silver slalom 1952), dies at 80
- Jul 16 Winthrop Paul Rockefeller, Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas (b. 1948)
- Jul 17 (Frank) "Mickey" Spillane, American mystery writer (I, The Jury), dies of pancreatic cancer at 88
- Jul 17 Sam Myers, American blues singer, harmonica player, drummer, and songwriter ("Sleeping in the Ground"), dies at 70
- Jul 19 Jack Warden [John Lebzelter Jr], American character actor (Shampoo, Heaven Can Wait, Brian's Song), dies of heart and kidney failure at 85
- Jul 20 Gérard Oury [Max-Gérard Houry Tannenbaum] French actor and filmmaker, dies at 87
- Jul 20 Robert Cornthwaite, American actor (Thing, War of the Worlds, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?), dies of natural causes at 89
- Jul 20 Ted Grant, British Trotskyist (b. 1913)
- Jul 21 Mako, Japanese-American actor (The Sand Pebbles), dies at 72
- Jul 21 Ta Mok, "The Khmer Rouge Butcher", war criminal in Democratic Kampuchea (b. 1926)
- Jul 22 Dika Newlin, American composer, Schoenberg expert and punk rocker, dies at 82
- Jul 22 James E. West, mayor of Spokane, Washington (b. 1950)
- Jul 22 José Antonio Delgado, Venezuelan mountain climber (b. 1965)
- Jul 22 Thomas J. Manton, American politician (Rep-D-NY, 1985-99), dies at 73
- Jul 23 Jean-Paul Desbiens, Quebec writer and journalist (b. 1927)
- Jul 25 Carl Brashear, first African-American U.S Navy Master Diver (b. 1931)
- Jul 27 Maryann Mahaffey, American politician (b. 1925)
- Jul 28 David Gemmell, British writer (b. 1948)
- Jul 28 Patrick Allen, British actor (Roman Holiday, Dial "M" for Murder), dies at 79
- Jul 29 Jim Olin, American politician (Rep-D-VA, 1983-93), dies at 86
- Jul 30 Al Balding, Canadian golfer (first Canadian to win PGA Tour event in US, 4-time winner), dies of cancer at 82
- Jul 30 Anthony Galla-Rini, American concert accordionist,and arranger, dies at 102
- Jul 30 Murray Bookchin, American libertarian socialist (b. 1921)
- Jul 31 Paul Eells, American sportscaster ("Voice of the Razorbacks"), dies at 70
