3 July
What happened today in history?
- 1035 – William the Conqueror becomes the Duke of Normandy.
- 1844 – Last two Great Auks are killed.
- 1863 – Last day of the Battle of Gettysburg (American Civil War).
- 1890 – Idaho becomes the 43rd US State.
- 1938 – The Mallard steam train reaches a speed of 126 mph, setting a new world record.
Who was born today?
- 1945 – Franz Kafka – Czech-German writer.
- 1958 – Charlie Higson – English author and actor.
- 1962 – Tom Cruise – American actor (Top Gun, Last Samurai, Mission Impossible)
Who died today?
- 1971 – Jim Morrison – American singer / songwriter (The Doors)
- 1995 – Pancho Gonzales – American tennis player.