Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
July 13 Monday, July 13, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on July 13 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
3
Holidays
1586
War 440 years ago
Anglo-Spanish War: A convoy of English ships from the Levant Company manage to repel a fleet of eleven Spanish and Maltese galleys off the Mediterranean island of Pantelleria.
An English convoy from the Levant Company successfully repels eleven Spanish and Maltese galleys near the Mediterranean island of Pantelleria.
History
What happened on July 13
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1174UK history
William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173-74, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to Henry II of England.
William I of Scotland is captured at Alnwick by English forces loyal to Henry II.
- 1249UK history
Coronation of Alexander III as King of Scots.
Alexander III is crowned king of Scots, marking the beginning of his reign aimed at restoring stability to the kingdom.
- 1260European history
The Livonian Order suffers its greatest defeat in the 13th century in the Battle of Durbe against the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Livonian Order suffers a catastrophic loss in the Battle of Durbe, facing the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
- 1402War
Nanjing surrenders to Zhu Di without a fight, ending the Jingnan campaign. The Jianwen Emperor disappears and his family is incarcerated.
Zhu Di captures Nanjing, ending the Jingnan campaign; the Jianwen Emperor vanishes, and his family is imprisoned.
- 1573European history
Eighty Years' War: The Siege of Haarlem ends after seven months.
The Siege of Haarlem ends, concluding a seven-month struggle in the Eighty Years' War.
- 1586War
Anglo-Spanish War: A convoy of English ships from the Levant Company manage to repel a fleet of eleven Spanish and Maltese galleys off the Mediterranean island of Pantelleria.
An English convoy from the Levant Company successfully repels eleven Spanish and Maltese galleys near the Mediterranean island of Pantelleria.
- 1643War
English Civil War: Battle of Roundway Down: In England, Henry Wilmot, 1st Earl of Rochester, commanding the Royalist forces, heavily defeats the Parliamentarian forces led by Sir William Waller.
Henry Wilmot leads Royalist forces to a decisive victory over Parliamentarians at Roundway Down.
- 1690War
Nine Years' War: French naval forces led by Anne Hilarion de Tourville fresh from their victory at Beachy Head sail West and launch a raid on the small English town of Teignmouth leaving it devastated.
French forces under Anne Hilarion de Tourville raid and devastate Teignmouth after their victory at Beachy Head.
- 1787US history
The Congress of the Confederation enacts the Northwest Ordinance establishing governing rules for the Northwest Territory. It also establishes procedures for the admission of new states and limits the expansion of slavery.
The Congress of the Confederation enacts the Northwest Ordinance, establishing governance for the Northwest Territory, procedures for admitting new states, and restrictions on slavery's expansion.
- 1794War
The Battle of Trippstadt between French forces and those of Prussia and Austria begins.
French forces engage in battle against Prussian and Austrian troops near the village of Trippstadt.
- 1814UK history
The Carabinieri, the national gendarmerie of Italy, is established.
The Carabinieri, Italy's national gendarmerie force, is founded to maintain law and order across the country.
- 1985US history
Vice President George H. W. Bush becomes the Acting President for the day when President Ronald Reagan undergoes surgery to remove polyps from his colon.
George H. W. Bush becomes Acting President while Ronald Reagan undergoes surgery to remove polyps from his colon.
Born today
Famous birthdays on July 13
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 67
Fuziah Salleh
Malaysian politician
Fuziah Salleh, Malaysian politician who has served as Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living and Senator since 2022, turns 66 today.
Born
1959
Turns 67
today
Otto Wagner
Austrian architect, designed the Austrian Postal Savings Bank and Karlsplatz Stadtbahn Station
1841 – 1918
Stan Coveleski
American baseball player
1889 – 1984
Earl Lovelace
Trinidadian journalist, author, and playwright
b. 1935 · 91
Tom Kenny
American voice actor and screenwriter
b. 1962 · 64
Deborah Cox
Canadian singer-songwriter and actress
b. 1974 · 52
Yadier Molina
Puerto Rican baseball player
b. 1982 · 44
Music
The number one songs on July 13
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on July 13, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport July 13, 2014
Germany wins the FIFA World Cup, defeating Argentina in the final 1-0 after extra time.
Germany wins the FIFA World Cup by defeating Argentina 1-0 in a closely contested final.
Read the story
🔬 Science July 13, 1956
The Dartmouth workshop is the first conference on artificial intelligence.
The Dartmouth workshop marks the beginning of artificial intelligence as a scientific field.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
3 celebrated today
Statehood Day (Montenegro)
International
Statehood Day is a holiday that occurs every year on 13 July in Montenegro to commemorate the day in 1878 on which the Berlin Congress recognized the Principality of Montenegro as the twenty-seventh i
The last day of Naadam (Mongolia)
International
Naadam is a traditional festival celebrated in Mongolia, Inner Mongolia and Tuva, involving Mongolian wrestling, horse racing and archery
Kashmir Martyrs' Day (Pakistan)
International
Kashmir Martyrs' Day, or Kashmir Day, was an official state holiday observed in Kashmir in remembrance of 21 Muslims killed on 13 July 1931 by Dogra forces of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir i