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 2 Thursday, July 2, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on July 2 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
1645
UK history 381 years ago
Wars of the Three Kingdoms: Battle of Alford.
Royalist forces under the Marquess of Montrose defeat Covenanter troops at the Battle of Alford in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
History
What happened on July 2
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 626World history
Li Shimin, the future Emperor Taizong of Tang, ambushes and kills his rival brothers Li Yuanji and Li Jiancheng in the Xuanwu Gate Incident.
Li Shimin ambushed and killed his brothers Li Yuanji and Li Jiancheng at the Xuanwu Gate, clearing his path to become Emperor Taizong of Tang.
- 866European history
Battle of Brissarthe: The Franks led by Robert the Strong are defeated by a joint Breton-Viking army.
Robert the Strong's Frankish forces suffer defeat at the hands of a combined Breton-Viking army in the Battle of Brissarthe.
- 1298European history
Battle of Göllheim: Albert I of Habsburg defeats Adolf of Nassau-Weilburg.
Albert I of Habsburg defeats and kills Adolf of Nassau-Weilburg in battle, securing his claim to the German throne.
- 1494World history
Age of Discovery: The Treaty of Tordesillas is ratified by Spain.
Spain ratifies the Treaty of Tordesillas, dividing newly discovered and undiscovered lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal.
- 1582War
Battle of Yamazaki: Toyotomi Hideyoshi defeats Akechi Mitsuhide.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi defeats Akechi Mitsuhide in the Battle of Yamazaki, securing his rise to power in Japan.
- 1644War
English Civil War: Battle of Marston Moor.
Parliamentarian forces led by Lord Fairfax and Sir Thomas Fairfax defeat the Royalists in a decisive battle at Marston Moor.
- 1645UK history
Wars of the Three Kingdoms: Battle of Alford.
Royalist forces under the Marquess of Montrose defeat Covenanter troops at the Battle of Alford in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
- 1776US history
American Revolution: The Continental Congress adopts the Lee Resolution severing ties with the Kingdom of Great Britain, although the wording of the formal Declaration of Independence is not adopted until July 4.
The Continental Congress adopts the Lee Resolution, declaring independence from Great Britain.
- 1823US history
Bahia Independence Day: The Siege of Salvador ends Portuguese rule in Brazil, with the final defeat of the Portuguese crown loyalists in the province of Bahia.
The siege of Salvador ends, marking the end of Portuguese rule in Bahia and the beginning of Brazilian independence.
- 1881US history
Charles J. Guiteau shoots and fatally wounds U.S. President James A. Garfield (who will die of complications from his wounds on September 19).
Charles J. Guiteau shoots and fatally wounds U.S. President James A. Garfield, leading to the president's death a few weeks later.
- 1964US history
Civil rights movement: U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964 meant to prohibit segregation in public places.
Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964, aimed at prohibiting segregation in public places and promoting equal access for all Americans.
- 2005Pop culture
The Live 8 benefit concerts takes place in the G8 states and in South Africa. More than 1,000 musicians perform and are broadcast on 182 television networks and 2,000 radio networks.
Live 8 concerts feature over 1,000 musicians in G8 states and South Africa, reaching audiences through 182 TV networks and 2,000 radio stations.
Born today
Famous birthdays on July 2
7 this date All birthdays
Larry Lake
American-Canadian trumpet player and composer
Larry Ellsworth Lake, the American-born Canadian composer and trumpeter known for integrating acoustic instruments with electronic music, was born in 1943.
Born
1943
Died
2013
Thurgood Marshall
American lawyer and civil rights activist, 32nd Solicitor General of the United States, and former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
1908 – 1993
Troy Brown
American football player and actor
b. 1971 · 55
Sean Casey
American baseball player and sportscaster
b. 1974 · 52
Joe Thornton
Canadian ice hockey player
b. 1979 · 47
Ashley Tisdale
American actress, singer, and producer
b. 1985 · 41
Alex Morgan
American soccer player
b. 1989 · 37
Music
The number one songs on July 2
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on July 2, 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 2, 1982
Aston Villa shock Bayern Munich for the European Cup
In Rotterdam, late substitute Peter Withe scores the winner as Villa lift the trophy on their first attempt.
Read the story
🔬 Science July 2, 1966
France conducts its first nuclear weapon test in the Pacific, on Moruroa Atoll.
France conducts its first nuclear weapon test in the Pacific Ocean near Moruroa Atoll.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
3 celebrated today
Flag Day (Curaçao)
International
A flag day is a flag-related holiday, a day designated for flying a certain flag or a day set aside to celebrate a historical event such as a nation's adoption of its flag
Palio di Provenzano (Siena, Italy)
International
The Palio di Siena is a horse race held twice each year, on 2 July and 16 August, in Siena, Italy
Police Day (Azerbaijan)
International
There are several public holidays in Azerbaijan