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 30 Thursday, July 30, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on July 30 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
1502
World history 524 years ago
Christopher Columbus lands at Guanaja in the Bay Islands off the coast of Honduras during his fourth voyage.
Christopher Columbus arrives at Guanaja, one of the Bay Islands off Honduras, during his fourth and final voyage to the Americas.
History
What happened on July 30
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 762World history
Baghdad is founded.
Caliph al-Mansur establishes Baghdad as the new capital of the Abbasid Caliphate.
- 1419European history
First Defenestration of Prague: A crowd of radical Hussites kill seven members of the Prague city council.
A crowd of radical Hussites throws seven members of the Prague city council from a window, killing them in what becomes known as the First Defenestration of Prague.
- 1502World history
Christopher Columbus lands at Guanaja in the Bay Islands off the coast of Honduras during his fourth voyage.
Christopher Columbus arrives at Guanaja, one of the Bay Islands off Honduras, during his fourth and final voyage to the Americas.
- 1609US history
Beaver Wars: At Ticonderoga (now Crown Point, New York), Samuel de Champlain shoots and kills two Iroquois chiefs on behalf of his native allies.
Samuel de Champlain kills two Iroquois chiefs at Ticonderoga in support of his native allies, escalating the Beaver Wars.
- 1619US history
In Jamestown, Virginia, the first Colonial European representative assembly in the Americas, the Virginia General Assembly, convenes for the first time.
The Virginia General Assembly convenes, marking the first representative colonial government in the Americas.
- 1733US history
The first Masonic Grand Lodge in the future United States is constituted in Massachusetts.
The first Masonic Grand Lodge in what would become the United States is established in Massachusetts.
- 1756World history
In Saint Petersburg, Bartolomeo Rastrelli presents the newly built Catherine Palace to Empress Elizabeth and her courtiers.
Bartolomeo Rastrelli presents the newly built Catherine Palace in Saint Petersburg to Empress Elizabeth and her courtiers.
- 1863US history
American Indian Wars: Representatives of the United States and tribal leaders including Chief Pocatello (of the Shoshone) sign the Treaty of Box Elder.
Representatives of the United States and tribal leaders, including Chief Pocatello of the Shoshone, sign the Treaty of Box Elder.
- 1871Disaster
The Staten Island Ferry Westfield's boiler explodes, killing over 85 people.
The boiler of the Staten Island Ferry Westfield explodes, resulting in more than 85 fatalities.
- 1956US history
A joint resolution of the U.S. Congress is signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, authorizing In God We Trust as the U.S. national motto.
President Eisenhower signs a joint resolution making "In God We Trust" the U.S. national motto.
- 1969Politics
Vietnam War: U.S. president Richard Nixon makes an unscheduled visit to South Vietnam and meets with President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu and U.S. military commanders.
Richard Nixon visits South Vietnam, meeting with President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu and U.S. military leaders.
- 2025Disaster
A magnitude 8.8 earthquake hits Russia, causing tsunamis over the Pacific Ocean.
A magnitude 8.8 earthquake strikes Russia, triggering tsunamis across the Pacific Ocean.
Born today
Famous birthdays on July 30
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 70
Réal Cloutier
Canadian ice hockey player
Réal Cloutier, a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who spent five prolific seasons as a winger with the Quebec Nordiques in the World Hockey Association, turns 70 today.
Born
1956
Turns 70
today
Maria Anna Mozart
Austrian pianist
1751 – 1829
Bud Selig
9th Major League Baseball Commissioner
b. 1934 · 92
Neil Bonnett
American race car driver and sportscaster
1946 – 1994
Stephen Blackmore
English botanist and author
b. 1952 · 74
Sonu Nigam
Indian playback singer and actor
b. 1973 · 53
Hope Solo
American soccer player
b. 1981 · 45
Music
The number one songs on July 30
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on July 30, 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 30, 1966
England defeats West Germany to win the FIFA World Cup at Wembley Stadium 4-2 after extra time.
England wins the FIFA World Cup with a 4-2 victory over West Germany in extra time at Wembley Stadium.
Read the story
🔬 Science July 30, 1995
Java 1.0 is unveiled
Sun Microsystems releases a programming language that will become the backbone of enterprise computing and Android.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
3 celebrated today
Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Vanuatu from the United Kingdom and France in 1980.
International
This is a list of public holidays in Vanuatu
International Day of Friendship (international), and its related observances: Día del Amigo (Paraguay)
International
Friendship Day is an international holiday dedicated to friendship and the celebration of it
Martyrs Day (South Sudan)
International
Martyrs' Day are days observed in or by some countries, including the Albania, Burkina Faso, India, Myanmar, Panama and Tunisia, to recognise martyrs such as soldiers, revolutionaries or victims of ge