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 5 Sunday, July 5, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on July 5 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
6
Holidays
1610
Canadian history 416 years ago
John Guy sets sail from Bristol with 39 other colonists for Newfoundland.
John Guy leads 39 colonists from Bristol to establish the first official English settlement in Newfoundland at Cuper's Cove.
History
What happened on July 5
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 328European history
The official opening of Constantine's Bridge built over the Danube between Sucidava (Corabia, Romania) and Oescus (Gigen, Bulgaria) by the Roman architect Theophilus Patricius.
Constantine's Bridge, designed by Roman architect Theophilus Patricius, opens over the Danube connecting Sucidava (modern Corabia, Romania) to Oescus (modern Gigen, Bulgaria).
- 1316European history
The Burgundian and Majorcan claimants of the Principality of Achaea meet in the Battle of Manolada.
The Burgundian and Majorcan claimants clash in the Battle of Manolada, vying for control of the Principality of Achaea.
- 1584Religion
The Maronite College is established in Rome.
Pope Gregory XIII establishes the Maronite College in Rome to train clergy for the Maronite Catholic Church, strengthening ties between Rome and Lebanon's Christian community.
- 1594War
Portuguese forces under the command of Pedro Lopes de Sousa begin an unsuccessful invasion of the Kingdom of Kandy during the Campaign of Danture in Sri Lanka.
Portuguese forces led by Pedro Lopes de Sousa commence an invasion of Kandy, marking the beginning of the Campaign of Danture in Sri Lanka.
- 1610Canadian history
John Guy sets sail from Bristol with 39 other colonists for Newfoundland.
John Guy leads 39 colonists from Bristol to establish the first official English settlement in Newfoundland at Cuper's Cove.
- 1687Science
Isaac Newton publishes Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica.
Isaac Newton publishes "Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica," outlining his laws of motion and universal gravitation.
- 1770War
The Battle of Chesma between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire begins.
The Battle of Chesma commences as Russian forces engage Ottoman ships in a naval conflict.
- 1775US history
The Second Continental Congress adopts the Olive Branch Petition.
The Second Continental Congress adopts the Olive Branch Petition, expressing loyalty to King George III and seeking to avoid war.
- 1841World history
Thomas Cook organises the first package excursion, from Leicester to Loughborough.
Thomas Cook arranges the inaugural package tour, taking travelers from Leicester to Loughborough.
- 1884World history
Germany takes possession of Cameroon.
Germany establishes control over Cameroon, marking the beginning of its colonial rule in Africa.
- 1945UK history
The United Kingdom holds its first general election in 10 years, which would be won by Clement Attlee's Labour Party.
Clement Attlee's Labour Party wins the UK's first general election in a decade.
- 2009UK history
The largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever discovered in Britain, consisting of more than 1,500 items, is found near the village of Hammerwich, near Lichfield, Staffordshire.
A trove of over 1,500 Anglo-Saxon gold and silver objects is discovered near Lichfield, Staffordshire.
Born today
Famous birthdays on July 5
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 48
İsmail YK
German-Turkish singer-songwriter
İsmail YK, German-Turkish pop singer who rose to fame with the sibling group Yurtseven Kardeşler before launching a solo career, turns 48 today with multiple chart-topping albums including his debut Şappur Şuppur.
Born
1978
Turns 48
today
Al-Mustansir Billah
Fatimid caliph
1029 – 1094
K. Karunakaran
Indian lawyer and politician, 7th Chief Minister of Kerala
1918 – 2010
Epeli Nailatikau
Fijian chief, President of Fiji
1941 – 2026
Carlo Thränhardt
German high jumper
b. 1957 · 69
Veronica Guerin
Irish journalist
1958 – 1996
Mustafa Al-Kadhimi
Iraqi politician, 80th Prime Minister of Iraq
b. 1967 · 59
Music
The number one songs on July 5
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on July 5, 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 5, 1980
Swedish tennis player Björn Borg wins his fifth Wimbledon final and becomes the first male tennis player to win the championships five times in a row (1976-1980).
Björn Borg wins his fifth consecutive Wimbledon title, becoming the first male player to achieve this feat.
Read the story
🔬 Science July 5, 1996
Dolly the sheep becomes the first mammal cloned from an adult cell.
Dolly the sheep is born, marking the first successful cloning of a mammal from an adult cell.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
6 celebrated today
Bloody Thursday (International Longshore and Warehouse Union)
International
The 1934 West Coast waterfront strike began on May 9, 1934, when longshoremen in every U
Fifth of July (New York), historic celebration of the abolition of slavery in New York in 1827.
International
The Fifth of July is a historic celebration of an Emancipation Day in New York, marking the culmination of the state's 1827 abolition of slavery after a gradual legislative process
Independence Day (Algeria), celebrating the independence of Algeria from France in 1962.
International
Independence Day, observed annually on 5 July, is a National Holiday in Algeria commemorating colonial Algerian independence from France on 5 July 1962
Independence Day (Cape Verde), celebrating the independence of Cape Verde from Portugal in 1975.
International
This is a list of holidays in Cape Verde
Independence Day (Venezuela), celebrating the independence of Venezuela from Spain in 1811; also National Armed Forces Day.
International
Independence Day, also known as the Fifth of July is the national independence holiday of Venezuela, marked every year on July 5 which celebrates the anniversary since the enactment of the 1811 Venezu
Tynwald Day, if July 5 is on a weekend, the holiday is the following Monday. (Isle of Man)
International
Tynwald Day is the National Day of the Isle of Man, usually observed on 5 July