21 July 1767

A Tuesday in history

Weekday

Tuesday

Season

Summer (N. Hemisphere)

Century

18th century

Records

395

  1. 2019

    People returning from anti–extradition bill protests in Hong Kong were attacked (pictured) by suspected triad members in Yuen Long, leaving 45 people injured.

    Source
  2. 2013

    Nour Ahmad Nikbakht, an Iranian diplomat in Yemen, was kidnapped by al-Qaeda militants and held hostage for the next two years.

    Source
  3. 2007

    Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final book in the popular Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, was released and sold 15 million copies in its first 24 hours, making it the fastest-selling book in history.

    Source
  4. 1990

    The Taiwanese military ordered the deportation of dozens of illegal immigrants from mainland China in sealed boat holds, causing 25 deaths due to suffocation.

    Source
  5. 1977

    Libyan forces carried out a raid at Sallum, sparking a four-day war with Egypt.

    Source
  6. 1972

    The Troubles: The Provisional Irish Republican Army detonated twenty-two bombs throughout Belfast, Northern Ireland.

    Source
  7. 1960

    Sirimavo Bandaranaike (pictured) was sworn in as prime minister of Ceylon, becoming the world's first democratically elected female head of government.

    Source
  8. 1959

    The inaugural International Mathematical Olympiad, the leading mathematical competition for pre-university students, began in Romania.

    Source
  9. 1952

    An earthquake registering 7.3 Mw struck the southern San Joaquin Valley in California, causing 12 deaths and an estimated $60 million in property damage.

    Source
  10. 1946

    After weeks of unrest, rioters lynched Bolivian president Gualberto Villarroel, desecrating and hanging his corpse in the streets of La Paz.

    Source
  11. 1925

    American high-school biology teacher John T. Scopes was found guilty of violating Tennessee's Butler Act which forbade teaching evolution in class.

    Source
  12. 1918

    World War I: An Imperial German Navy U-boat opened fire on a small convoy of barges and defending aircraft near the American town of Orleans, Massachusetts.

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  13. 1877

    Much of central Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was burned and looted during the Great Railroad Strike of 1877.

    Source
  14. 1378

    Unrepresented labourers revolted and violently took over the government of the Republic of Florence (depicted), demanding that they be granted political office.

    Source
  15. 905

    Louis III, Holy Roman Emperor, was captured and blinded during his attempt to restore Carolingian power over Italy by King Berengar I.

    Source
  16. 625

    Paulinus was consecrated as the first bishop of York by Justus, the archbishop of Canterbury.

    Source
  17. 365

    A large earthquake occurred near Crete, triggering a tsunami, and causing widespread destruction around the eastern Mediterranean region.

    Source
  18. 230

    Pope Pontian began his pontificate, succeeding Urban I.

    Source

Photo archive

24 historic images from this day — tap to open the gallery.

What was life like?

Prices, jobs, food, music and everyday routine — the world as it felt to live in.

Sources & fact check

Every claim is traced to primary sources, archives, universities and the press — with an explicit confidence rating. Dossiers are generated once and cached permanently.