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 1 Wednesday, July 1, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on July 1 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
8
Holidays
Canadian history 244 years ago
Raid on Lunenburg: American privateers attack the British settlement of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.
American privateers raid the British settlement of Lunenburg in Nova Scotia, capturing vessels and plundering the town during the Revolutionary War.
History
What happened on July 1
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 69World history
Tiberius Julius Alexander orders his Roman legions in Alexandria to swear allegiance to Vespasian as Emperor.
Tiberius Julius Alexander orders the Roman legions in Alexandria to swear allegiance to Vespasian as emperor.
- 552European history
Battle of Taginae: Byzantine forces under Narses defeat the Ostrogoths in Italy, and the Ostrogoth king, Totila, is mortally wounded.
Byzantine forces led by Narses defeat the Ostrogoths in Italy, mortally wounding King Totila.
- 1097War
Battle of Dorylaeum: Crusaders led by prince Bohemond of Taranto defeat a Seljuk army led by sultan Kilij Arslan I.
Crusaders led by Prince Bohemond of Taranto defeat a Seljuk army under Kilij Arslan I, securing passage through Anatolia for the First Crusade.
- 1431European history
The Battle of La Higueruela takes place in Granada, leading to a modest advance of the Kingdom of Castile during the Reconquista.
The Battle of La Higueruela results in a Castilian victory over the Emirate of Granada, marking a modest territorial advance during the Reconquista.
- 1520World history
Spanish conquistadors led by Hernán Cortés fight their way out of Tenochtitlan after nightfall.
Spanish conquistadors led by Hernán Cortés escape from Tenochtitlan in a nighttime battle.
- 1569European history
Union of Lublin: The Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania confirm a real union; the united country is called the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth or the Republic of Both Nations.
The Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania form a real union, creating the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
- 1643Religion
First meeting of the Westminster Assembly, a council of theologians ("divines") and members of the Parliament of England appointed to restructure the Church of England, at Westminster Abbey in London.
The Westminster Assembly convenes at Westminster Abbey to reform the Church of England.
- 1690UK history
Glorious Revolution: Battle of the Boyne in Ireland (as reckoned under the Julian calendar).
William III defeats James II in the Battle of the Boyne, securing Protestant rule in Ireland.
- 1770Science
Lexell's Comet is seen closer to the Earth than any other comet in recorded history, approaching to a distance of 0.0146 astronomical units (2,180,000 km; 1,360,000 mi).
Lexell's Comet approaches Earth to within 0.0146 astronomical units, the closest recorded approach of any comet.
- 1782Canadian history
Raid on Lunenburg: American privateers attack the British settlement of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.
American privateers raid the British settlement of Lunenburg in Nova Scotia, capturing vessels and plundering the town during the Revolutionary War.
- 1885World history
The Congo Free State is established by King Leopold II of Belgium.
King Leopold II establishes the Congo Free State, beginning a period of exploitation in central Africa.
- 1949Royalty
The merger of two princely states of India, Cochin and Travancore, into the state of Thiru-Kochi (later re-organized as Kerala) in the Indian Union ends more than 1,000 years of princely rule by the Cochin royal family.
Cochin and Travancore merge to form Thiru-Kochi, ending over a millennium of Cochin royal rule.
Born today
Famous birthdays on July 1
7 this date All birthdays
Andraé Crouch
American singer-songwriter, producer and pastor
Andraé Crouch, referred to as "the father of modern gospel music," was born today in 1942, known for his influential compositions including "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power" and "My Tribute."
Born
1942
Died
2015
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
German mathematician and philosopher
1646 – 1716
Ignaz Semmelweis
Hungarian-Austrian physician and obstetrician
1818 – 1865
Willard Metcalf
American painter
1858 – 1925
Louis Blériot
French pilot and engineer
1872 – 1936
Hilarie Burton
American actress
b. 1982 · 44
Taeyong
South Korea rapper
b. 1995 · 31
Music
The number one songs on July 1
Across the years Full chart history
Also #1 on this day
- 2025"Ordinary"— Alex Warren
- 2024"Please Please Please"— Sabrina Carpenter
- 2023"Sprinter"— Dave and Central Cee
- 2022"Running Up That Hill"— Kate Bush
- 2021"Good 4 U"— Olivia Rodrigo
- 2020"Rockstar"— DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport July 1, 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 1, 2004
Saturn orbit insertion of Cassini-Huygens begins at 01:12 UTC and ends at 02:48 UTC.
The Cassini-Huygens spacecraft enters Saturn's orbit after a seven-year journey.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Armed Forces Day (Singapore)
International
An Armed Forces Day, alongside its branch-specific variants often referred to as Army or Soldier's Day, Navy or Sailor's Day, and Air Force or Aviator's Day, is a holiday dedicated to honoring the arm
Bobby Bonilla Day (United States)
International
Roberto Martin Antonio Bonilla is an American former professional baseball third baseman and outfielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1986 to 2001
Canada Day, formerly Dominion Day (Canada)
International
Canada Day is the national day of Canada
Children's Day (Pakistan)
International
Children's Day is a commemorative date celebrated annually in honour of children, whose date of observance varies by country
Chinese Communist Party Founding Day (China)
International
The Communist Party of China (CPC), commonly known as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is the founding and ruling party of the People's Republic of China (PRC)
Day of Officials and Civil Servants (Hungary)
International
Day of officials and civil servants is held on every 1 July in Hungary
❝
My goal in life is to give to the world what I was lucky to receive: the ecstasy of divine union through my music and my dance.
— Michael Jackson · born July 1, 1958