July 1^st in history

Encyclopædia Britannica presents people and events from this day in history:

Dominion of Canada established: 1 July 1867 - This Day in History

The Dominion of Canada was formed this day in 1867, an event subsequently celebrated as an annual Canadian holiday (its current name, Canada Day, was adopted in 1982) marked by parades, fireworks, and the display of flags.

More Events on this day:

1968: The United States, the United Kingdom, the U.S.S.R., and 59 other states signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty in an attempt to halt the spread of nuclear weapons.

1963: The U.S. Postal Service instituted the Zone Improvement Plan Code, commonly known as the ZIP Code.

1916: Coca-Cola introduced its famous contoured bottle, which was not registered until 1960, to distinguish the soft drink now known as Coca-Cola classic from imitators.

1903: The first Tour de France bicycle race began.

1863: The Battle of Gettysburg, one of the most important battles of the American Civil War, began.

1535: Sir Thomas More went on trial for treason for refusing to accept King Henry VIII as head of the Church of England.

 

Diana, princess of Wales: Biography of the Day

Diana, princess of Wales

"The world is too little aware of the waste of life, limb and land which anti-personnel landmines are causing among some of the poorest people on Earth."

Diana, Princess of Wales

On this day in 1997, Princess Diana died in Paris following an automobile accident—first thought to be caused by paparazzi but later blamed on the driver—that also claimed the lives of her companion Dodi Fayed and the driver.

 

Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule: 1 July 1997 - This Day in History

At midnight on June 30/July 1, the crown colony of Hong Kong officially reverted to Chinese sovereignty, ending 156 years of British rule. After a formal handover ceremony on July 1 that culminated a 13-year transition period, the colony became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China. The Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong (1984) stipulated that under Chinese rule the HKSAR would enjoy a high degree of autonomy, except in matters of foreign relations and defense, and that the social and economic systems as well as the lifestyle in Hong Kong would remain unchanged for 50 years after 1997.

More Events on this day:

1968: The United States, the United Kingdom, the U.S.S.R., and 59 other states signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty in an attempt to halt the spread of nuclear weapons.

1963: The U.S. Postal Service instituted the Zone Improvement Plan Code, commonly known as the ZIP Code.

1916: Coca-Cola introduced its famous contoured bottle, which was not registered until 1960, to distinguish the soft drink now known as Coca-Cola classic from imitators.

1903: The first Tour de France bicycle race took place.

1867: Established by statute in 1879 as Dominion Day and renamed in 1982, Canada Day commemorates the formation of the Dominion of Canada this day.

1863: The Battle of Gettysburg, thought by many to be the turning point of the American Civil War, began.

1535: Sir Thomas More went on trial for treason for refusing to accept King Henry VIII as head of the Church of England. He was beheaded five days later.