JULY 5 | Birthdays and Events
Famous Birthdays
People born on July 5
Sylvester Graham
Died: September 11, 1851
Considered to be the "Father of Vegetarianism."
Phineas Taylor Barnum
Died: April 7, 1891
Showman also known as P. T. Barnum who co-founded Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Louise Freeland Jenkins
Died: May 9, 1970
Astronomer who created an extensive catalog of stars that are still used today by many astronomers.
Katherine Helmond
Died: February 23, 2019
Actress remembered for her role as Mona in the sitcom Who's the Boss.
Billy Laughlin
Died: August 31, 1948
Child actor who played Froggy in Our Gang (Little Rascals).
Michael Blake
Died: May 2, 2015
Author and screenwriter who wrote and later adapted his novel Dances With Wolves into a movie.
Hugh Anthony Cregg III
Musician also known as Huey Lewis and lead singer of Huey Lewis and the News.
Bill Watterson
Creator and illustrator of the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes.
Historical Events on July 5
Events that occurred on July 5 throughout history
Frederick Douglass delivers his "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" speech.
Frederick Douglass delivers his "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" speech in Rochester, New York. Douglass intentionally spoke the day after Independence Day to deliberately highlight the cruel hypocrisy of the nation celebrating liberty while millions remained enslaved. His speech is considered one of the most powerful and enduring critiques of American slavery ever written.
The Secret Service begins operation.
The Secret Service begins operation to monitory currency forgery. The agency began full-time Presidential protection after the assassination of President William McKinley.
President Roosevelt signs the National Labor Relations Act into law.
President Roosevelt signs the National Labor Relations Act into law. The Act guaranteed the rights of private-sector workers to organize into trade unions, engage in collective bargaining, and take collective action.
Hormel Foods Corporation introduces Spam.
Hormel Foods Corporation introduces Spam to utilize surplus supply of pork shoulder during the Great Depression.
Elvis Presley records his first single.
Elvis Presley records his first single, "That's All Right", at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee.
President Richard Nixon certifies the Twenty-sixth Amendment.
President Richard Nixon certifies the Twenty-sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, lowering the voting age from 21 years old to 18 years old.
Oliver North is sentenced for the Iran-Contra Affair.
Oliver North is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gerhard A. Gesell to a three-year suspended prison term, two years probation, $150,000 in fines and 1,200 hours community service for his involvement in the U.S. trafficking weapons to Iran between 1981 and 1986 by top government officials during the Reagan administration.
Amazon is founded.
Jeff Bezos founds Amazon in his Seattle, Washington, garage. The company was started as an online bookstore and later became one of the world's largest online retail companies.