JUNE 25 | Birthdays and Events
Famous Birthdays
People born on June 25
Nettie Stevens
Died: May 4, 1912
Geneticist who discovered the X and Y chromosomes.
Rose O'Neill
Died: April 6, 1944
The first published female cartoonist in the U.S. who rose to fame rose for creating the popular comic strip characters, Kewpies.
Eric Carle
Died: May 23, 2021
Children's author and illustrator. He wrote The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Grouchy Ladybug, and The Mixed-Up Chameleon.
Larry Kramer
Died: May 27, 2020
Author, playwright, and activist who co-founded the Gay Men's Health Crisis organization.
Carly Simon
Singer, songwriter, musician, and author who rose to fame with his 1970s hit single That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be and You're So Vain.
Jimmie Walker
Good Times actor who played JJ Evans who is known for his catch phrase "Dynomite!"
Anthony Bourdain
Died: June 8, 2018
Author and chef who traveled the world exploring cultures and food.
Historical Events on June 25
Events that occurred on June 25 throughout history
Governor John Winthrop introduced the first fork to Colonial America.
Governor Winthrop introduces the fork to American dining. However, Puritan colonists rejected the two-pronged utensil because they felt it was associated with Satan's pitchfork.
Virginia becomes the tenth state to ratify the Constitution.
Virginia becomes the tenth state to join the Union. The state was the largest of the 13 colonies and creating a federal government was pivotable to move forward with creating the Bill of Rights.
Lucien Smith patents the first barbed wire.
Lucien Smith patents the first barbed wire.
President Andrew Johnson signs a law establishing an 8-hour workday.
President Andrew Johnson signs a law establishing an 8-hour workday for government workers. President Johnson initially vetoed the law, but Congress overrode the veto, causing the President to sign.
Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and 7th Cavalry Regiment are wiped out by the Sioux.
Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and 7th Cavalry Regiment are wiped out by the 5,000 Sioux (Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho, led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse). The battle became known as "Custer's last Stand".
Congress passes the Mann Act.
The U.S. Congress passes the Mann Act, which criminalizes the transportation of women or girls across state lines or international borders for prostitution, debauchery, or "any other immoral purpose".
American Civil War veterans begin arriving at the Great Reunion of 1913.
American Civil War veterans begin arriving at the Great Reunion of 1913, for the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Nearly 53,407 veterans from 46 of the then-48 states gathered to celebrate reconciliation after the Civil War..
President Herbert Hoover signed a proclamation declaring the Colorado River Compact effective.
President Herbert Hoover signed a proclamation declaring the Colorado River Compact effective. The legislation authorized construction of the Boulder Dam (Hoover Dam).
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the National Firearms Act into law.
President Roosevelt signs the National Firearms Act into law. The Act was originally created to require gun owners to register firearms to determine the excise tax. It also was an indirect step to expand the federal government's reach into criminal justice to crack down on rampant bootlegging, kidnappings, and gang violence.
Congress passes the Displaced Persons Act as a result of WWII.
President Harry S. Truman signs the Displaced Persons Act, allowing World War II refugees to immigrate to the United States above quota restrictions. Immigrants had to secure employment that wouldn't displace an American worker, have suitable housing, and provide a resident sponsor before arrival.
The rainbow flag representing gay pride is flown for the first time.
The rainbow flag representing gay pride is flown for the first time during the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade.