Fun July 4th Facts

Today is American Independence Day:  The day, the United States became a free and sovereign nation.  It is a day of BBQ, beach, beer and celebration of patriotism.  There are also some very interesting, and not quite holiday related tidbits of information we wanted to share about this most festive of days.

July 4th Fun Facts

• Nathaniel Hawthorne – Author of ‘The Scarlet Letter’ was born in Salem, Massachusetts on July 4, 1804
• President Calvin Coolidge – Our 30th US President was born in Plymouth Notch, Vermont on July 4, 1872
• American Soldier and Grandson of President Ulysses S. Grant, Ulysses S. Grant III is born July 4, 1881
• World War II propagandist Tokyo Rose was born July 4, 1916
• Playwright Neil Simon is celebrating his 90th birthday today – Born in the Bronx, NY on July 4, 1927
• Iconic sports franchise owners Al Davis (Oakland Raiders) and George Steinbrenner (NY Yankees) both born on July 4
• Also born on July 4th:  Musician Bill Withers (1938), Basketball start Hal Lanier (1942), Ron Kovic, theme of ‘Born on the 4th of July (1946), tennis star Pam Shriver (1962) and columnist Ann Landers (1918)
• On July 4th, 1826, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died
• Only July 4th, 1831, President James Monroe (5th US President), just 5 years after Adams and Jefferson, died
• On July 4th, 1934, Marie Curie, Nobel Prize winning Physicist/Chemist died of radiation poisoning
• Barry White left us on July 4, 2003
• The first edition of Walt Whitman ‘Leaves of Grass’ is published
• On July 4, 1976, The Clash played their first live gig
• Edward Rutledge was the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence at aged 26 and Benjamin Franklin was the oldest at 70
• In 1938, the Fourth of July was declared a paid US holiday
• On July 4, 1862, Lewis Carroll told Alice Liddell a story that would grow into Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
• George Everest, whom the worlds highest mountain is named was born on July 4, 1790
• On July 4, 1983, NY Yankees pitcher Dave Righetti threw a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox and the Yankees won 4-0
• Only two men, John Hancock and Charles Thompson actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776
• July 4, 1986 – The Second Farm Aid is held in Manor, Texas
• July 4, 1999 – Victoria Adams and David Beckham wed
• Born on July 4, 1952, John Waite known for his #1 hit ‘Missing You’