Almanac
By The Associated Press
Today’s Highlight in History:
On July 1, 1867, Canada became a self-governing dominion of Great Britain as the British North America Act took effect. Called Dominion Day until 1982, the national holiday is now known as Canada Day.
Also on this date:
In 1863, the pivotal, three-day Civil War Battle of Gettysburg, resulting in a Union victory, began in Pennsylvania.
In 1903, the first Tour de France began. (It ended on July 19; the winner was Maurice Garin.)
In 1944, delegates from 44 countries began meeting at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, where they agreed to establish the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
In 1963, the U.S. Post Office inaugurated its five-digit ZIP codes.
In 1973, the Drug Enforcement Administration was established.
In 1984, the first movie rated PG-13 (“Red Dawn,” starring Patrick Swayze) debuted.
In 1991, President George H.W. Bush nominated federal appeals court judge Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court, beginning an ultimately successful confirmation process marked by allegations of sexual harassment.
In 1997, Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule after 156 years as a British colony.
In 2004, actor Marlon Brando died in Los Angeles at age 80.
In 2015, after more than a half-century of hostility, the United States and Cuba declared they would reopen embassies in each other’s capitals, marking a historic full restoration of diplomatic relations between the Cold War foes.
In 2018, LeBron James announced that he would be signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving Cleveland for the second time in his career.
In 2019, 15-year-old Coco Gauff, the youngest player to qualify at Wimbledon in the professional era, defeated 39-year-old Venus Williams in the first roun
Today’s Birthdays: Former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos is 96. Actor Polly Holliday is 88. Racing Hall of Famer Richard Petty is 88. Former White House chief of staff and former New Hampshire governor John H. Sununu is 86. Writer-director-comedian Larry David is 78. Rock musician Roy Bittan (Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band) is 76. Actor Wendy Schaal is 71. Actor-model Jerry Hall is 69. Former baseball player Jose Canseco is 61. Race car driver Sam Hornish Jr. is 46. Former NHL center Joe Thornton is 46. Singer Michelle Branch is 42. Actor Vanessa Lee Chester is 41. Retired figure skater Johnny Weir is 41. Actor-singer Ashley Tisdale is 40. Actor Lindsay Lohan (LOH’-uhn) is 39. Former professional soccer player Alex Morgan is 36. Actor Margot Robbie is 35. Singer-rapper Saweetie is 32. U.S. Olympic swimming gold medalist Ryan Murphy is 30.