So you want to have a drink but you aren't sure why? Here are some GREAT reasons to call your friends over and have a party.

July 4th


- Christian Feast Day
- Filipino-American Friendship Day (Philippines)
- Independence Day, celebrates the Declaration of Independence of the United States, from Great Britain in 1776. (United States, Puerto Rico, United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam)
- Liberation Day (Rwanda)

July 4th


- 2009 - The Statue of Liberty's crown reopens to the public after 8 years, due to security reasons following the World Trade Center attacks.
- 2006 - Space Shuttle program: STS-121 Mission – Space Shuttle Discovery launches at 18:37:55 UTC.
- 2006 - North Korea tests four short-range missiles, one medium-range missile, and a long-range Taepodong-2. The long-range Taepodong-2 reportedly fails in mid-air over the Sea of Japan.
- 2005 - The Deep Impact collider hits the comet Tempel 1.
- 2004 - The cornerstone of the Freedom Tower is laid on the site of the World Trade Center in New York City.
- 1997 - NASA's Pathfinder space probe lands on the surface of Mars.
- 1993 - Sumitomo Chemical's resin plant in Nihama explodes killing one worker and injuring three others.
- 1987 - In France, former Gestapo chief Klaus Barbie (aka the "Butcher of Lyon") is convicted of crimes against humanity and is sentenced to life imprisonment.
- 1982 - Iranian diplomats kidnapping (1982): four Iranian diplomats are kidnapped by Lebanese militia in Lebanon.
- 1976 - Israeli commandos raid Entebbe airport in Uganda, rescuing all but four of the passengers and crew of an Air France jetliner seized by Palestinian terrorists.
- 1969 - Two teens (one male, one female) are attacked at Blue Rock Springs in California. They are the second (known) victims of the Zodiac Killer. The male survives.
- 1969 - The Ohio Fireworks Derecho kills 18 Ohioans and destroys over 100 boats on Lake Erie.
- 1966 - President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Freedom of Information Act into United States law. The act goes into effect the next year.
- 1965 - Homophile activists picket at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, the first in a series of Annual Reminders of the second-class status of LGBT people in the United States.
- 1961 - Walt Disney is one of the two main speakers on the Independence Day in The Rebuild Hills at Skørping in Denmark.
- 1960 - Due to the post-Independence Day admission of Hawaii as the 50th U.S. state on August 21, 1959, the 50-star flag of the United States debuts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania almost ten and a half months later (see Flag Act).
- 1959 - With the admission of Alaska as the 49th U.S. state earlier in the year, the 49-star flag of the United States debuts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- 1950 - The first broadcast by Radio Free Europe.
- 1947 - The "Indian Independence Bill" is presented before British House of Commons, suggesting bifurcation of British India into two sovereign countries – India and Pakistan.
- 1946 - After 381 years of near-continuous colonial rule by various powers, the Philippines attains full independence from the United States.
- 1941 - Nazi Germans massacre Polish scientists and writers in the captured Ukrainian city of Lviv.
- 1939 - Lou Gehrig, recently diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, tells a crowd at Yankee Stadium that he considers himself "The luckiest man on the face of the earth" as he announces his retirement from major league baseball.
- 1934 - Leo Szilard patents the chain-reaction design for the atomic bomb.
- 1927 - First flight of the Lockheed Vega.
- 1918 - Ottoman sultan Mehmed VI ascends to the throne.
- 1918 - Bolsheviks kill Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and his family (Julian calendar date).
- 1913 - President Woodrow Wilson addresses American Civil War veterans at the Great Reunion of 1913.
- 1910 - African-American boxer Jack Johnson knocks out white boxer Jim Jeffries in a heavyweight boxing match sparking race riots across the United States.
- 1903 - Dorothy Levitt was reported as the first woman in the world to compete in a 'motor race'.
- 1894 - The short-lived Republic of Hawaii is proclaimed by Sanford B. Dole.
- 1892 - Western Samoa changes the International Date Line, so that year there were 367 days in this country, with two occurrences of Monday, July 4.
- 1887 - The founder of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, joins Sindh-Madrasa-tul-Islam, Karachi.
- 1886 - The people of France offer the Statue of Liberty to the people of the United States.
- 1886 - The first scheduled Canadian transcontinental train arrives in Port Moody, British Columbia.
- 1881 - In Alabama, the Tuskegee Institute opens.
- 1879 - Anglo-Zulu War: the Zululand capital of Ulundi is captured by British troops and burnt to the ground, thus, ending the war and forcing King Cetshwayo to flee.
- 1878 - Thoroughbred horses Ten Broeck and Mollie McCarty run a match race, immortalized in the song Molly and Tenbrooks.
- 1865 - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is published.
- 1863 - American Civil War: Siege of Vicksburg – Vicksburg, Mississippi surrenders to Ulysses S. Grant after 47 days of siege. 150 miles up the Mississippi River, a Confederate Army is repulsed at the Battle of Helena, Arkansas.
- 1862 - Lewis Carroll tells Alice Liddell a story that would grow into Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequels.
- 1855 - In Brooklyn, New York, the first edition of Walt Whitman's book of poems, titled Leaves of Grass, is published.
- 1845 - Near Concord, Massachusetts, Henry David Thoreau embarks on a two-year experiment in simple living at Walden Pond (see Walden).
- 1840 - The Cunard Line's 700 ton wooden paddle steamer RMS Britannia departs from Liverpool bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia on the first transatlantic crossing with a scheduled end.
- 1838 - The Iowa Territory is organized.
- 1837 - Grand Junction Railway, the world's first long-distance railway, opens between Birmingham and Liverpool.
- 1827 - Slavery is abolished in New York State.
- 1826 - Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States, dies the same day as John Adams, second president of the United States, on the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the United States Declaration of Independence.
- 1817 - At Rome, New York, United States, construction on the Erie Canal begins.
- 1810 - The French occupy Amsterdam.
- 1803 - The Louisiana Purchase is announced to the American people.
- 1802 - At West Point, New York the United States Military Academy opens.
- 1778 - American Revolutionary War: American forces under George Clark capture Kaskaskia during the Illinois campaign.
- 1776 - American Revolution: The United States Declaration of Independence is adopted by the Second Continental Congress.
- 1774 - Orangetown Resolutions adopted in the Province of New York, one of many protests against the British Parliament's Coercive Acts
- 1754 - French and Indian War: George Washington surrenders Fort Necessity to French Capt. Louis Coulon de Villiers.
- 1744 - The Treaty of Lancaster, in which the Iriquois ceded lands between the Allegheny Mountains and the Ohio River to the British colonies, is signed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
- 1636 - City of Providence, Rhode Island forms.
- 1634 - The city of Trois-Rivières is founded in New France (Quebec, Canada)
- 1610 - The Battle of Klushino between forces of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Russia during the Polish-Muscovite War.
- 1569 - The King of Poland and the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Sigismund II Augustus finally sign the document of union between Poland and Lithuania, creating new country known as Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
- 1534 - Christian III is elected King of Denmark and Norway in the town of Rye.
- 1456 - The Siege of Nándorfehérvár (Belgrade) begins. (Part of the Ottoman wars in Europe)
- 1359 - Francesco II Ordelaffi of Forlì surrenders to the Papal commander Gil de Albornoz.
- 1253 - Battle of West-Capelle: John I of Avesnes defeats Guy of Dampierre.
- 1187 - The Crusades: Battle of Hattin – Saladin defeats Guy of Lusignan, King of Jerusalem.
- 1120 - Jordan II of Capua is anointed as prince after his infant nephew's death.
- 1054 - A supernova is observed by the Chinese, the Arabs and possibly Amerindians near the star Tauri. For several months it remains bright enough to be seen during the day. Its remnants form the Crab Nebula.
- 993 - Saint Ulrich of Augsburg is canonized.
- 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples

July 4th


- 2008 - Princess Rayet Al Noor bint Hashim, daughter of Prince Hashim bin Al Hussein
- 1990 - David Kross, German actor
- 1990 - Backer Aloenouvo, Togolese soccer player
- 1986 - Takahisa Masuda, Japanese singer
- 1985 - Kane Tenace, Australian rules footballer
- 1984 - Gina Glocksen, American singer
- 1984 - Akanishi Jin, Japanese singer
- 1983 - Isabeli Fontana, Brazilian model
- 1983 - Ben Jorgensen, American musician
- 1983 - Andy Mrotek, American musician
- 1983 - Miguel Ángel Muñoz, Spanish actor and singer
- 1983 - Miguel Pinto, Chilean footballer
- 1983 - Mattia Serafini, Italian footballer
- 1982 - Hannah Harper, English porn star
- 1981 - Dédé, Angolan soccer player
- 1981 - Francisco Cruceta, Dominican baseball player
- 1980 - Max Elliott Slade, American film actor
- 1978 - Vicky Kaya, Greek model and actress
- 1978 - Stephen McNally, British singer and songwriter (BBMak)
- 1978 - Emile Mpenza, Belgian footballer
- 1978 - Becki Newton, American actress
- 1978 - Katia Zygouli, Greek model
- 1977 - Jonas Kjellgren, Swedish musician (Scar Symmetry)
- 1976 - Daijiro Kato, Japanese motorcycle racer (d. 2003)
- 1976 - Yevgeniya Medvedeva-Arbuzova, Russian cross-country skier
- 1975 - Tania Davis, Australian violist
- 1974 - La'Roi Glover, American football player
- 1974 - Adrian Griffin, American basketball player
- 1974 - Vince Spadea, American tennis player
- 1973 - Gackt, Japanese singer
- 1973 - Keiko Ihara, Japanese racing driver
- 1973 - Michael Johnson, English-born Jamaican footballer
- 1973 - Jan Magnussen, Danish racing driver
- 1973 - Tony Popovic, Australian soccer player
- 1973 - Elton Williams, Montserratian footballer
- 1972 - Nina Badri?, Croatian singer
- 1972 - Stephen Giles, Canadian canoer
- 1972 - William Goldsmith, American drummer (Sunny Day Real Estate, Foo Fighters)
- 1972 - Mike Knuble, Canadian hockey player
- 1972 - Oleg Prudius, Ukrainian professional wrestler
- 1971 - Andy Creeggan, Canadian musician
- 1971 - Brendan Donnelly, American baseball player
- 1971 - Koko, sign-language gorilla
- 1971 - Ned Zelic, Australian soccer player
- 1970 - Tony Vidmar, Australian former footballer
- 1970 - Christian Giesler, American bassist (Kreator)
- 1969 - Wilfred Mugeyi, Zimbabwean soccer player
- 1969 - Todd Marinovich, American football player
- 1968 - Jack Frost, American musician
- 1967 - Vinny Castilla, Mexican baseball player
- 1967 - Andy Walker (journalist), Canadian television personality
- 1967 - Rick Wilkins, American baseball player
- 1966 - Minas Hantzidis, Greek footballer
- 1966 - Lee Reherman, American actor
- 1965 - Horace Grant, American basketball player
- 1965 - Harvey Grant, American basketball player
- 1965 - Jo Whiley, English radio DJ
- 1964 - Cle Kooiman, American soccer player
- 1964 - Mark Slaughter, American singer
- 1964 - Mark Whiting, American filmmaker and actor
- 1963 - Henri Leconte, French former tennis player
- 1963 - Matt Malley, American musician
- 1963 - José Oquendo, Puerto Rican baseball player
- 1963 - William Ramallo, former Bolivian footballer
- 1962 - Neil Morrissey, English actor
- 1962 - Pam Shriver, American former tennis player
- 1961 - Richard Garriott, English video game designer
- 1960 - Sid Eudy, American professional wrestler
- 1960 - Barry Windham, American professional wrestler
- 1960 - Roland Ratzenberger, Austrian racing driver (d. 1994)
- 1959 - Victoria Abril, Spanish actress
- 1958 - Kirk Pengilly, Australian musician
- 1958 - Carl Valentine, English-born Canadian former footballer
- 1957 - Princess Chulabhorn of Thailand
- 1957 - Rein Lang, Estonian politician and diplomat
- 1956 - Mark Belling, American radio talkshow host
- 1955 - John Waite, English singer
- 1954 - Jim Beattie, American baseball player
- 1954 - Morganna Roberts, American entertainer
- 1952 - Álvaro Uribe, President of Colombia
- 1951 - Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, American politician
- 1950 - Philip Craven, British International Paralympic Committee president
- 1950 - David Jensen, Canadian-born British radio DJ
- 1948 - Ed Armbrister, baseball player
- 1948 - René Arnoux, French race car driver
- 1948 - Tommy Körberg, Swedish singer and actor
- 1948 - Jeremy Spencer, English musician
- 1948 - Phil Wheatley, Director-General of the National Offender Management Service
- 1946 - Tish Howard, American model
- 1946 - Ron Kovic, American peace activist
- 1946 - Michael Milken, American financier
- 1946 - Ed O'Ross, American actor
- 1945 - Bruce French, American actor
- 1944 - Ray Meagher, Australian actor
- 1944 - Joe Berardo, Portuguese millionaire
- 1943 - Konrad "Conny" Bauer, German musician
- 1943 - Geraldo Rivera, American reporter
- 1943 - Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson, American musician (d. 1970)
- 1943 - Emerson Boozer, American football player
- 1943 - Milan Má?ala, Czech football coach
- 1942 - Hal Lanier, American baseball player
- 1942 - Floyd Little, American football player
- 1942 - Stefan Meller, Polish foreign minister (d. 2008)
- 1941 - Brian Willson, American peace activist
- 1941 - Sam Farr, American politician
- 1940 - Karolyn Grimes, American actress
- 1938 - Bill Withers, American singer and songwriter
- 1938 - Sergio Oliva, Cuban born American bodybuilder
- 1937 - Sonja Haraldsen, Queen of Norway (spouse of King Harald V of Norway)
- 1937 - Thomas Nagel, American philosopher
- 1936 - Zdzis?awa Donat, Polish coloratura soprano
- 1935 - Paul Scoon, Governor General of Grenada
- 1934 - Colin Welland, English actor
- 1932 - Aurèle Vandendriessche, Belgian athlete
- 1931 - Stephen Boyd, Northern Irish actor (d. 1977)
- 1931 - Sébastien Japrisot, French author, film director and screenwriter (d. 2003)
- 1930 - Frunzik Mkrtchyan, Armenian actor (d. 1993)
- 1930 - George Steinbrenner, American businessman (d. 2010)
- 1930 - Yuri Tyukalov, Soviet Olympic rower
- 1929 - Al Davis, American businessman
- 1929 - Chuck Tanner, American baseball player
- 1929 - Bill Tuttle, American baseball player (d. 1998)
- 1928 - Giampiero Boniperti, Italian footballer
- 1927 - Gina Lollobrigida, Italian actress
- 1927 - Neil Simon, American playwright
- 1926 - Alfredo Di Stéfano, Argentine-Spanish footballer
- 1924 - Eva Marie Saint, American actress
- 1923 - Rudolf Friedrich, Swiss Federal Councilor
- 1921 - Gerard Debreu, French economist, Nobel laureate (d. 2004)
- 1921 - Tibor Varga, Hungarian violinist (d. 2003)
- 1920 - Norm Drucker, American basketball referee
- 1920 - Leona Helmsley, American hotel operator and real estate investor (d. 2007)
- 1918 - Ann Landers, American advice columnist (d. 2002)
- 1918 - Abigail Van Buren, American advice columnist
- 1918 - King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV of Tonga (d. 2006)
- 1918 - Johnnie Parsons, American race car driver (d. 1984)
- 1917 - Manolete, Spanish bullfighter (d. 1947)
- 1916 - Iva Toguri D'Aquino, American World War II figure (d. 2006)
- 1912 - Viviane Romance, French actress (d. 1991)
- 1911 - Mitch Miller, American entertainer (d. 2010)
- 1910 - Gloria Stuart, American actress (d. 2010)
- 1907 - Gordon Griffith, American director (d. 1958)
- 1907 - Howard Taubman, American music and theater critic (d. 1996)
- 1905 - Irving Johnson, American adventurer (d. 1991)
- 1904 - Angela Baddeley, English actress (d. 1976)
- 1903 - Flor Peeters, Belgian composer, organist and teacher (d. 1986)
- 1902 - Meyer Lansky, Russian-born American gangster (d. 1983)
- 1902 - George Murphy, American entertainer (d. 1992)
- 1898 - Dr. Pilar Barbosa, Puerto Rican historian (d. 1997)
- 1898 - Gertrude Lawrence, English-born actress (d. 1952)
- 1896 - Mao Dun, Chinese writer (d. 1981)
- 1895 - Irving Caesar, American lyricist and composer (d. 1996)
- 1883 - Rube Goldberg, American cartoonist (d. 1970)
- 1882 - Louis B. Mayer, American film producer (d. 1957)
- 1881 - Ulysses S. Grant III, American soldier (d. 1968)
- 1872 - Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States (d. 1933)
- 1868 - Henrietta Swan Leavitt, American astronomer (d. 1921)
- 1867 - Stephen Mather, American entrepreneur and conservationist (d. 1930)
- 1854 - Victor Babe?, Romanian bacteriologist (d. 1926)
- 1854 - Bill Tilghman, American gunslinger and peace officer (d. 1924)
- 1847 - James Anthony Bailey, American circus impresario (d. 1906)
- 1845 - Thomas Barnardo, Irish humanitarian (d. 1905)
- 1826 - Stephen Foster, American songwriter (d. 1864)
- 1816 - Hiram Walker, American grocer and distiller (d. 1899)
- 1807 - Giuseppe Garibaldi, Italian military and political figure (d. 1882)
- 1804 - Nathaniel Hawthorne, American writer (d. 1864)
- 1799 - King Oscar I of Sweden, French general (d. 1859)
- 1790 - George Everest, Welsh surveyor (d. 1866)
- 1719 - Michel-Jean Sedaine, French dramatist (d. 1797)
- 1715 - Christian Fürchtegott Gellert, German poet (d. 1769)
- 1694 - Louis-Claude Daquin, French composer (d. 1772)
- 1546 - Murat III, Ottoman Sultan (d. 1595)
- 1330 - Ashikaga Yoshiakira, Japanese shogun (d. 1367)
- 68 - Salonina Matidia, niece of Emperor Trajan (d. 119)