On This Day

July 1839 in History

Events in History

  • Jul 1 Abdul-Medjid succeeds Mahmud II as Sultan of Turkey
  • Jul 2 Slaves aboard a Spanish schooner La Amistad revolt to secure their freedom while being transported from one Cuban port to another
  • Jul 3 1st state normal school in US opens, Lexington, Massachusetts, with 3 students
  • Jul 27 Chartist riots break out in Birmingham, England

Birthdays in History


Person of interestJohn D. Rockefeller

Jul 8 John D. Rockefeller, American industrialist and founder of Standard Oil, born in Richford, New York (d. 1937)

Oil Industrialist John D. Rockefeller
Oil Industrialist
John D. Rockefeller
  • Jul 10 Adolphus Busch, German-born American brewer (Anheuser-Busch), born in Mainz, Hesse, Germany (d. 1913)
  • Jul 16 Philippus Jacobus Hoedemaker, Dutch theologist, born in Utrecht, Netherlands (d. 1910)
  • Jul 17 Ephraim Shay, American inventor of Shay type of geared steam locomotive, born in Huron, Ohio (d. 1916)
  • Jul 25 Francis Garnier, French explorer, born in Saint-Étienne, France (d. 1873)

Weddings in History


LoveWedding of Interest

Jul 25 British PM William Gladstone (29) weds Catherine Glynne (27) in England

British Prime Minister William Gladstone
British Prime Minister
William Gladstone

Deaths in History

  • Jul 1 Mahmud II, Sultan of Turkey (1808-39), dies at 53
  • Jul 15 Winthrop Mackworth Praed, English politician and poet, dies at 36
  • Jul 29 Gaspard de Prony, French mathematician (b. 1755)