- 1883 Matthew Webb, English Channel swimmer, drowns above Niagara Falls
- 1966 Tony Lema, US golfer, dies at 32
- 1986 Laurie Nash, Australian cricketer (two Tests for Australia 1932-36), dies at 76
- 1991 Freddie Brown, cricketer (English Test captain 1950-51), dies
- 1994 Wangila Napunyi, welterweight boxer (Olympic gold 1988), dies at 26
- 1996 Jock Wallace, Scottish football player and manager, dies at 60
- 1997 Brian Glover, British actor and wrestler (Alien 3, Kes), dies of a brain tumour at 63
- 1997 Frank Parker, American tennis player (4-time Grand Slam singles winner), dies at 81
- 2010 Alex Higgins, Northern Irish snooker player (b. 1949)
- 2018 Tony Cloninger, American MLB pitcher and coach (2 Grand Slams in one game), dies at 77
July in History
First Lady Pours Scorn Upon a King
American independence from Britain was declared and on this day a future US President's wife expressed her joy.
July 21, 1776
Spoonerism – Or Just A Lack Of Pies?
A Spoonerism is a phrase that comes out all wrong, and the man responsible for them, William Spooner, was born on this day. Did he just get bad Press?
July 22, 1844
Light and Air For All – With No Charge!
One of Britain's most hated taxes, which had been in force for more than 250 years, was finally abolished on this day.
July 24, 1851
Oh! Calcutta! - The Bare Facts
Born when free love and anything goes were the mantra of youth, the show "Oh! Calcutta!" opened in London on this day. Police considered a prosecution for obscenity.
July 26, 1970