Today in News History

On July 4, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1774, Orangetown Resolutions are adopted in the Province of New York, one of many protests against the British Parliament's Coercive Acts. In 1831, James Monroe, American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 5th President of the United States (born 1758) passed away. In 1892, Western Samoa changes the International Date Line, causing Monday (July 4) to occur twice, resulting in a leap year with 367 days. In 1905, Lionel Trilling, American critic, essayist, short story writer, and educator (died 1975) was born. In 1910, Robert K. Merton, American sociologist and scholar (died 2003) was born. In 1954, Food rationing in Great Britain ends, with the lifting of restrictions on sale and purchase of meat, 14 years after it began early in World War II, and nearly a decade after the war's end. In 1955, Kevin Nichols, Australian cyclist was born. In 1956, Robert Sinclair MacKay, British academic and educator was born. In 1982, Michael "The Situation" Sorrentino, American model, author and television personality was born. In 2010, Robert Neil Butler, American physician and author (born 1927) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.