Admiral David Farragut who is recognized for the popular paraphrase “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” was born on July 5, 1801 in Campbell’s Station now “Farragut” Tennessee.

According to accounts Farragut said:
“Damn the torpedoes….Four bells, Captain Drayton, go ahead. Jouett, full speed.”
during the Battle of Mobile Bay

Photo: Admiral David Farragut – Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

On today’s date July 5, 1865, the United States Secret Service was established.

Originally developed as a division of the Department of Treasury to combat counterfeiting, it wasn’t until 1902, after the assassination of McKinley in 1901, when the agency officially began full-time protection service of U.S. Presidents.

Image: Franklin D. Roosevelt during his 1940 campaign with U.S. Secret Service agents standing on the vehicle’s running boards.
By FDR Library via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On July 5, 1915, the Liberty Bell departed Philadelphia to travel thousands of miles west (by train) to be placed on exhibit at The Panama–Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco.
After it’s return to Philadelphia it would never again leave the City of Brotherly Love.

Image: The Liberty Bell on display in the “Pennsylvania State Building” at the Panama-Pacific international exposition in San Francisco in 1915 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On July 5, 1975, Arthur Ashe defeated Jimmy Connors in the first all-American final at Wimbledon since 1947.

Image of a postage stamp featuring Arthur Ashe via Shutterstock

Born on July 5, 1951, Goose Gossage made a remarkable entrance into Major League Baseball with an impressive fastball and a dynamic presence. Throughout his 22-season career and 1,002 games, he transformed the role of a closer—achieving 310 saves, winning a World Series championship, and securing a place in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Few pitchers displayed as much determination, and even fewer could rival his confidence.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

A photo taken in 1982 of a commemorative ceremony held at the original Task Force Smith Memorial which honors the soldiers who fell during the Battle of Osan in South Korea on July 5, 1950.

via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On July 5, 1954, Elvis Presley recorded his version of “That’s All Right.”

Image of Elvis from 1954 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On July 5, 1971, President Nixon signed into law the 26th Amendment—answering the voices of youth who demanded: ‘Old enough to fight, old enough to vote.’ The voting age was lowered to 18, reshaping American democracy in the shadow of the Vietnam War.

Image of Youth voter registration class, Seattle, Washington, 1971 about a week after the 26th Amendment was certified. From Seattle Municipal Archives via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

On July 5, 1921, Reese Hutchison, former Chief Engineer to Thomas Edison, demonstrated a new noiseless and smokeless gun that could fire a projectile at a speed of nearly 18,000 miles per hour.

Where was the demonstration held? Somewhere outdoors?
It was conducted on the 51st floor of the Woolworth building in Manhattan.

Image of Reese via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

The “Father of Connecticut” and founder of the Colony, Thomas Hooker, was born on July 5, 1586 in Leicestershire, England.

Image: Hooker and friends reaching the Connecticut in 1636 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

“Politeness and civility are the best capital ever invested in business.”

– P.T. Barnum from his book, “The Art of Money-Getting” which was published in 1880.

P.T. Barnum was born on July 5, 1810 in Bethel, Connecticut.

Image: P.T. Barnum and General Tom Thumb c. 1850 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

July 5, 1814 – At the Battle of Chippewa, Canada, British Gen. Riall believes he is opposed by untrained militia. Seeing how the US troops under Winfield Scott and Jacob Brown steadily maneuver and advance under fire Riall exclaims “Those are Regulars, by God!” Later that day, those Regulars defeat the British.

Image from USACMH via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US

Born July 5, 1904 Milburn Stone won an appointment to the US Naval Academy, but declined it to pursue an acting career. He appeared in over 150 films, but is best remembered as Doc Adams of Dodge City on the TV series Gunsmoke. He’s shown here in character with Amanda Blake as saloon owner Miss Kitty.


Image by CBS Television via Wikimedia Commons, no known copyright, public domain in the US.

Happy Birthday Huey Lewis!
Born on July 5, 1950 in New York City

Sports, which was
released in 1983 by Huey Lewis and the News, had four songs that reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Image from Carl Lender, CC BY SA 3.0 Unported via Wikimedia Commons

“Babe Ruth knocked out”

A photo of Babe Ruth on the ground after ramming into a concrete wall while attempting to catch a pop-up foul ball on July 5, 1924 in Washington, D.C.

Image via Library of Congress, no known restrictions