July 22: Holidays, Historical Events, Famous Birthdays & Zodiac Sign
On July 22, 1933, Wiley Post landed in New York after flying solo around the entire planet in just over a week — one of many extraordinary firsts tied to this date.
About July 22
July 22 is a day of bold crossings. In 1793, Alexander Mackenzie reached the Pacific, becoming the first known person to traverse North America coast to coast. Exactly 140 years later, Wiley Post touched down at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, completing the first solo circumnavigation of the globe by air in seven days, 18 hours, and 49 minutes. And in 2019, India launched Chandrayaan-2, its ambitious second lunar mission carrying an orbiter, the Vikram lander, and the Pragyan rover toward the Moon.
It is also a day of artistic creation. Katharine Lee Bates was so moved by the view atop Pikes Peak in 1893 that she penned the words to "America the Beautiful." Five years earlier, in 1894, France hosted what is considered the first organized automobile race, running from Paris to Rouen. And on this date in 1587, a second group of English settlers arrived at Roanoke Island, attempting to revive a colony that would vanish into legend.
Sarawak, Malaysia, marks Independence Day on July 22, commemorating its 1963 achievement of self-governance. Meanwhile, those born under Cancer — nurturing, intuitive, and tenacious — share the sign with some remarkably creative souls, from painters to rock stars.
Holidays & Observances on July 22
- Sarawak Independence Day (Sarawak, Malaysia)
Fun & National Days on July 22
- Hammock Day — Swing into summer's ultimate lazy afternoon by finding two sturdy trees and swaying the stress away.
- Lion's Share Day — Channel your inner apex predator and claim the biggest portion of something delicious — guilt-free.
- National BLT Sandwich Day — Toast some bread, stack crisp bacon, fresh lettuce, and ripe tomatoes for the quintessential summer bite.
- National Mango Day — Slice into the king of fruits and enjoy its tropical sweetness in salsa, smoothies, or straight off the pit.
- National Penuche Fudge Day — Indulge in this brown sugar fudge, a creamy, caramel-flavored treat with deep New England roots.
- National Ratcatcher's Day — Tip your hat to the unsung pest-control heroes who keep cities livable, Pied Piper notwithstanding.
- Pi Approximation Day — Celebrate 22/7 — the classic fractional approximation of pi — with a well-earned slice of pie.
- Spoonerism Day — Swap your word sounds around and tease your pals with verbal blunders worthy of Reverend William Archibald Spooner.
- Summer Leisure Day — Ditch the to-do list entirely and dedicate the afternoon to doing absolutely nothing productive outdoors.
On This Day in History
- 1099 — Godfrey of Bouillon was chosen as the first Defender of the Holy Sepulchre, establishing leadership over the newly formed Kingdom of Jerusalem.
- 1298 — Edward I of England and his longbowmen shattered William Wallace's Scottish schiltrons at the Battle of Falkirk during the Wars of Scottish Independence.
- 1456 — Hungarian regent John Hunyadi defeated Mehmet II's Ottoman forces at the Siege of Belgrade, halting their European advance.
- 1587 — A second group of English settlers arrived at Roanoke Island to re-establish the abandoned colony that would become the legendary "Lost Colony."
- 1793 — Alexander Mackenzie reached the Pacific Ocean, becoming the first recorded person to complete a transcontinental crossing of North America.
- 1833 — The Slavery Abolition Act passed the British House of Commons, setting in motion the gradual end of slavery across most of the British Empire.
- 1893 — Katharine Lee Bates wrote "America the Beautiful" after being inspired by the panoramic view from the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado.
- 1894 — The world's first organized motor race ran from Paris to Rouen, with Albert Lemaître taking the official victory in his Peugeot.
- 1933 — Wiley Post returned to New York's Floyd Bennett Field, completing the first solo flight around the world in seven days, 18 hours, and 49 minutes.
- 1946 — The Zionist underground organization Irgun bombed Jerusalem's King David Hotel, killing 91 people at the headquarters of Mandatory Palestine's administration.
- 1951 — Soviet space dogs Dezik and Tsygan completed a suborbital flight, becoming the first canines to travel to space and return safely.
- 2019 — India's space agency launched Chandrayaan-2, its second lunar exploration mission, carrying an orbiter, lander, and rover aboard a GSLV Mark III rocket.
Famous Birthdays on July 22
- 1882 — Edward Hopper, American painter and etcher whose hauntingly still urban scenes defined a distinct visual language of modern solitude.
- 1888 — Selman Waksman, Ukrainian-American biochemist who discovered streptomycin, earning a Nobel Prize for breakthroughs in antibiotics.
- 1890 — Rose Kennedy, American philanthropist and matriarch of the Kennedy political dynasty, who lived to be 104 years old.
- 1898 — Alexander Calder, American sculptor who revolutionized modern art by inventing the mobile and popularizing kinetic sculpture.
- 1923 — Bob Dole, American soldier, senator, and presidential candidate known for his sharp wit and decades of public service.
- 1940 — Alex Trebek, Canadian-American television host who became a household name over 36 seasons helming the game show Jeopardy!
- 1941 — George Clinton, American singer, songwriter, and producer who pioneered funk music as the visionary leader of Parliament-Funkadelic.
- 1946 — Danny Glover, American actor, director, and producer celebrated for the Lethal Weapon series and decades of political activism.
- 1955 — Willem Dafoe, American actor renowned for intense, shape-shifting performances across independent and blockbuster films.
- 1992 — Selena Gomez, American singer and actress who rose from Disney stardom to become a global pop music and television powerhouse.