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Old clock in sand with the words: It Happend in July

View Historical Events by Day: What Happened on July 25 in History?

Explore the historical events that shaped our world on July 25th. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.

1139 CE, July 25

The Battle of Ourique takes place, where the forces of Portuguese count Afonso Henriques (of the House of Burgundy) defeat those led by the Almoravid governor of Córdoba, Muhammad Az-Zubayr Ibn Umar, identified as "King Ismar" in Christian chronicles. More

1898 CE, July 25

During the Spanish-American War, the U.S. invaded Puerto Rico, which was then a Spanish colony. In 1917, Puerto Rico became an unincorporated Territory of the U.S. and Puerto Ricans became American citizens. Partial self-government was granted in 1947 allowing citizens to elect their own governor. In 1951, Puerto Ricans wrote their own constitution and elected a non-voting commissioner to represent them in Washington. More

1921 CE, July 25

The Insulin hormone is successfully isolated by Canadian doctor Frederick Banting and his assistant Charles Best, a Biochemist. The scientific work continued and two additional contributors entered the scene; Dr James R. Mcleod and James Bertram Collip, also a biochemist. The four participants had a difficult relationship. In 1923, Banting and Macleod were jointly awarded the 1923 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine "for the discovery of insulin". By 1923 Insulin was in full production available to patients. More

1943 CE, July 25

Mussolini is deposed. The Fascist Grand Council ousted Mussolini from office and placed him under arrest two weeks after the Allied attack on Sicily. King Victor Emmanuel of Italy then ordered Marshal Pietro Badoglio to form a new government.

1952 CE, July 25

Puerto Rico officially becomes a U.S. Commonwealth, a significant transition following its status as a U.S. territory. This change allowed Puerto Rico to establish its own constitution and elect its own governor, legislature, and judiciary. government, while still remaining under the ultimate authority of the U.S. federal government, particularly in areas like foreign policy and defense. Luis Muñoz Marín, was Puerto Rico's first elected governor. 

1956 CE, July 25

The Italian ocean liner, SS Andrea Doria and the Swedish liner MS Stockholm collide in the middle of a foggy night off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Both ships were traveling at high speeds despite the poor visibility. The Andrea Doria listed heavily after the collision, eventually capsizing and sinking the following day. Forty six passengers and crew members aboard the Andrea Doria and 5 crew members on the Stockholm died as a result of the collision and 1660 people were rescued. More 

1978 CE, July 25

The first successful birth of a child conceived through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) takes place. Louise Brown was born in Oldham, northwest England. Her birth marked a significant milestone in reproductive medicine, offering hope to couples struggling with infertility. The procedure was developed by Patrick Steptoe, Robert Edwards, and Jean Purdy.

2000 CE, July 25

Air France Flight 4590, a Concorde passenger jet on an international charter flight from Paris to New York, crashes shortly after takeoff,. All 109 people on board and four on the ground were killed. It was the only fatal Concorde accident during its 27-year operational history. More