On This Day in History: July 25

The Battle of Ourique takes place on July 25, 1939, 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

The Nicaean Empire, one of the Byzantine successor states, recovers Constantinople as Michael VIII enters the city in triumph ending the Latin Empire on July 25, 1261. The Fourth Crusade sack of Constantinople and other actions cemented the schism between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches and delivered a fatal blow to the already declining Byzantine Empire. leaving an enduring legacy of chaos and division.

The Mongols under Ghazan Khan capture the Syrian Citadel of Aleppo during the Summer of 1299,, marking Mongol expansion into the region. Ghazan's conquest did not result in a permanent Mongol control of the region, and they withdrew the majority of their forces from Syria, to their bases in the north in February 1300.

King James VI of Scotland is crowned as King James I of England, on July 25, 1603, at Westminster Abbey, following the death of Queen Elizabeth I on March 24, 1603. The event is known as the "Union of the Crowns". While James reigned over both, Scotland and England retained their own separate parliaments, laws, and churches.

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

French Aviator Louis Blériot, makes the first successful flight across the English Channel in a heavier-than-air airplane on July 25, 1909.

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.  Expand +

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.

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. 

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 

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. Expand +

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