Today is July 28, and this one’s a whirlwind: wars ignite, dictators fall, and peaceful marches make history. From the outbreak of World War I to silent protests, devastating earthquakes to DNA legends — this day carries weight, wonder, and wake-up calls.
Let’s rewind the clock and see what makes July 28 unforgettable.
📸 1851 – First Photo of a Solar Eclipse
We begin in the sky.
On July 28, 1851, the first-ever photograph of a total solar eclipse was taken using the daguerreotype method. It wasn’t just a pretty picture — it was a scientific milestone.
For the first time, we had visual proof of a celestial event. From darkened skies to silver plates, the universe had been captured.
Have you ever seen a solar eclipse in person? Total awe, right?
🧤 1858 – Fingerprints for Identification
Seven years later, in India, Sir William James Herschel did something revolutionary: He used a person’s fingerprint to confirm their identity.
It started as a curiosity… and became a cornerstone of modern law enforcement. One print. One person. No two alike.
It’s wild to think your hands hold your lifelong signature.
💣 1914 – World War I Begins
On this day in 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. What began as a local dispute turned into a global war — with alliances, empires, and millions of lives pulled in.
By the time it ended, more than 70 million soldiers had served… and over 16 million people were dead.
It started with one shot — and shook the entire planet.
✊🏿 1917 – The Silent Parade in New York
Not all protests raise their voices.
On July 28, 1917, 10,000 African Americans marched silently down Fifth Avenue in New York City. They were protesting racial violence, lynching, and injustice.
No chants. No signs. Just silence — and strength. It was one of the first major civil rights demonstrations in U.S. history.
Would you have joined that line? Quiet can be louder than a roar.
🏅 1928 – Amsterdam Hosts the Olympics
In 1928, Amsterdam welcomed the 9th Olympic Games — and several firsts:
The debut of the Olympic flame
The first time women competed in track and field
Progress carried on a torch — and the world watched it burn bright.
🕯️ 1942 – Minsk Ghetto Massacre
In Belarus, on this same date during World War II, tragedy struck. 10,000 Jews from the Minsk Ghetto were murdered by Nazi forces.
It’s one of countless horrors from the Holocaust. One of too many names. Too many numbers. But today — we remember them.
🛑 1943 – Mussolini Resigns
Back in Europe, things were shifting.
On July 28, 1943, Benito Mussolini, Italy’s fascist leader, resigned from power under internal pressure and military failure.
One man’s fall marked the beginning of the Axis unraveling. Even dictators don’t stand forever.
🌐 1945 – U.S. Ratifies UN Charter
With WWII still winding down, the U.S. Senate voted 89 to 2 in favor of joining the newly created United Nations.
The world had been torn apart — and now, it needed something to hold it together.
🏤 1959 – UK Introduces Postal Codes
On this day in 1959, postal codes were introduced in the UK.
A simple combo of letters and numbers that revolutionized sorting, delivery, and — eventually — online shopping.
Still use yours daily? Thank this quiet innovation.
🌕 1964 – Ranger 7 Heads to the Moon
NASA’s Ranger 7 launched in 1964 — and sent back over 4,000 images of the lunar surface.
It was the first successful American moon mission. No humans. Just cameras — paving the way for boots to follow.
🌍 1976 – Tangshan Earthquake in China
At 3:42 AM, a devastating earthquake hit Tangshan, China.
Estimated magnitude: 8.2 Estimated deaths: nearly 500,000
It was the deadliest earthquake of the 20th century. A city crushed. A nation in mourning.
🇵🇪 1990 – Fujimori Becomes President
In 1990, Alberto Fujimori was sworn in as President of Peru.
His time in power brought economic reforms — but also authoritarian tactics and major corruption scandals.
Some legacies build… others crack beneath them.
🕊️ 2005 – IRA Ends Armed Campaign
And finally, in 2005, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) formally announced an end to its armed struggle.
Instead of bullets, it would now pursue change through democratic means. A step toward peace in Northern Ireland — after decades of conflict.
🎂 Famous Birthdays on July 28
- 1929 – Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis – Iconic First Lady of the United States and global cultural figure
- 1954 – Hugo Chávez – Socialist President of Venezuela and controversial world voice
- 1971 – Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi – Former leader of The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, killed in 2019
- 1974 – Alexis Tsipras – Greek Prime Minister during the eurozone financial crisis
⚰️ Notable Deaths on July 28
- 1930 – Allvar Gullstrand – Swedish ophthalmologist, Nobel Prize in 1911
- 1968 – Otto Hahn – German chemist, discovered nuclear fission, Nobel laureate
- 1999 – Trygve Haavelmo – Norwegian economist, Nobel Prize winner in 1989
- 2002 – Archer J.P. Martin – English chemist, Nobel Prize in 1952
- 2004 – Francis Crick – Co-discoverer of DNA’s structure, Nobel Prize in 1962
And that’s July 28 — a day when silence made noise, dictators stepped down, and the earth itself trembled. From the moon’s shadow to war’s outbreak… from Olympic flames to peaceful protests — history showed us its light and its darkness. Which moment hit you hardest today?