1836
Jul 4, Narcissa Prentiss Whitman and Eliza Hart Spaulding made a marker at South Pass Wyoming as the first European women to cross the continent. Jul 4, The Statue of Liberty was presented to the United States in ceremonies at Paris, France. The 225-ton, 152-foot statue was a gift from France in commemoration of 100 years of American independence. Created by the French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, the statue was installed on Bedloe Island (now Liberty Island) in New York harbor in 1885. It was dedicated on October 28, 1886.


1901
Jul 4, Julian Scot (b.1846), American artist, died alone and penniless. He had achieved fame for his paintings of Civil War events. His work included “The Death of General Kearny" (1884) and “The Death of General Sedgwick" (1887). In 1997 Robert J. Titterton authored “Julian Scott: Artist of the Civil War and Native America."


1931
Jul 4, Novelist James Joyce (22) married Nora Barnacle (20) in London. They legalized their 26-year common-law marriage at the Kensington Registry Office in London.


1934
Jul 4, "Madame" Marie Curie-Sklodovska, Polish-born French chemist and Nobel Prize winner, died in Paris of leukemia caused by her long exposure to radiation. In 1937 Eve Curie authored "Madame Curie, a Biography." In 2004 Barbara Goldsmith authored “Obsessive Genius: The Inner World of Marie Curie."


1954
Jul 4, Marilyn Sheppard (31 and pregnant) was killed at her home near Cleveland and her husband, Dr. Sam Sheppard (d.1970), was later accused, tried and jailed for the murder. Sam was released from jail in 1964. His story inspired the TV series "The Fugitive" and a film in 1993. DNA evidence in 1997 indicated a third person was involved. Cleveland’s chief prosecutor ruled in 1998 that the DNA samples were too old. A civil trial in Cleveland in 2000 rejected the claim of Sam Reese Sheppard that his father was innocent.


1975
Jul 4, Nancy Baird (23), a Bundy victim, disappeared from a convenience store where she worked in Layton, Utah.


1987
Jul 4, Martina Navratilova won her eighth Wimbledon singles title as she defeated Steffi Graf.


1989
Jul 4, Drew Barrymore (b.1975), actress, attempted suicide.


1992
Jul 4, Steffi Graf won her fourth Wimbledon title, defeating Monica Seles in a 5 1/2-hour match interrupted three times by rain.


1993
Jul 4, Pilar Fort was crowned 25th Miss Black America.


2014
Jul 4, Senegalese President Macky Sall sacked PM Aminata Toure after she failed to win a seat at local elections.