This Day In History, July 6th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on July 6th.
At Westminster Abbey in London, Richard the Lionheart was crowned king of England in 1189.
Sir Thomas More was put to death in England in 1535 for treason for his refusal to recognize King Henry VIII as the head of the Church of England.
During the American Revolutionary War, General John Stark-led American troops beat a British army in the Battle of Bennington in 1777.
British Mark IV tanks defeated German fortifications in Villers-Bretonneux, France, in 1917, the first successful tank engagement of World War I.
When she defeated Darlene Hard in the Wimbledon singles final in 1957, Althea Gibson became the first black tennis player to claim the championship.
In 1189, Richard the Lionheart was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey in London.
On July 6, 1189, in Westminster Abbey in London, Richard the Lionheart, also referred to as Richard I, was installed as the monarch of England. He ascended to the throne in place of his father, King Henry II. Richard is renowned for his skill in the military and his participation in the Third Crusade. He was abroad from England for the most of his reign, commanding armies in the Holy Land and engaging in battles with rivals across Europe. He continues to be regarded as a great monarch and a hero of English history despite his absence.
In 1535, Sir Thomas More was executed for treason in England after refusing to accept King Henry VIII as the head of the Church of England.
Lord Chancellor under King Henry VIII was Sir Thomas More, a well-known English jurist, author, and statesman. He refused to take an oath of supremacy accepting Henry as the head of the Church and opposed Henry's intention to leave the Catholic Church and create the Church of England. More was thus accused of treason and killed on July 6, 1535. His life and legacy have been honored in literature and cinema, notably the well-known drama "A Man for All Seasons." He is regarded as a martyr for religious freedom.
In 1777, American forces under General John Stark defeated a British army at the Battle of Bennington during the American Revolutionary War.
During the American Revolutionary War, on August 16, 1777, the community of Walloomsac, New York, saw the Battle of Bennington. Along with militias from Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire, American troops led by General John Stark battled a British army commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Friedrich Baum. More than 700 British soldiers were taken prisoner by American forces, who also prevented them from receiving the supplies they needed to continue their battle in New York. The Battle of Bennington is remembered as a pivotal event in American history and is seen as a turning point in the Revolutionary War.
In 1917, during World War I, the first successful tank battle took place at Villers-Bretonneux, France, when British Mark IV tanks overran German positions.
American soldiers under the direction of General John Stark engaged a British force under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Friedrich Baum with militias from Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire. American forces captured more than 700 British soldiers and denied them access to the supplies they required to continue fighting in New York. The Battle of Bennington is seen as a turning point in the Revolutionary War and is recognized as a significant event in American history.
In 1957, Althea Gibson became the first black tennis player to win a Wimbledon singles title, defeating Darlene Hard in the final.
Althea Gibson was an influential African American tennis player who dismantled gender and racial barriers in the game. She became the first black tennis player to win the women's singles title at Wimbledon on July 6, 1957. In the championship, she defeated Darlene Hard 6-3, 6-2. Gibson went on to win additional Grand Slam singles and doubles championships, as well as the Wimbledon singles title once again in 1958. Her legacy opened the path for other black tennis players and motivated a new generation of athletes to follow their passions no matter their gender or ethnicity.