Wikipedia:Main Page history/2013 July 4

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

From today's featured article

The Battle of Quebec was fought on December 31, 1775, early in the American Revolutionary War, between American Continental Army forces and the British defenders of the city of Quebec. The battle was the first major defeat of the war for the Americans, and it came at a high price: General Richard Montgomery (pictured) was killed, Benedict Arnold was wounded, and Daniel Morgan and more than 400 men were taken prisoner. The city's garrison, led by Quebec's provincial governor, General Guy Carleton, suffered few casualties. Montgomery's army had earlier captured Montreal, and then joined Arnold's forces. Carleton had escaped from Montreal to Quebec, and last-minute reinforcements arrived to bolster the city's limited defenses. Concerned that expiring enlistments would reduce his force, Montgomery made the end-of-year attack in a blinding snowstorm to conceal his army's movements. Montgomery's force turned back after he was killed by cannon fire; Arnold was injured early in the attack, and Morgan then led the assault until he became trapped and had to surrender. Arnold and the Americans maintained an ineffectual blockade of the city until spring, when British reinforcements arrived. (Full article...)

Recently featured: Franz Kafka – Alec Douglas-Home – Frank Pick

Archive – By email – More featured articles...

Did you know...

From Wikipedia's newest content:

... that in 1937 the Blackwater fire (pictured) killed 15 firefighters and injured 38 in Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming?

... that historian Conyers Read issued a call to action against Fascism, Communism, and Thomism?

... that My Master is an English book combined from two lectures delivered by Swami Vivekananda in New York and England in 1901?

... that according to a report in TUAW, in order to join Apple Inc.'s MFi Program, suppliers must agree to be bound to Apple's Supplier Responsibility Code?

... that the Little Chapel is believed to be the world's smallest consecrated church?

... that Pallagrello bianco was one of the grape varieties included in Luigi Vanvitelli's Vigna del Ventaglio vineyard created for the royal palace of King Ferdinand I?

... that L.S. Alexander Gumby complied 300 scrapbooks documenting African-American history, and was known as the "Great God Gumby"?

Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news

Mohamed Morsi (pictured) is deposed as President of Egypt in a coup d'état amid mass protests.

King Albert II of Belgium announces his abdication in favour of his son Philippe.

An earthquake strikes Aceh, Indonesia, killing at least 42 people.

The United Nations mission MINUSMA begins its operative mandate in Mali.

Nineteen firefighters are killed battling a wildfire in the U.S. state of Arizona.

Croatia becomes the 28th member of the European Union.

At least five planets, including three planets suspected of being habitable, are found orbiting the star Gliese 667 C.

Recent deaths: Douglas Engelbart

Wikinews – More current events...

On this day...

July 4: Republic Day in the Philippines (1946); Independence Day in the United States (1776)

414 – Aelia Pulcheria proclaimed herself regent over her brother Theodosius II and made herself Augusta and Empress of the Eastern Roman Empire.

1054 – Chinese astronomers recorded the sudden appearance of a "guest star", which was in actuality the supernova that created the Crab Nebula (pictured).

1610 – Polish–Muscovite War: The outnumbered forces of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth defeated the Russians at the Battle of Klushino.

1945 – The Brazilian cruiser Bahia was accidentally sunk by one of its own crewmen, killing more than 300 and stranding the survivors in shark-infested waters.

1951 – William Shockley announced the invention of the junction transistor, for which he, John Bardeen, and Walter Houser Brattain won the 1956 Nobel Prize in Physics.

More anniversaries: July 3 – July 4 – July 5

Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries

It is now July 4, 2013 (UTC) – Reload this page

Today's featured picture

Official portrait of the 1899 Michigan Wolverines football team, an American football team which represented the University of Michigan in the 1899 season. Coached by Gustave Ferbert, the Wolverines opened the season with six consecutive shutouts, outscoring opponents in those six contests by a combined score of 109 to 0. However, they finished the season by going 2–2 in their final four games, losing against the University of Pennsylvania Quakers and a championship game against the Wisconsin Badgers.

Photograph: Fred Rentschler

Recently featured: Cape Petrel – The Dog – Queen Christina

Archive – More featured pictures...

Other areas of Wikipedia

Community portal – Bulletin board, projects, resources and activities covering a wide range of Wikipedia areas.
Help desk – Ask questions about using Wikipedia.
Local embassy – For Wikipedia-related communication in languages other than English.
Reference desk – Serving as virtual librarians, Wikipedia volunteers tackle your questions on a wide range of subjects.
Site news – Announcements, updates, articles and press releases on Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation.
Village pump – For discussions about Wikipedia itself, including areas for technical issues and policies.