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July 11 in Military History
Defining Moment222 years ago
Burr-Hamilton Duel
Army· 1804
Vice President Aaron Burr mortally wounds former Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton in a pistol duel at Weehawken, New Jersey, the most famous duel in American history and a pivotal moment in the early Republic.
1700s
1798RevolutionaryMarines228 years ago
President John Adams signs the Act for Establishing and Organizing a Marine Corps, re-establishing the Marines as a permanent military branch after their dissolution following the Revolutionary War.
1800s
1804RevolutionaryArmy222 years agoDefining Moment
Vice President Aaron Burr mortally wounds former Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton in a pistol duel at Weehawken, New Jersey, the most famous duel in American history and a pivotal moment in the early Republic.
1804RevolutionaryArmyNavy222 years ago
Vice President Aaron Burr fatally wounds former Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton in a duel at Weehawken, New Jersey, removing one of the principal architects of the early U.S. Army and Navy.
1864Civil WarArmy162 years ago
Confederate General Jubal Early's forces reach the outskirts of Washington, D.C., attacking Fort Stevens. President Lincoln personally observes the battle from the parapet, becoming the only sitting president to come under enemy fire.
1900s
1940WWIIArmy86 years ago
Marshal Philippe Pétain becomes head of state of Vichy France after the French National Assembly grants him full powers, establishing the collaborationist regime that would govern unoccupied France during the German occupation.
1943WWIIArmyNavy83 years ago
Allied forces launch the amphibious invasion of Sicily, the largest amphibious operation of the war to that point, involving 160,000 troops, 3,000 ships, and 4,000 aircraft in the opening of the Italian campaign.
1960Cold WarArmy66 years ago
Moise Tshombe declares the secession of Katanga Province from the newly independent Republic of the Congo, triggering a civil war that drew in UN peacekeepers, Belgian paratroopers, and European mercenaries.
1972Cold WarAir Force54 years ago
American grandmaster Bobby Fischer opens his world championship match against Soviet Boris Spassky in Reykjavik, Iceland, a symbolic battle in the cultural Cold War that drew NATO and intelligence community attention.
1979Cold WarAir Force47 years ago
NASA's Skylab space station re-enters the atmosphere over the Indian Ocean and Western Australia, a disorderly reentry that forced a reconsideration of how military and civilian space assets should be disposed of.
1995ModernArmy31 years ago
Bosnian Serb forces under General Ratko Mladić overrun the UN-designated "safe area" of Srebrenica, beginning the systematic murder of over 8,000 Bosniak men and boys, the worst mass atrocity in Europe since World War II.
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Died on This Day
Military Quotes
Frequently Asked Questions
What military events happened on July 11?
10 military events occurred on July 11, spanning multiple centuries. Key events include: Burr-Hamilton Duel (1804), Allied Invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky) (1943), U.S. Marine Corps Re-established (1798), Srebrenica Massacre Begins (1995), Republic of the Congo Descends into Crisis as Katanga Secedes (1960).
What is the most significant military event on July 11?
The most significant military event on July 11 is Burr-Hamilton Duel (1804). Vice President Aaron Burr mortally wounds former Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton in a pistol duel at Weehawken, New Jersey, the most famous duel in American history and a pivotal moment in the early Republic.
What famous military figures were born on July 11?
Notable military figures born on July 11 include John Paul Jones (1747–1792), George S. Patton Sr. (1856–1927).
What wars are represented in July 11's military timeline?
Events on July 11 span the Colonial & Revolutionary era, World War II, the Civil War, the Modern Era, the Cold War, covering 10 events across 3 centuries of military history.
How many military branches are represented on July 11?
Events on July 11 involve 4 branches of the U.S. and allied armed forces, reflecting the global scope of military operations throughout history.
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