July 25th
1866
Ulysses S. Grant was named general of the Army, the first officer to hold the rank.
1920
Telecommunications: the first transatlantic two-way radio broadcast takes place
1946
The United States tested the first underwater atomic bomb at Bikini Atoll.
1952
Puerto Rico became a commonwealth of the United States.
1970
Chicago's "25 or 6 to 4" was released.
1978
The world's first test-tube baby, Louise Joy Brown, was born in Lancashire, England.
1980
AC\DC released "Back In Black," their first album with Brian Johnson as lead singer.
1997
Professional golfer Ben Hogan died at age 84.
2000
The supersonic airliner Concorde crashed after takeoff outside Paris.
Birthdays
68 Nate Thurmond Basketball Hall of Famer
66 Jim McCarty Rock musician (The Yardbirds)
58 Verdine White Rock musician (Earth, Wind and Fire)
55 14holestogie Cigar Asylum Inmate
51 Thurston Moore Rock musician (Sonic Youth)
42 Matt LeBlanc Actor ("Friends")
41 Paavo Lotjonen Rock musician (Apocalyptica)
38 Billy Wagner Baseball player (New York Mets)
34 Barteur Cigar Asylum Inmate
29 shortbus Cigar Asylum Inmate
~ Ash410 Cigar Asylum Inmate
45 Walter Payton 7/25/1954 - 11/1/1999 Football Hall of Famer