On This Day – July 28th: From Empires to Epidemics

Explore the key events of July 28th, from the start of World War I and the fall of empires to scientific breakthroughs and birthdays of legendary figures. Discover the significance of this day in history.

📅 What Day Is July 28th?

• Gregorian Calendar: July 28th is the 209th day of the year (210th in leap years), with 156 days remaining.

• Zodiac Sign: Born under Leo, known for confidence, leadership, and creativity.

• Seasonal Context:

  • In the Northern Hemisphere, it’s the height of summer—when history often takes dramatic turns.

  • In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s deep winter—an introspective season perfect for reflection.

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🎉 Holidays and Observances – July 28th

🇵🇪 Peru Independence Day

• Celebrates Peru’s independence from Spanish rule, declared on July 28, 1821.

• The day is marked with vibrant parades, music, traditional dancing, and military displays across the country.

• Known as Fiestas Patrias, it is Peru’s biggest national holiday, followed by a second day of celebration on July 29th.

🏥 World Hepatitis Day (Global)

• Recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO).

• Aims to raise awareness about hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E, affecting over 350 million people worldwide.

• Chosen in honor of the birthday of Nobel Laureate Dr. Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus and developed its vaccine.

📜 Major Historical Events on July 28th

⚔️ 1914 – World War I Begins

• Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, triggering the First World War.

• Fueled by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand a month earlier, the event set off a chain reaction among allied nations.

• The war would involve more than 30 countries and result in over 16 million deaths.

• July 28th marks the official start of one of the most devastating conflicts in history.

👑 1540 – Execution of Thomas Cromwell in England

• Thomas Cromwell, chief minister to King Henry VIII, was executed at the Tower of London.

• Once one of the most powerful men in England, he was accused of treason and heresy—largely for arranging the king’s failed marriage to Anne of Cleves.

• On the same day, Henry married Catherine Howard, his fifth wife.

🏛️ 1794 – Death of Robespierre (One Day After Arrest)

• Maximilien Robespierre, leader of the Jacobins and figurehead of the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution, was executed by guillotine.

• His downfall marked a shift from radical revolutionary politics toward a more moderate republic—paving the way for Napoleon’s eventual rise.

🌋 1976 – Tangshan Earthquake in China

• A magnitude 7.5 earthquake devastated the city of Tangshan, killing over 240,000 people, though estimates vary.

• It remains one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern history.

• The event exposed weaknesses in urban planning and emergency response under China’s government at the time.

🧬 1858 – First Use of Fingerprints in Criminal Investigation

• In India, Sir William Herschel started using fingerprints to identify workers, laying the groundwork for modern forensic science.

• Though the science of fingerprinting evolved later, this was among the earliest known uses in identity verification.

🎂 Famous Birthdays on July 28th

🧪 Baruch Samuel Blumberg (1925)

• American physician, geneticist, and Nobel Laureate.

• Discovered the hepatitis B virus and developed a life-saving vaccine.

• His birthday was chosen as World Hepatitis Day by the WHO.

🎬 Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (1929)

• Former First Lady of the United States.

• Known for her elegance, intelligence, and strength—especially during her husband John F. Kennedy’s presidency and after his assassination.

🛡️ Hugo Chávez (1954)

• Former President of Venezuela and a controversial figure in Latin American politics.

• Promoted socialist reforms and anti-imperialist rhetoric, while drawing criticism for authoritarianism and economic mismanagement.

🎭 Elizabeth Berkley (1972)

• American actress best known for her role in Saved by the Bell and the cult film Showgirls.

💡 Interesting Facts About July 28th

• The July Crisis of 1914—one of the most studied political escalations in history—ended with the outbreak of WWI on this day.

• The Tangshan earthquake occurred just before 4 a.m., catching millions in their sleep.

• Peru’s Independence Day celebrations include elaborate military parades, similar in spirit to Bastille Day in France or the 4th of July in the U.S.

• Jacqueline Kennedy’s fashion sense redefined the role of First Lady and influenced generations of American women.

🔁 Why July 28th Matters

July 28th stands as a powerful reminder of humanity’s highs and lows—from the outbreak of world war and revolutionary executions to the rise of public health awareness and the birth of cultural icons.

Whether we’re reflecting on Peru’s liberation, the power of medicine, or the chains of political upheaval, this date speaks to both tragedy and transformation.

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1914

In 1914, The First World War Began

On the 20th of May 1882, the Austro-Hungarian Empire signed a treaty with Germany and Italy known as the Triple Alliance Treaty (1882). The treaty was a military alliance of the signatories, which ensured support of the other nations in the event of aggression from any other “Great Power”. The Great Powers were Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Austro-Hungary, Russia and The United States. On the 17th of August 1892, France and Russia drafted their own Military Alliance in response, guaranteeing the other's assistance if either was attacked by another Great Power. The Franco-Russian Treaty was completed on the 4th of January 1894. Great Britain had remained neutral but on the 8th of April 1904, they signed the “Entente Cordiale” with France, which was a similar military alliance treaty. On the 31st of August 1907, the United Kingdom and Russia signed a Military Alliance. These treaties between Britain, France and Russia became known as the Triple Entente and along with the Triple Alliance, two great power structures had formed in Europe. The Serbian King Milan I Obrenović had a very close relationship with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and they lived in peace for many years. On the 28^th of May (10^th of June Gregorian) 1903 King Milan I Obrenović and his wife, Queen Draga were killed in what became known as the May Coup and replaced with King Peter I. Peter I had ambitions of rebuilding the Serbian Empire of the 14^th Centaury and this growth of the Serbian Empire would bring much conflict between Serbia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. On the 6^th of October 1908, the Austro-Hungarian Empire officially announced its Annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which angered Serbia, Montenegro, the Russian Empire and many of the Bosnian people in what became known as the “Bosnian Crisis”. Serbia backed many would-be assassins against the Empire's officials, but soon Serbian Nationalists would orchestrate one of the most infamous assassinations in history. In June 1913, Emperor Franz Joseph I sent his nephew and heir, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, to the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo to inspect the Hungarian troops there. The Inspection was set for the 28^th of June, and both Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie Chotek von Chotvoka, arrived early in the day with the intention of having lunch before the inspection. Seven Serbian terrorists, who were part of the Black Hand group, planned the assassination attempt of Archduke Ferdinand while on his visit. The seven men were in place along the planned route, each with the intent to carry out the assassination if the others were unable. The first two assassins couldn’t strike due to the crowds on the street, but the third, Vaso Čubrilović, was able to throw a timed bomb at the car containing Ferdinand and his wife. The bomb, however, bounced off the car and exploded under another car in the Archduke's motorcade. The remaining cars in the motorcade continued at high speed to the town hall, preventing another attempt. After the Archduke and his wife briefly recovered from the experience, they planned to visit the victims of the bomb blast in the hospital. While on their way to the hospital, their driver took a wrong turn, and as he stopped the car to reverse, another of the Assassins, Gavrilo Princip, walked up to the car and fired just two shots from about 5 meters away. One shot hit Archduke Ferdinand in the neck, and another hit his wife in the stomach. Franz Ferdinand, his wife and unborn child all died from the shots. Bad blood existed between the two powers for some time, and on the 7^th of July 1914, in response to the assassination, the Ministerial Council of Austro-Hungary convened in Vienna to discuss the “measures to be used in reforming the evil internal political conditions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as shown up by the disastrous event at Sarajevo”. Diplomatic preparations had already been made when the Austro-Hungarian government met with delegates from the German Government, who assured them that Germany would support any acts of aggression against Serbia. With this assurance in mind, the Ministerial Council began to “make up their minds as to whether the moment had not come for reducing Serbia to permanent inoffensiveness by a demonstration of their power”. The Ministers agreed on placing demands on Serbia that “must undoubtedly be hard, but should not be impossible of fulfilment. Should Serbia accept them we should be able to quote a dazzling diplomatic victory, and our prestige in the Balkans would be raised”. If their demands were not met than they planned to take Warlike action against Serbia, stressing that the “object of such action ought to be the reduction of Serbia, but not her complete annihilation” for fear of provoking Russia (an ally of Serbia) into all out war. By the end of the meeting, the Ministers stated that any act of aggression against Serbia could not be considered until they could determine “Whether it would be possible to mobilise against Serbia first, and only subsequently against Russia as well, if this should become necessary”? By the 14^th of July, Germany had convinced Austro-Hungary that a swift offensive against Serbia before Russia could react was possible and pushed them to take a hard line against Serbia. On the 14^th of July, a report from the German Ambassador to Vienna stated that the Ultimatum to Serbia “is being composed so that the possibility of its being accepted is practically excluded”. The Ultimatum was sent to the Serbian government on the 23^rd of July 1914 and did indeed contain some tough demands that would demoralise the Kingdom of Serbia. Some of the demands included that Serbia accept an independent enquiry by Austro-Hungary into the assassination and the Serbian government’s involvement, which is guilty of tolerating the terrorists and has “exhibited to the whole world the dreadful consequences of such tolerance”.  Serbia must take steps to suppress any anti-Austro-Hungarian propaganda and eliminate any terrorist threat against them. Serbia accepts the Austro-Hungarian governance of Bosnia and does not concern itself with the affairs of the country, but lives as a friendly nation, changing its foreign policy. Serbia were given 48 hours to comply with the ultimatum. Upon receiving the Ultimatum Serbian Government requested further assurances from Russia that it would have their support in the event of hostilities. Russia, believing that Germany was using the event to push for war to secure its assets in the area, mobilised units on the 24^th of July in anticipation of war. Serbia could not accept all the terms of the Ultimatum, which was worded in such a way to call the Serbian government criminals and demoralise them. In anticipation of the Austro-Hungarian response to this, Serbia also began to mobilise troops. On the 28^th of July, Austro-Hungary declared war on Serbia and, due to the military alliance treaties of all the Great Powers of Europe, the First World War began.