On 11 July in poetry and history
Poets born or who died on this date, plus historical events that happened on this day across history.
610 poets with calendar dates · 6,535 events with calendar dates in the catalogue
2 birthdays · 2 death anniversaries · 7 world events on 11 July
Birthdays
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Robert Greene
c. 11 July 1558 – 3 September 1592 (~34)
Born c. 11 July 1558 — would have been 468 in 2026
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Joseph Blanco White
11 July 1775 – 20 May 1841 (~66)
Born 11 July 1775 — would have been 251 in 2026
Death anniversaries
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William Ernest Henley
23 August 1849 – 11 July 1903 (~54)
Died 11 July 1903 — 123 years ago on this date
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Alexander Anderson
30 April 1845 – 11 July 1909 (~64)
Died 11 July 1909 — 117 years ago on this date
World events on this day
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Truce Ends Irish War of Independence
On July 11, 1921, a truce was agreed between the British government and the Irish republicans, ending the Irish War of Independence. The truce, which was brokered after months of negotiations, brought an end to the guerrilla warfare that had devastated Ireland. The truce was a prelude to the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations, which would determine the future of Ireland.
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The Battle of the Golden Spurs
The Battle of the Golden Spurs took place on July 11, 1302, near Kortrijk, Belgium, between the French army and the Flemish militia. This battle was a significant event in the struggle for Flemish independence from French rule, resulting in a decisive victory for the Flemish forces. The battle's outcome had lasting implications for the region's autonomy and identity.
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End of Zheng He's Treasure Voyages
In 1433, the seventh and final Ming dynasty treasure voyage under Admiral Zheng He concluded, with the massive fleet returning to China after reaching as far as the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa. These expeditions, involving hundreds of ships and tens of thousands of personnel, had projected Chinese power, facilitated diplomacy, trade, and tribute across the Indian Ocean. The decision to halt further voyages reflected shifting imperial priorities, Confucian bureaucratic opposition to costly maritime adventures, and a turn inward, just decades before European explorers began their own oceanic expansions. This marked the end of China's era of grand maritime exploration.
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The Battle of Oudenarde Shapes War Writing in Queen Anne's Europe
The Battle of Oudenarde was fought in 1708 during the War of the Spanish Succession. Allied forces under Marlborough and Eugene defeated the French. The victory became part of a wider political contest over empire, succession and the balance of power in Europe.
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The Tragic Polar Flight of the Andree Hydrogen Balloon Expedition
Swedish explorer S. A. Andrée and two companions attempted to fly an unsteerable hydrogen balloon named 'The Eagle' from Svalbard, Norway, across the North Pole. Due to severe icing, the balloon crashed onto the pack ice just three days into the flight, leaving the men stranded 500 miles from safety without proper arctic survival gear or training. For three grueling months, they displayed tragic endurance, walking across the shifting, unstable ice floes while dragging heavy sledges to reach the remote island of Kvitøya, where they ultimately died of exhaustion and illness inside their tent.
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Wiley Post's High-Altitude Pressure Suit Flight
In 1934, aviator Wiley Post, known for his record-breaking flights, tested the first practical pressure suit, which allowed him to fly his aircraft to 40,000 feet. His suit was a critical advancement in high-altitude aviation, paving the way for later spaceflight. This was one of the first serious attempts to protect a pilot from the environment of the upper atmosphere.
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Chilean Copper Mining Nationalization
In 1971, the Chilean government, under President Salvador Allende, nationalized major copper mines, asserting control over the country's rich mineral resources. This bold move aimed to redistribute wealth and promote economic sovereignty, but it also led to significant political and economic tensions. The nationalization of copper mining became a symbol of the broader struggle for resource control in Latin America.