July 2: Congress Wants Independence, a President is Shot and a Pilot Disappears

On this day in history, Congress voted for independence, a president got shot and a female plane pilot disappeared. 

1776: Congress Votes for Independence

On July 2, 1776, an assembly was formed in Philadelphia by the Second Continental Congress. The adopting of Richard Henry Lee’s resolution for independence from Great Britain was put to a vote. The vote was unanimous, with only New York abstaining.

A month before, on June 2, the resolution was presented to Congress. History.com said, “It soon became clear that New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and South Carolina were as yet unwilling to declare independence, though they would likely be ready to vote in favor of a break with England in due course.”

Due to this, Congress agreed on the delay of the vote until July 1.

On July 1, the debate on the Lee Resolution continued as planned. On this date, the majority of the delegates were in favor of the resolution. To ensure a unanimous vote, Congress delayed the final vote until July 2.

The result of the voting ended with 12 colonial delegations voting in favor of the independence, with only New York abstaining.

1881: President Garfield is Shot

On July 2, 1881, a president was assassinated. President James A. Garfield, who had only been in office for less than four months, was shot by an assassin.

Garfield spent 80 days battling his wounds before he died of complications from the shooting.

Garfield’s assassin, Charles Guiteau, was an attorney and political office-seeker. History.com said, “He was a relative stranger to the president and his administration in an era when federal positions were doled out on a 'who you know' basis.”

When Guiteau’s requests for appointment were denied, he began stalking the president and vowed revenge.

On the morning of the assassination, Garfield headed for the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad station on his way to a short vacation that he was taking.  As Garfield was walking through the station toward the waiting train, Guiteau stepped behind the president and fired two shots.

Out of the two shots fired, one grazed Garfield’s arm, the other was lodged below his pancreas.

While lying in his White House bedroom, doctors attempted to remove the bullet. Garfield was still awake and in pain, and the surgery proved unsuccessful.

History.com added, “Historical accounts vary as to the exact cause of Garfield’s death. Some believe that the physicians’ treatments, which included the administration of quinine, morphine, Brandy and calomel and feeding him through the rectum, may have hastened his demise. Others insist Garfield died from an already advanced case of heart disease. By early September, Garfield, who was recuperating at a seaside retreat in New Jersey, appeared to be recovering.”

President Garfield died September 19, 1881. Autopsy reports from that time showed the internal wound had created pressure that created an aneurysm that was most likely the cause of death.

After a trial by jury, Guiteau was deemed sane and convicted of murder. He was then hung on June 30, 1882.

1937: Amelia Earhart Disappears

On this day, the Lockheed aircraft was reported missing near Howland Island in the Pacific. The Lockheed aircraft was carrying American aviator Amelia Earhart and navigator Frederick Noonan.

The two were attempting to fly around the world. They lost their bearings during the most challenging part of their global flight, from Lae, New Guinea, to Howland Island, a tiny island 2,227 nautical miles away, in the center of the Pacific Ocean.

Lockheed had sporadic radio contact with the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Itasca. As Earhart approached Howland Island, she gave notice that she was lost and running out of fuel.

No trace of Earhart or Noonan was ever found.