July 5 in History

328AD — Constantine’s Bridge, built over the Danube between Sucidava (Corabia, Romania) and Oescus (Gigen, Bulgaria) by the Roman architect Theophilus Patricius – the largest bridge in ancient times – is opened. Commissioned by Constantine the Great, the bridge (with masonry pillars and wooden superstructures) is 2,437m long, 5.7m wide and rises 10m above the Danube. It remains in use for more than four decades. Attempts to locate the bridge start in the 17th century, but the first real scientific discoveries are made in 1902. 1687 — The first volume of Isaac Newton’s “Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica” (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy) is published. In 2016 an anonymous buyer purchases a rare first edition for $3.7m (it was expected to fetch $1m-$1.5m) at a Christie’s auction in NYC.

1811 — Venezuela becomes the first South American country to declare independence from Spain.

1853 — Cecil John Rhodes, mining magnate and politician in southern Africa (Prime Minister of the Cape Colony, 1890-96), is born in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, England.

1948 — Britain’s National Health Service Act comes into force, providing government-financed medical and dental care. The first NHS patient is treated at Trafford Hospital near Manchester.

1954 — Elvis Presley has his first commercial recording session – “That’s All Right (Mama)”, written and originally performed by blues singer Arthur Crudup – at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. 1955 — “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley and His Comets tops the US Billboards chart (a day before Haley’s 30th birthday). It remains No 1 for eight weeks. 1975 — Arthur Ashe becomes the first black man to win the Wimbledon singles title, beating Jimmy Connors 6-1 6-1 5-7 6-4 in the final.

1975 — Hernán Crespo, footballer (64 appearances for Argentina) and coach, is born in Florida Este.

1979 — Amélie Mauresmo, tennis player (French Open and Wimbledon champion in 2006) is born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France.

1980 — Björn Borg wins his fifth Wimbledon final, beating John McEnroe 1–6 7–5 6–3 6–7 8–6 (regarded at the time as the greatest tennis match ever played) and becomes the first male tennis player to win the title five times in a row.

1989 — President PW Botha meets Nelson Mandela (still imprisoned at Victor Verster) to begin negotiating the end of apartheid. Though brief, it is regarded as significant as it brings together two opposing leaders in a surprisingly cordial manner.