July 4

1776 - The Continental Congress approves a Declaration of Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain forming the United States of America.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Inspired to interest his daughters in reading Hawthorne, Eric Eldred put Hawthorne's works on the internet. This did not interest his daughters in Hawthorne, but began a hobby that led to the challenge to copyright term extension in Eldred v. Ashcroft.

1826 - Birth of Stephen Foster, American songwriter (d. 1864)

Although his music was wildly successful, he did not profit due to the weaknesses of the music publishing industry of his time as well as copyright law.

1878 - Birth of George M. Cohan, American singer, dancer, composer, actor, and writer (d. 1942)

One of the most popular of the Tin Pan Alley composers.

He is most famous for creating the Ultima role-playing game series.

1971 - Death of August Derleth, American writer and editor (b. 1909)

He created the Cthulhu Mythos out of the works of his friend HP Lovecraft. Many authors have taken from and contributed to this Mythos.