Thursday, 5th July 2012 in London
Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! Explore 62 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in London. From remarkable moments in local and world history to the people who left their mark — find out what makes today special. Today's weather in London brings drizzly with temperatures between 14°C and 21°C. Tonight's moon is in its new moon phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Cancer. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Thursday, 5th July in London, GB.
On Thursday, 5th July 2012, London experienced drizzly conditions as the city marked a significant architectural milestone. The Shard was inaugurated on this date as Europe's tallest building, reaching 310 metres into the London skyline, though it would be surpassed by Moscow's Mercury City Tower just four months later. The landmark represented a notable shift in Europe's urban landscape, establishing London's prominence in contemporary skyscraper construction during a period of rapid development across major European capitals.
The historical record for this date extends further back to earlier significant moments. In 1973, Juvénal Habyarimana orchestrated a bloodless coup d'état of the Rwandan government, an event that would shape the nation's political trajectory for decades. Additionally, in 1841, Thomas Cook organised his first excursion, escorting approximately 500 people from Leicester to Loughborough, an endeavour that would eventually establish the foundations of modern tourism and travel commerce.
London itself remains a global city of considerable significance, serving as the capital of the United Kingdom and a major financial and cultural centre. The city's influence extends across international business, media, and heritage preservation, with its architectural evolution reflecting centuries of development. On this particular Thursday, the moon was in its new phase whilst the zodiac sign was Cancer, celestial conditions that characterised the drizzly summer day in the British capital. DayAtlas provides comprehensive information on weather patterns for specific dates and locations, alongside detailed records of historical events, notable births and deaths, allowing users to explore the significance of any date in history.
Find out what's happening today in London.
What the Weather Had in Store for London on 5th July 2012
Harmony emerges when three voices refuse to agree.
Fortune of the Day
5th July in the Stars – Star Sign Pisces
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on July 5th embody classic Cancer energy with emotional depth and intuitive sensitivity. They are warm-hearted individuals devoted to protecting family and loved ones. Numerology 3 adds creative expression and natural social charm to their personality.
Strengths & Weaknesses These natives possess strong emotional intelligence, genuine empathy, and keen awareness of subtle moods. Their protective instincts are admirable, yet they may become emotionally overwhelmed or prone to excessive worry and anxiety.
Love July 5th-born individuals love deeply and seek emotional security in relationships. They are loyal, attentive partners who nurture a harmonious home. Sensitivity and mutual understanding form the foundation of their romantic fulfillment.
Caree & Finance These people flourish in careers with emotional or creative dimensions, such as psychology, education, or the arts. Financial stability requires separating feelings from business decisions and maintaining disciplined long-term planning.
Health Their emotionally sensitive nature makes them vulnerable to stress and psychosomatic complaints. Regular relaxation practices, adequate sleep, and emotional connection significantly support their overall wellbeing.
That night, the moon was in its new moon phase.
Chinese year of the Dragon (Water).
Fun Facts About 5th July
Name Days in Your Language: Grace, Gracie, Graciela, Shannon, Sharon
Someone born on this day in 2012 would be 13 years old today — just 5,030 days into life, which is roughly 120,738 hours, 7,244,323 minutes, or 434,659,388 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 187. day of the year.
As this is a leap year, there are 179 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 27 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 5th July
- Suzan Lamens, Dutch tennis player (1999)
- Kang Hye-won, South Korean actress and singer (1999)
- Emily Fox, American soccer player (1998)
- Aamir Jamal, Pakistani cricketer (1996)
- Jeon Jong-seo, South Korean actress (1994)
- Shohei Ohtani, Japanese baseball player (1994)
- Yaroslav Kosov, Russian ice hockey player (1993)
- Jorge Polanco, Dominican baseball player (1993)
- Alberto Moreno, Spanish footballer (1992)
- Chiara Scholl, American tennis player (1992)
Lives Remembered on 5th July
- Uffe Haagerup, Danish mathematician and academic (born 1949) (2015)
- Yoichiro Nambu, Japanese-American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1921) (2015)
- Rosemary Murphy, American actress (born 1925) (2014)
- Volodymyr Sabodan, Ukrainian metropolitan (born 1935) (2014)
- Hans-Ulrich Wehler, German historian and academic (born 1931) (2014)
- Brett Wiesner, American soccer player (born 1983) (2014)
- Bud Asher, American lawyer and politician (born 1925) (2013)
- David Cargo, American politician, 22nd Governor of New Mexico (born 1929) (2013)
- William Tebeau, American engineer, first African-American man to graduate from Oregon State University (born 1925) (2013)
- Lambert Jackson Woodburne, South African admiral (born 1939) (2013)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 5th July
- Bloody Thursday (International Longshore and Warehouse Union)
- Christian feast day: Anthony Maria Zaccaria, priest (died 1539)
- Christian feast day: Cyril and Methodius (a public holiday in Czech Republic and Slovakia)
- Christian feast day: Wexford Martyrs (Roman Catholic Church)
- Christian feast day: Zoe of Rome (Roman Catholic Church)
- Christian feast day: July 5 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Fifth of July (New York), historic celebration of the abolition of slavery in New York in 1827.
- Independence Day (Algeria), celebrating the independence of Algeria from France in 1962.
- Independence Day (Cape Verde), celebrating the independence of Cape Verde from Portugal in 1975.
- Independence Day (Venezuela), celebrating the independence of Venezuela from Spain in 1811; also National Armed Forces Day.
- Tynwald Day, if July 5 is on a weekend, the holiday is the following Monday. (Isle of Man)
What Happened on 5th July?
- Keir Starmer is appointed Prime Minister by Charles III, becoming the first Labour prime minister since Gordon Brown in 2010 and the first one to win a general election since Tony Blair at the 2005 general election (2024)
- The last Ariane 5 rocket is launched, carrying the Heinrich Hertz and Syracuse 4B satellites. (2023)
- British government ministers Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak resign from the second Johnson ministry, beginning the July 2022 United Kingdom government crisis. (2022)
- The Juno space probe arrives at Jupiter and begins a 20-month survey of the planet. (2016)
- The Shard in London is inaugurated as the tallest building in Europe, with a height of 310 metres (1,020 ft). (2012)
- A series of violent riots break out in Ürümqi, the capital city of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China. (2009)
- The largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever discovered in Britain, consisting of more than 1,500 items, is found near the village of Hammerwich, near Lichfield, Staffordshire. (2009)
- North Korea tests four short-range missiles, one medium-range missile and a long-range Taepodong-2. The long-range Taepodong-2 reportedly fails in mid-air over the Sea of Japan. (2006)
- The first direct Indonesian presidential election is held. (2004)
- The World Health Organization announces that the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak has been contained. (2003)