since the end of World War II . The ruling allowed German troops to join in United Nations and NATO peace-keeping missions . On July 14 , German military units marched in Bastille Day celebrations in Paris , the first appearance of German troops there since World War II .
Birthday - British pottery designer Josiah Wedgwood ( 1730-1795 ) was born in Burslem , Staffordshire , England .
Birthday - American philosopher Henry David Thoreau ( 1817-1862 ) was born in Concord , Massachusetts . At Walden Pond he wrote , " I frequently tramped eight or ten miles through the deepest snow to keep an appointment with a beech tree , or a yellow birch , or an old acquaintance among the pines ."
July 12
Roman Emperor Julius Caesar was born , 100 B . C .
First Lady Dolly Madison died , 1849
Congress authorized the Medal of Honor , 1862
George Eastman , was born in Waterville , New York , 1854