July 12, 1817 – American philosopher Henry David Thoreau is born in Concord, Massachusetts.
July 14, 1913 – 38th U. S. President Gerald Ford is born in Omaha, Nebraska. He is the only person to serve as Vice President and President without ever being elected to those offices.
July 14, 1912 – American folksinger and social activist Woody Guthrie is born in Okemah, Oklahoma.
July 18, 1918 – Nelson Mandela, South African lawyer, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and politician who led the country out of apartheid as first President of South Africa is born in Mvezo.