Anniversaries

1st August 1714 (295 Years)

Richard Wilson, the Welsh artist considered by many to be the father of British landscape painting, is born. 300 years.

1st August 1833 (176 Years)

The Slavery Abolition Act was passed by the British Parliament. 190 years.

1st August 1840 (169 Years)

Labourer slaves in most of the British Empire are emancipated. 175 years.

1st August 1870 (139 Years)

Tower Subway, the world’s first underground tube railway opened in London. 150 years.

1st August 1927 (82 Years)

Chinese Civil War starts, fought between forces loyal to the government of the Republic of China, and forces loyal to the Communist Party of China. 90 years.

1st August 1936 (73 Years)

Yves Saint Laurent, French fashion designer who impacted fashion from the 1960s to the present day, is born. 80 years.

1st August 1936 (73 Years)

The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was officially opened in Berlin by the Chancellor and Führer Adolf Hitler. 80 years.

1st August 1987 (22 Years)

Pola Negri, Polish stage and film actress who achieved worldwide fame during the silent and golden eras of Hollywood and European film for her femme fatale roles, died. 30 years

1st August 1987 (22 Years)

Pola Negri, Polish stage and film actress who achieved worldwide fame during the silent and golden eras of Hollywood and European film for her femme fatale roles, died. 30 years

2nd August 1667 (342 Years)

Francesco Borromini, Italian architect born in today's Ticino (CH) and a leading figure in the emergence of Roman Baroque architecture, died. 350 years.

2nd August 1788 (221 Years)

Thomas Gainsborough, English portrait and landscape painter, died. 230 years.

2nd August 1922 (87 Years)

Alexander Graham Bell, Scottish-born scientist, inventor, engineer and innovator who patented the first practical telephone. died. 95 years

2nd August 1923 (86 Years)

Warren G. Harding, 29th President of the United States, died. 95 years.

2nd August 1923 (86 Years)

Warren G. Harding, 29th President of the United States, died. 100 years.

2nd August 1932 (77 Years)

Peter O'Toole, Irish-English actor, singer, and producer, was born. 85 years.

2nd August 1934 (75 Years)

Paul von Hindenburg, the former President of Germany, died. 85 years.

2nd August 1934 (75 Years)

Paul von Hindenburg, the former President of Germany, died. 90 years.

2nd August 1964 (45 Years)

The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, causing President Johnson to escalate war in Vietnam. 55 years.

2nd August 1964 (45 Years)

The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, causing President Johnson to escalate war in Vietnam. 60 years.

2nd August 1976 (33 Years)

Fritz Lang, Austrian-American filmmaker, screenwriter, and occasional film producer and actor, dies. 40 years.

3rd August 1881 (128 Years)

William Fargo, American businessman and politician, co-founded Wells Fargo and American Express, died. 135 years.

3rd August 1962 (47 Years)

Australia entered the Vietnam War. 55 years

Second Barons' War: Battle of Evesham - the army of Prince Edward (the future king Edward I of England) defeats the forces of rebellious barons led by Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, killing de Montfort and many of his allies. 750 years.