On August 24th 79, Mount Vesuvius near Pompeii, Italy, began to erupt; within the next 25 hours, it wiped out the entire town. Hundreds of years later, archaeologists excavated Pompeii and found everything and everyone that had been there that day perfectly preserved by the volcano's ash. Pompeii, about 90 miles south of Rome, was … Continue reading August 24 79 Eruption of Mount Vesuvius
Category: Daily History
On This Day In History
August 23 1926 Rudolph Valentino dies
On August 23rd 1926, the death of silent-screen idol Rudolph Valentino, at the age of 31, sent his fans into a hysterical state of mass mourning. In his brief film career, the Italian-born actor established a reputation as the archetypal screen lover. After his death from a ruptured ulcer was announced, dozens of suicide attempts … Continue reading August 23 1926 Rudolph Valentino dies
August 22 1992 Incident at Ruby Ridge
On August 22nd 1992, on the second day of a standoff at Randy Weaver's remote northern Idaho cabin, FBI sharpshooter Lon Horiuchi wounded Randy Weaver, Kevin Harrison, and killed Weaver's wife, Vicki. Randy Weaver, a white separatist, had been targeted by the federal government after failing to appear in court to face charges related to … Continue reading August 22 1992 Incident at Ruby Ridge
August 21 1911 Theft of Mona Lisa is discovered
On August 21st 1911, an amateur painter set up his easel near Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris, only to discover that the masterpiece was missing. The day before, in perhaps the most brazen art theft of all time, Vincenzo Perugia had walked into the Louvre, removed the famed painting from the wall, hid … Continue reading August 21 1911 Theft of Mona Lisa is discovered
August 20 1918 Valley of the Dolls author Jacqueline Susann born
On August 20th 1918, Jacqueline Susann, the author of Valley of the Dolls, the 1966 mega-hit novel about the showbiz lives of three women (reportedly modelled in part after Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly), was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Like her characters in Valley of the Dolls, Jacqueline Susann moved to New York … Continue reading August 20 1918 Valley of the Dolls author Jacqueline Susann born
August 19 1931 Yangtze River at it’s peak in China; over 3 million die
On August 19th 1931, the Yangtze River in China was causing chaos, having peaked the previous day, during a horrible flood that killed 3.7 million people directly and indirectly over the next several months. This was perhaps the worst natural disaster of the 20th century. The Yangtze River runs through southern China, one of the … Continue reading August 19 1931 Yangtze River at it’s peak in China; over 3 million die
August 18 1227 Genghis Khan dies
Genghis Khan, the Mongol leader who forged an empire stretching from the east coast of China west to the Aral Sea, died in camp during a campaign against the Chinese kingdom of Xi Xia. The great Khan, who was over 60 and in failing health, may have succumbed to injuries incurred during a fall from … Continue reading August 18 1227 Genghis Khan dies
August 17 1999 Earthquake exposes weak infrastructure in Turkey
On August 17th 1999, an earthquake in northwestern Turkey killed more than 17,000 people and left more than 250,000 homeless. The immense disaster exposed serious problems with government and building contractors in Turkey. The Northern Anatolian fault runs parallel to the south shore of the Black Sea in northern Turkey. It is on a small … Continue reading August 17 1999 Earthquake exposes weak infrastructure in Turkey
August 16 1977 Elvis Presley dies
On August 16th 1977, popular music icon Elvis Presley died in Memphis, Tennessee. He was 42. The death of the "King of Rock and Roll" brought legions of mourning fans to Graceland, his mansion in Memphis. Doctors said he died of a heart attack, likely brought on by his addiction to prescription barbiturates. Elvis Presley … Continue reading August 16 1977 Elvis Presley dies
August 15 1969 Woodstock festival opens in Bethel, New York
On August 15th 1969, the Woodstock Music Festival opened on a patch of farmland in White Lake, a hamlet in the upstate New York town of Bethel. Promoters John Roberts, Joel Rosenman, Artie Kornfield and Michael Lang originally envisioned the festival as a way to raise funds to build a recording studio and rock-and-roll retreat … Continue reading August 15 1969 Woodstock festival opens in Bethel, New York
August 14 1994 Terrorist known as Carlos the Jackal is captured
On August 14th 1994, terrorist Illich Ramirez Sanchez, long known as Carlos the Jackal, was captured in Khartoum, Sudan, by French intelligence agents. Since there was no extradition treaty with Sudan, the French agents sedated and kidnapped Carlos. The Sudanese government, claiming that it had assisted in the arrest, requested that the United States remove … Continue reading August 14 1994 Terrorist known as Carlos the Jackal is captured
August 13 1926 Fidel Castro born
On August 13th 1926, Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro was born in the Oriente province of eastern Cuba. The son of a Spanish immigrant who had made a fortune building rail systems to transport sugar cane, Fidel attended Roman Catholic boarding schools in Santiago de Cuba. He became involved in revolutionary politics while he was a … Continue reading August 13 1926 Fidel Castro born
August 12 1939 The Wizard of Oz premieres in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
On August 12th 1939, The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland and featuring words and music by E.Y. "Yip" Harburg and Harold Arlen, received its world premiere in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. The beloved characters and familiar plot points were mostly all there in the original children's book, from the Kansas farm girl in shiny slippers transported … Continue reading August 12 1939 The Wizard of Oz premieres in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
August 11 1984 Ronald Reagan jokes about bombing Russia
On August 11th 1984, President Ronald Reagan made a joking but controversial off-the-cuff remark about bombing Russia while testing a microphone before a scheduled radio address. While warming up for the speech, Reagan said "My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin … Continue reading August 11 1984 Ronald Reagan jokes about bombing Russia
August 10 2003 Temperatures in UK top 100 F for first time during European heat wave
On August 10th 2003, the United Kingdom recorded its first-ever temperature over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Throughout the month, an intense heat wave scorched the European continent, claiming more than 35,000 lives. August 2003 was the hottest August ever recorded in the northern hemisphere and broke all previous records for heat-related deaths. France was the worst … Continue reading August 10 2003 Temperatures in UK top 100 F for first time during European heat wave
August 9 1969 Manson cult kills five people
On August 9th 1969, members of Charles Manson's cult killed five people in movie director Roman Polanski's Beverly Hills, California, home, including Polanski's pregnant wife, actress Sharon Tate. Less than two days later, the group killed again, murdering supermarket executive Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary in their home. The savage crimes shocked the nation … Continue reading August 9 1969 Manson cult kills five people
August 8 1974 Richard Nixon resigns as president
On August 8th 1974, in an evening televised address, President Richard M. Nixon announced his intention to become the first president in American history to resign. With impeachment proceedings underway against him for his involvement in the Watergate affair, Nixon was finally bowing to pressure from the public and Congress to leave the White House. … Continue reading August 8 1974 Richard Nixon resigns as president
August 7 2005 Trapped Russian sub rescued
On this day in 2005, a Russian Priz AS-28 mini-submarine, with seven crew members on board, is rescued from deep in the Pacific Ocean. On August 4, the vessel had been taking part in training exercises in Beryozovaya Bay, off the coast of Russia's far-eastern Kamchatka peninsula, when its propellers became entangled in cables that … Continue reading August 7 2005 Trapped Russian sub rescued
Aug 6 1942 Isaac Hayes born
On August 6th 1942, songwriter, musician and actor Isaac Hayes was born in Covington, Tennessee, the second child of Isaac Hayes, Sr., and Eula Hayes. It's a long way indeed from performing onstage at the Academy Awards to portraying a cartoon chef, but that's the singular journey travelled by the late Isaac Hayes in a … Continue reading Aug 6 1942 Isaac Hayes born
August 5 1962 Marilyn Monroe found dead
On August 5th 1962, movie actress Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her home in Los Angeles. She was discovered lying nude on her bed, face down, with a telephone in one hand. Empty bottles of pills, prescribed to treat her depression, were littered around the room. After a brief investigation, Los Angeles police concluded … Continue reading August 5 1962 Marilyn Monroe found dead
August 4 1964 Slain civil rights workers found
On August 4th 1964, the remains of three civil rights workers whose disappearance on June 21 garnered national attention were found buried in an earthen dam near Philadelphia, Mississippi. Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman, both white New Yorkers, had travelled to heavily segregated Mississippi in 1964 to help organise civil rights efforts on behalf of … Continue reading August 4 1964 Slain civil rights workers found
August 3 1958 Nuclear submarine USS Nautilus travels under North Pole
On August 3rd 1958, the U.S. nuclear submarine Nautilus accomplished the first undersea voyage to the geographic North Pole. The world's first nuclear submarine, the Nautilus dived at Point Barrow, Alaska, and travelled nearly 1,000 miles under the Arctic ice cap to reach the top of the world. It then steamed on to Iceland, pioneering … Continue reading August 3 1958 Nuclear submarine USS Nautilus travels under North Pole
August 2 1943 Japanese forces attack PT boat with Kennedy on board
On August 2nd 1943, future President John F. Kennedy was serving as commander of a torpedo boat in the Solomon Islands when his ship was fired upon by the Japanese navy. As a young man, Kennedy had desperately wanted to go into the Navy but was originally rejected because of chronic health problems, particularly a … Continue reading August 2 1943 Japanese forces attack PT boat with Kennedy on board
August 1 1981 MTV launches
On August 1st 1981, MTV: Music Television went on the air for the first time ever, with the words (spoken by one of MTV’s creators, John Lack): “Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll.” The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star” was the first music video to air on the new cable television channel, which initially … Continue reading August 1 1981 MTV launches
July 31 1975 Jimmy Hoffa disappears
On July 31st 1975, James Riddle Hoffa, one of the most influential American labour leaders of the 20th century, disappeared in Detroit, Michigan, never to be heard from again. Though he is popularly believed to have been the victim of a Mafia hit, conclusive evidence was never found, and Hoffa's death remains shrouded in mystery … Continue reading July 31 1975 Jimmy Hoffa disappears
Craig Hill 