On This Day

What Happened in August 1786

Historical Events

  • Aug 2 Utrechtse Vroedschap flees
  • Aug 8 US Congress unanimously chooses the dollar as the monetary unit for the United States of America
  • Aug 8 Jacques Balmat and Michel Paccard are 1st to climb to top of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe
  • Aug 11 Captain Francis Light establishes the British colony of Penang in Malaysia
  • Aug 29 Shay's Rebellion in Springfield, Massachusetts

Famous Birthdays

  • Aug 1 Louis C Luzac, Dutch minister of Internal Affairs, born in Leiden, Netherlands (d. 1861)

Person of interestDavy Crockett

Aug 17 Davy Crockett, American frontiersman, adventurer and politician, born in Greene County, Tennessee (d. 1836)

Frontiersman/Soldier Davy Crockett
Frontiersman/Soldier
Davy Crockett
  • Aug 17 Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, mother of Queen Victoria (d. 1861)
  • Aug 25 Ludwig I, King of Bavaria (1825-48), born in Strasbourg, France (d. 1868)

Famous Deaths

  • Aug 7 Friedrich Schwindl, Dutch composer, dies at 49
  • Aug 15 Thomas Tyrwhitt, English classical scholar and critic, dies at 56
  • Aug 16 Henri-Jacques de Croes, Flemish composer and violinist, dies at 80

Person of interestFrederick the Great

Aug 17 Frederick the Great, King of Prussia (1740-86), dies at 74

King of Prussia Frederick the Great
King of Prussia
Frederick the Great


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