Historical Events
- Aug 5 Oregon territory divided between US & Britain at 49th parallel
- Aug 10 US Act of Congress passes establishing the Smithsonian Institution, now world's largest museum and research complex
Historic Event
Aug 14 Henry David Thoreau jailed for refusing to pay taxes
Music History
Aug 26 Felix Mendelssohn's oratorio "Elijah" premieres at the Birmingham Festival in England
- Aug 26 W. A. Bartlett appointed 1st US mayor of Yerba Buena (San Francisco)
Famous Birthdays
- Aug 4 Silas Gamaliel Pratt, American composer (The Tragedy of the Deep), born in Addison, Vermont (d. 1916)
- Aug 16 Justus van Maurik, Dutch author and cigar manufacturer, born in Amsterdam (d. 1904)
- Aug 19 Luis Martín, Spanish Superior-General of the Society of Jesus, born in Melgar de Fernamental, Burgos, Spain (d. 1906)
- Aug 22 Amalie Skram, Norwegian author (Hellemyrsfolket), born in Bergen, Norway (d. 1905)
- Aug 23 Alexander Milne Calder, Scottish-American sculptor, born in Aberdeen, Scotland (d. 1923)
- Aug 25 Judith Gautier, French poetess, novelist (Le Dragon Impérial) and daughter of Theophile Gautier, born in Paris (d. 1917)
Famous Weddings
Gioachino Rossini
Aug 16 Opera Composer (The Barber of Seville) Gioachino Rossini marries 2nd wife Olympe Pélissier in Paris
Ellen G. White
Aug 30 Author and Christian pioneer Ellen G. White (18) weds preacher James Springer White (25) in Portland, Maine
Famous Deaths
- Aug 1 Peter Ritter, German cellist and composer, dies at 83
- Aug 7 Johann Christian Heinrich Rinck, composer, dies at 76
- Aug 25 Giuseppe Acerbi, Italian traveller and naturalist, dies at 73
- Aug 27 Franciszek Ścigalski, Polish composer, dies at 64
- Aug 27 Gottfied Wilhelm Fink, German composer, dies at 63
