Historical Events
- Aug 4 The Hinomaru is established as the official flag to be flown from Japanese ships
- Aug 8 Smith & Wesson patents metal bullet cartridges
Historic Publication
Aug 9 American transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau publishes "Walden"
Famous Birthdays
- Aug 2 F. Marion Crawford, American author (Mr. Isaacs), born in Bagni de Lucca, Italy (d. 1909)
- Aug 3 Fernand de La Tombelle, French organist and composer, born in Paris (d. 1928)
- Aug 10 J Scott Lidgett, theologist, born in London, England
- Aug 12 Alfred Gilbert, sculptor/goldsmith
- Aug 22 Milan I, King of Serbia, born in Mărășești, Romania (d. 1901)
- Aug 23 Moritz Moszkowski, Polish-German composer, born in Breslau, Prussia (d. 1925)
- Aug 24 Nikolay Vladimirovich Scherbachov, Russian pianist and composer, born in St. Petersburg; (d. 1922)
- Aug 26 Arnold Fothergill, English cricket fast bowler (2 Tests, 8 wickets. BB 4/19; Somerset CCC, MCC), born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England (d. 1932)
