Historical Events
Great White Fleet
America's Great White Fleet arrives in Sydney, Australia, to be greeted with a tremendous welcome; 221 American sailors desert to remain in Australia
- Congo Free State becomes Belgian Congo
Famous Birthdays
- Al López, American Baseball HOF catcher (MLB All-Star 1934, 41; Brooklyn Dodgers; Boston Bees, Pittsburgh Pirates) and manager (AL Manager of the Year 1959 Chicago WS; Cleveland Indians), born in Tampa, Florida (d. 2005)
- Jeanne Stern, German screenwriter (The Condemned Village), born in Bedous, Aquitaine (d. 1998)
- John Reginald Bevins, British Conservative politician, born in Liverpool, Lancashire (d. 1996)
- Kingsley Davis, American sociologist and demographer (coined the term "population explosion"), born in Tuxedo, Texas (d. 1997)
Famous Deaths
- Louis Varney, French composer, dies at 64
About August 20, 1908
Day of the Week: Thursday
How Long Ago? 114 years, 7 months and 7 days
Leap Year: Yes
Generation: Greatest Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Monkey
Star Sign: Leo
