What Happened on August 3
Significant Events
- 1492 Christopher Columbus sets sail on his first voyage with three ships, Santa María, Pinta and Niña from Palos de la Frontera, Spain for the "Indies"
- 1596 David Fabricius discovers light variation of Mira (1st variable star)
- 1914 Germany invades Belgium and declares war on France in WW I
- 1934 Adolf Hitler merges the offices of German Chancellor and President, declaring himself "Führer" (leader)
- 1972 U.S. Senate ratifies the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
Did You Know?
First known letter sent from North America by John Rut while at St. John's, Newfoundland
On August 3, 1527
Famous Birthdays
Elisha Otis
(1811 - 1861)
Stanley Baldwin
(1867 - 1947)
Martin Sheen
77 Years Old
Martha Stewart
76 Years Old
James Hetfield
54 Years Old
Tom Brady
40 Years Old
Would You Believe?
Tommy Brown at just 16 years and 8 months old, plays shortstop for Dodgers
On August 3, 1944
Famous Weddings
- 1824 Inventor Charles Goodyear (23) weds Clarissa Beecher
- 1932 Austro-Hungarian-American theatre and film director Otto Preminger (26) weds Marion Mill
- 2000 British PM Gordon Brown (49) weds Sarah Jane Macaulay (36) in North Queensferry, Fife
- 2013 Actor and model Kevin Zegers (28) weds talent agent Jaime Feld in New Jersey
Famous Divorces
- 1979 Professional boxer George Foreman (30) divorces Cynthia Lewis after more than a year of marriage
- 2012 Music legend Stevie Wonder (63) divorces fashion designer Kai Millard Morris due to irreconcilable differences after 11 years of marriage
- 2015 Singer Gwen Stefani and musician Gavin Rossdale announce their intention to divorce after nearly 13 years of marriage
Richard Arkwright
Joseph Conrad
Colette
Henri Cartier-Bresson
Aleksandr SolzhenitsynAugust in History
A Pill to Cure All Ills
Not well? Take a Beecham’s Pill was often the advice. So popular was it that nobody doubted it’s extravagant claim in the world’s first advertising slogan.
August 6, 1859
Ship Of Gold Sails Into Oblivion
A frigate with more than 150 souls on board, as well as nearly three tons of gold, sailed out of Melbourne on this day – never to be seen again.
August 12, 1853
First Faltering Steps of Jane Eyre
With hope, pride – and some subterfuge – Charlotte Brontë sent her hefty manuscript of Jane Eyre to publishers in London on this day, then crossed her fingers.
August 15, 1847
A Kiss For Adolf Hitler
A woman spectator leaned over and kissed Adolf Hitler at the Berlin Olympic Games on this day. Hitler pretended to be amused, but his guards were to suffer.
August 15, 1936