- Aug 1 Irish Land Act gives rights to tenants of landlords in Ireland
- Aug 2 Tower Subway, the world's first underground tube railway, opens in London
- Aug 4 British Red Cross Society forms
- Aug 6 Battle at Spicheren: Prussia beats France
- Aug 6 White conservatives capture the Tennessee legislature by suppressing the black vote
- Aug 8 Magic (US) defeats Cambria (England) in 2nd running of America's Cup
- Aug 8 The Republic of Ploieşti, a failed Radical-Liberal rising against Domnitor Carol of Romania.
- Aug 15 Transcontinental Railway actually completed in Colorado
- Aug 16 Fred Goldsmith demonstrates curve ball isn't an optical illusion
- Aug 17 1st ascent of Mt Rainier, Washington
- Aug 17 Mrs Esther Morris becomes 1st US woman magistrate (South Pass, Wyoming)
- Aug 18 Battle at Gravelotte Privat: Prussia beat France, 32,000 casualties
- Aug 24 The Wolseley Expedition reaches Manitoba to end the Red River Rebellion.