- Aug 1 The roof of Seville's cathedral collapses after an earthquake
- Aug 7 Theophilus Van Kannel of Philadelphia patents revolving door
- Aug 11 California Theatre closed (now a Pac Tel Phone Store)
- Aug 20 Longest US men's single tennis tournament match Palmer Presbrey defeats T S Tailer, 19-21, 8-6, 6-1, 6-4, an 80 game 1st-round contest
- Aug 21 American inventor William Seward Burroughs patents the adding machine
- Aug 28 US National Championship Men's Tennis, Newport R.I.: Henry Slocum beats Howard Taylor 6-4, 6-1, 6-0
- Aug 30 Lord Walsingham kills 1,070 grouse in a single day
Murder of Interest
Aug 31 The body of Jack the Ripper's first victim, Mary Ann Nichols, is found in Whitechapel in London's East End
