On This Day

August 1781 in History

Events in History


Victory in BattleSurrender at Yorktown

Aug 1 British army under general Cornwallis occupies Yorktown, Virginia

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'Surrender of Lord Cornwallis' by John Trumbull depicting the British surrender which ended the American Revolutionary War
'Surrender of Lord Cornwallis' by John Trumbull depicting the British surrender which ended the American Revolutionary War
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  • Aug 5 Battle of Dogger Bank (Fourth Anglo-Dutch War): a British strategic victory, although both sides claimed to have won

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Aug 20 George Washington begins to move his troops south to fight Cornwallis

First US President George Washington
First US President
George Washington

Birthdays in History

  • Aug 12 Robert Mills, American architect (Washington Monument)