On This Day

August 1924 in History

Events in History

  • Aug 5 "Little Orphan Annie" comic strip by Harold Gray is 1st published in the New York Daily News
  • Aug 8 British-Russian trade agreement signed
  • Aug 11 1st newsreel pictures of US presidential candidates were taken
  • Aug 16 Conference about German recovery payments opens in London
  • Aug 16 Dutch-Turkish peace treaty signed
  • Aug 17 French-German trade agreement signed
  • Aug 18 France begins withdrawing troops from the Ruhr
  • Aug 23 Mars' closest approach to Earth since 10th century
  • Aug 25 International maritime treaty drawn
  • Aug 26 The Catastrophe of Smyrna: known as the Asia Minor Catastrophe to Greeks. The Ottoman army expels Greeks and other non-Turks from Asia Minor. (August 13 OS)
  • Aug 28 Georgian opposition stages the August Uprising against the Soviet Union
  • Aug 29 Germany's Reichstag approves the Dawes Plan, which sought to solve the WWI reparations problem

Birthdays in History

  • Aug 1 Georges Charpak, Polish-French physicist who invented and developed subatomic particle detectors (Nobel 1992), born in Paris, France (d. 2010)
  • Aug 2 Ismond Rosen, psychoanalyst and artist, born in Johannesburg, South Africa (d. 1996)

Person of interestJames Baldwin

Aug 2 James Baldwin, American novelist (Go Tell it on Mountain, Another Country) and playwright (The Amen Corner), born in Harlem, New York (d. 1987)

Novelist and Playwright James Baldwin
Novelist and Playwright
James Baldwin
  • Aug 3 Leon Uris, American novelist (Exodus, QB VII, Battle Cry), born in Baltimore, Maryland (d. 2003)
  • Aug 3 Max van der Stoel, Dutch politician and Minister of Foreign Affairs (PvdA), born in Voorschoten, Netherlands (d. 2011)
  • Aug 8 Gene Deitch, American illustrator (Tom Terrific, Nudnik), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2020)
  • Aug 12 Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, leader of Pakistan (d. 1988)
  • Aug 13 John Milne, British CEO (Blue Circles Industries), born in Manchester

Person of interestPhyllis Schlafly

Aug 15 Phyllis Schlafly, right-wing crusader, Eagle Forum president, born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 2016)

Eagle Forum President Phyllis Schlafly
Eagle Forum President
Phyllis Schlafly
  • Aug 15 Robert Oxton Bolt, English playwright (A Man for All Seasons, Doctor Zhivago), born in Sale, Manchester (d. 1995)
  • Aug 17 Helen Wallis, English cartographer and librarian (British Museum), born in Barnet, England (d. 1995)
  • Aug 17 John A Emmens, Dutch art historian and poet (Kunst & Vliegwerk) (d. 1971)
  • Aug 17 Evan Connell, American author (The Patriot), born in Kansas City, Missouri (d. 2013)
  • Aug 18 Mohammad Zia Ul-Haq, President of Pakistan (1977-88)[or Aug 12]
  • Aug 21 Gerald D. Lascelles, son of English princess Mary, born in Goldsborough Hall, Yorkshire (d. 1952)
  • Aug 22 Peter Allsop, President of the Publishers Association (1975-77)
  • Aug 23 Denis Sargan, British econometrician, born in Doncaster, Yorkshire (d. 1996)
  • Aug 23 Siti Hartinah Suharto, 2nd First Lady of Indonesia, wife of President Suharto of Indonesia, born in Jaten village, Surakarta, Central Java (d. 1996)
  • Aug 27 David Rowbotham, Australian poet and journalist, born in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia (d. 2010)
  • Aug 28 Janet Frame, New Zealand novelist (Intensive Care, Owls Do Cry), born in Dunedin, New Zealand (d. 2004)
  • Aug 29 James W. Wood, American astronaut (Dynasoar), born in Paragould, Arkansas (d. 1990)

Weddings in History


LoveWedding of Interest

Aug 28 British children's writer Enid Blyton (27) marries editor Major Hugh Alexander Pollock, DSO (36)

Children's writer Enid Blyton
Children's writer
Enid Blyton

Deaths in History


Person of interestJoseph Conrad

Aug 3 Joseph Conrad, Polish/British writer (Heart of Darkness), dies at 66

Novelist Joseph Conrad
Novelist
Joseph Conrad
  • Aug 9 Jacob P Vis, Dutch founder (NV Royal Salt Industries), dies at 66
  • Aug 17 Pavel S "Paul" Urysohn, Russian mathematician, drowns at 26
  • Aug 25 Mariano Álvarez, Filipino general (b. 1818)
  • Aug 27 William Maddock Bayliss, British physiologist, co-discoverer of hormones, dies at 64