August 1947 in History

Events in History

Event of Interest

Aug 7 Thor Heyerdahl and the crew of the Kon-Tiki crash into a reef in the Tuamotu Islands, French Polynesia after 101 days crossing the Pacific Ocean

Aug 8 Pakistan's National Flag is approved.
Aug 14 Pakistan gains independence from Great Britain
Aug 15 GLEEP (Graphite Low Energy Experimental Pile), the first experimental nuclear reactor in Western Europe begins operation in Oxford, England
Aug 15 India becomes a sovereign and democratic nation, independent from the United Kingdom
Aug 15 India gains independence from Great Britain, remains a dominion until 1950
Aug 17 The Radcliffe Line, the border between Union of India and Dominion of Pakistan is revealed
Aug 18 Naval torpedo & mine factory explodes at Cadiz, Spain killing 300
Aug 19 J Arens & D van Dorpen synthetise vitamin A
Aug 20 Turner Caldwell in D-558-I sets aircraft speed record, 1131 kph
Aug 25 Marion Carl in D-558-I sets world aircraft speed record of 1,047 kph

Appointment of Interest

Aug 29 B.R. Ambedkar is appointed chairman of the drafting committee for the Indian constitution

Aug 29 Constantine Tsaldaris succeeds Maximos as Greek premier
Aug 31 Hungarian communist party wins election

Birthdays in History

Aug 1 Dennis Zine, American politician (Member of the Los Angeles City Council from the 3rd district), born in Los Angeles, California
Aug 7 Mosibudi Mangena, South African black leader (On Your Own), born in Tzaneen, South Africa
Aug 10 Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysian politician (founder of the People's Justice Party (PKR) Prime Minister of Malaysia 2022-), born in Bukit Mertajam, Malaya
Aug 11 Georgios Karatzaferis, Greek politician
Aug 13 Margareta Winberg, Swedish politician (Minister of Gender Equality), born in Sjuntorp, Sweden

Danielle Steel (75 years old)

Aug 14 American author (Rememberance, Zoya, Star, Daddy), born in New York City, New York

Aug 15 Manley Lanier "Sonny" Carter Jr, American chemist and NASA astronaut (STS 33), born in Macon, Georgia (d. 1991)
Aug 16 Carol Moseley-Braun, (Sen-D Illinois)
Aug 17 Francine Hughes Wilson, American domestic abuse victim "The Burning Bed" who changed pubic perceptions, born in Stockbridge, Michigan (d. 2017)
Aug 21 Mary Simon, Canadian diplomat and Inuit rights advocate, first indigenous Governor General of Canada, born in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Quebec
Aug 22 Bud Cramer, American politician (Rep-D-Alabama), born in Huntsville, Alabama
Aug 24 Joe Manchin, American politician (Governor of West Virginia 2005-10, Senator-D-WV 2010-), born in Farmington, West Virginia
Aug 24 Paulo Coelho, Brazilian author (The Alchemist), born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Aug 24 Vladimir Masorin, Russian admiral (commanded the Caspian Flotilla 1996-2002), born in Bely, Tver Oblast, Soviet Union
Aug 27 Jacques Arnold, MP (Conservative)
Aug 28 Shoto Tanemura, Japanese martial artist, born in Matsubushi, Saitama Prefecture, Japan
Aug 29 Temple Grandin, American animal welfare and autism expert, born in Boston, Massachusetts
Aug 30 Allan Rock, Canadian politician and diplomat, born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Aug 31 Luca di Montezemolo, Italian businessman (Chairman of Ferrari, NTV trains), born in Bologna, Italy
Aug 31 Yumiko Ōshima, Japanese manga artist (The Star of Cottonland), born in Otawara, Japan

Deaths in History

Aug 8 Anton Ivanovich Denikin, Russian general (b. 1872)
Aug 19 Ernst Laqueur, Dutch chemist and psychologist (sexual hormones), dies at 67
Aug 20 Franz VM Cumont, Belgian religious historian, dies at 79
Aug 21 Ettore Bugatti, Italian-French automobile designer and manufacturer (Automobiles E. Bugatti), dies at 65
Aug 25 Clark Wissler, American anthropologist (American Indian), dies at 76
Aug 25 Franz Cumont, Belgian religious historian and archaeologist (cult of Mithra), dies at 79
Aug 28 Manolete [Manuel Laureano Rodríguez Sánchez], Spanish bullfighter, dies at 30