Born in August: famous birthdays and numbers for every day
August has 31 days, from the 213th to the 243rd day of the year. People born in August are Leo until August 22, then Virgo. In 2027, August 1 falls on a Sunday, and 9 of the month’s 31 days fall on a Saturday or Sunday.
Day by day, this page brings together 248 famous people, 124 events and 93 holidays and observances. The earliest birth listed is Constantius II (317, August 7), the most recent Kylie Jenner (1997, August 10). 9 of them have a milestone birthday coming up, including Sofia Rotaru (80 on August 7, 2027), Dustin Hoffman (90 on August 8, 2027) and Kylie Jenner (30 on August 10, 2027). In the United States, the most common August birthday from 2000 to 2014 was August 8 (8th of 366 days, about 12,422 births that day each year), and the least common August 3 (129th).
Updated October 25, 2026. Famous people, events and holidays: Wikipedia and Wikidata. US birth counts: Social Security Administration, compiled by FiveThirtyEight.
How to read the August entries
Every day in August has its own entry. It starts with the day’s rank in the year, the zodiac sign (usual dates, give or take a day depending on the year) and the day’s rank within that sign, the day of the week it falls on the next three times, the years it lands on a Saturday or Sunday over the next ten years, and the date a baby born that day, next time it comes around, will be 10,000 days old. The last figure is the average number of babies born that day each year in the United States from 2000 to 2014, with the day’s rank out of 366.
Next come the eight people born that day with the most articles across the different Wikipedias (Wikidata, checked October 25, 2026); for living people, the age shown is the one they will reach on their next birthday, calculated by Cardiboo. Finally, a few events and holidays for the day, taken from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0 license), with a link to the full page for that day.
Born on August 1
213th day of the year (214th in leap years) · ♌ Leo, 10th day of the sign · Sunday in 2027, Tuesday in 2028, Wednesday in 2029 · weekend in 2027 and 2032 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on December 17, 2054 · US: about 12,217 births that day each year (16th of 366)
- 1819 Herman Melville, American writer and poet (1819–1891)
- 1744 Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck, French naturalist (1744-1829)
- 1924 Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, King of Saudi Arabia from 2005 to 2015 (1924–2015)
- 1930 Pierre Bourdieu, French sociologist, anthropologist, and philosopher (1930–2002)
- 1924 Georges Charpak, French physicist (1924-2010)
- 1936 Yves Saint Laurent, French fashion designer (1936–2008)
- 1979 Jason Momoa, American actor (born 1979) — turns 48 in 2027
- 1984 Bastian Schweinsteiger, German association football player — turns 43 in 2027
August 1 in history
- 1991 U.S. president George H. W. Bush delivered a speech in the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev warning against independence from the Soviet Union.
- 1984 Commercial peat cutters discovered a preserved bog body, now known as Lindow Man, at Lindow Moss in Cheshire, England.
- 1946 Several days of anti-Jewish rioting began in Bratislava, instigated by former Slovak partisans opposed to the restitution of Jewish property after the Holocaust in Slovakia.
- 1911 Harriet Quimby became the first woman to earn an Aero Club of America aviator certificate.
Holidays and observances on August 1
- Armed Forces Day (Lebanon)
- Armed Forces Day (China) or Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Liberation Army (People's Republic of China)
- Azerbaijani Language and Alphabet Day (Azerbaijan)
Born on August 2
214th day of the year (215th in leap years) · ♌ Leo, 11th day of the sign · Monday in 2027, Wednesday in 2028, Thursday in 2029 · weekend in 2031 and 2036 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on December 18, 2054 · US: about 11,929 births that day each year (58th of 366)
- 1923 Shimon Peres, Israeli politician (1923–2016) –Former President of Israel (2007–2014) and Prime Minister of Israel (1977, 1984–1986, 19
- 1984 JD Vance, Vice President of the United States since 2025 — turns 43 in 2027
- 1932 Peter O'Toole, British-Irish actor (1932–2013)
- 1942 Isabel Allende, Chilean writer (born 1942) — turns 85 in 2027
- 1924 James Baldwin, American writer (1924–1987)
- 1976 Sam Worthington, Australian and English actor (born 1976) — turns 51 in 2027
- 1992 Charli XCX, British singer (born 1992) — turns 35 in 2027
- 1696 Mahmud I, 24th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (1730–1754)
August 2 in history
- 2007 Raúl Iturriaga, a former deputy director of the Chilean secret police, was captured in Viña del Mar after having been on the run following a kidnapping conviction.
- 1986 The animated film Castle in the Sky, the first from Studio Ghibli, was released.
- 1971 The English rock band the Who released Who's Next, their only album to top the UK charts.
- 1947 Star Dust, a British South American Airways airliner, crashed into Mount Tupungato in the Argentine Andes; its wreckage was not found until 1998.
Holidays and observances on August 2
- Christian feast day: Ahudemmeh (Syriac Orthodox Church).
- Christian feast day: Basil Fool for Christ (Russian Orthodox Church)
- Christian feast day: Ceferino Giménez Malla
Born on August 3
215th day of the year (216th in leap years) · ♌ Leo, 12th day of the sign · Tuesday in 2027, Thursday in 2028, Friday in 2029 · weekend in 2030, 2031 and 2036 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on December 19, 2054 · US: about 11,548 births that day each year (129th of 366)
- 1963 James Hetfield, American guitarist and singer — turns 64 in 2027
- 1979 Evangeline Lilly, Canadian actress (born 1979) — turns 48 in 2027
- 1903 Habib Bourguiba, Tunisian politician (1903–2000)
- 1867 Stanley Baldwin, British statesman (1867–1947)
- 1940 Martin Sheen, American actor (born 1940) — turns 87 in 2027
- 1872 Haakon VII of Norway, King of Norway from 1905 to 1957 (1872–1957)
- 1926 Tony Bennett, American singer (1926–2023)
- 1959 Koichi Tanaka, Japanese chemist — turns 68 in 2027
August 3 in history
- 2009 The last vessels involved in Taurus 09, a Royal Navy training deployment covering 20,400 miles (32,800 km), returned to HMNB Devonport, England.
- 2005 Mauritanian president Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya was overthrown in a military coup while he attended the funeral of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia.
- 1997 The Sky Tower, then the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere at 328 m (1,076 ft), opened in Auckland, New Zealand.
- 1971 Fighting Dinosaurs, a fossil specimen featuring a Velociraptor and a Protoceratops in combat, was unearthed in the Djadochta Formation of Mongolia.
Holidays and observances on August 3
- Armed Forces Day (Equatorial Guinea)
- Christian feast day: Blessed Augustin Kažotić
- Christian feast day: George Freeman Bragg, W. E. B. Du Bois (Episcopal Church)
Born on August 4
216th day of the year (217th in leap years) · ♌ Leo, 13th day of the sign · Wednesday in 2027, Friday in 2028, Saturday in 2029 · weekend in 2029, 2030 and 2035 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on December 20, 2054 · US: about 11,605 births that day each year (117th of 366)
- 1961 Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States (2009–2017) — turns 66 in 2027
- 1901 Louis Armstrong, American jazz musician, trumpeter and singer (1901–1971)
- 1792 Percy Bysshe Shelley, British Romantic poet (1792–1822)
- 1859 Knut Hamsun, Norwegian novelist (1859–1952)
- 1960 José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Spanish politician — turns 67 in 2027
- 1981 Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, member of the British royal family and Duchess of Sussex since 2018 — turns 46 in 2027
- 1900 Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Queen consort of the United Kingdom from 1936 to 1952 (1900–2002)
- 1805 William Rowan Hamilton, Irish mathematician and astronomer (1805-1865)
August 4 in history
- 2014 Julieka Ivanna Dhu, an Aboriginal Australian woman, died in police custody after her deteriorating condition was mocked and ignored.
- 2007 An airport police officer discovered a suitcase containing approximately US$800,000 as it passed through security at Jorge Newbery Airfield in Buenos Aires, sparking an international scandal involving Venezuela and Argentina.
- 1997 French supercentenarian Jeanne Calment died at the age of 122 years, 164 days, with the longest confirmed human lifespan in history.
- 1995 Yugoslav Wars: The Croatian Army initiated Operation Storm, the last major battle of the Croatian War of Independence and the largest European land battle since the Second World War.
Holidays and observances on August 4
- Christian feast day: Aristarchus
- Christian feast day: Blessed Cecilia Cesarini
- Christian feast day: Euphronius
Born on August 5
217th day of the year (218th in leap years) · ♌ Leo, 14th day of the sign · Thursday in 2027, Saturday in 2028, Sunday in 2029 · weekend in 2028, 2029, 2034 and 2035 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on December 21, 2054 · US: about 11,630 births that day each year (109th of 366)
- 1930 Neil Armstrong, American astronaut and lunar explorer (1930–2012)
- 1850 Guy de Maupassant, French writer (1850-1893)
- 1968 Marine Le Pen, French politician (born 1968) — turns 59 in 2027
- 1802 Niels Henrik Abel, Norwegian mathematician (1802–1829)
- 1844 Ilya Repin, Russian-empire painter of Ukrainian birth (1844-1930)
- 1681 Vitus Bering, Danish-born Russian explorer (1681-1741)
- 1974 Kajol, Indian film actress — turns 53 in 2027
- 1906 John Huston, American film director, screenwriter, and actor (1906–1987)
August 5 in history
- 2015 United States Environmental Protection Agency personnel accidentally caused a spillage of 3 million gallons (11 million litres) of mine waste water and tailings trapped inside the Gold King Mine near Silverton, Colorado.
- 2012 Radio Network House, damaged in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, becomes the first building to be demolished by implosion in New Zealand.
- 2011 NASA launched the Juno probe to Jupiter as part of the New Frontiers program.
- 1993 Wizards of the Coast released Magic: The Gathering, the first trading card game.
Holidays and observances on August 5
- Christian feast day: Abel of Reims
- Christian feast day: Addai
- Christian feast day: Afra
Born on August 6
218th day of the year (219th in leap years) · ♌ Leo, 15th day of the sign · Friday in 2027, Sunday in 2028, Monday in 2029 · weekend in 2028, 2033 and 2034 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on December 22, 2054 · US: about 11,801 births that day each year (76th of 366)
- 1928 Andy Warhol, American artist, film director, and producer (1928–1987)
- 1881 Alexander Fleming, Scottish biologist, pharmacologist, botanist, and Nobel laureate (1881–1955)
- 1809 Alfred Tennyson, British Poet Laureate (1809–1892)
- 1983 Robin van Persie, Dutch association football player and manager — turns 44 in 2027
- 1911 Lucille Ball, American actress (1911–1989)
- 1962 Michelle Yeoh, Malaysian actress (born 1962) — turns 65 in 2027
- 1868 Paul Claudel, French diplomat, poet and playwright (1868-1955)
- 1917 Robert Mitchum, American actor (1917–1997)
August 6 in history
- 2008 Mauritanian president Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was ousted from power by a group of high-ranking generals that he had dismissed from office several hours earlier.
- 1996 Researchers announced that the meteorite ALH84001, discovered in the Allan Hills of Antarctica, may contain evidence of life on Mars, but further tests were inconclusive.
- 1991 British computer programmer Tim Berners-Lee posted a public invitation to collaborate on a system of interlinked, hypertext documents accessible via the Internet, known as the World Wide Web.
- 1979 An earthquake struck along the Calaveras Fault near Coyote Lake, California, injuring sixteen people.
Holidays and observances on August 6
- Christian holidays and observances Transfiguration of Jesus
- Christian holidays and observances Anna Maria Rubatto
- Christian holidays and observances Felicissimus and Agapitus
Born on August 7
219th day of the year (220th in leap years) · ♌ Leo, 16th day of the sign · Saturday in 2027, Monday in 2028, Tuesday in 2029 · weekend in 2027, 2032 and 2033 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on December 23, 2054 · US: about 11,927 births that day each year (59th of 366)
- 1975 Charlize Theron, South African and American actress (born 1975) — turns 52 in 2027
- 1933 Elinor Ostrom, American political economist (1933-2012)
- 1876 Mata Hari, Dutch exotic dancer, courtesan and spy (1876-1917)
- 1984 Yun Hyon-seok, South Korean poet, writer and LGBT activist
- 1960 David Duchovny, American actor and writer — turns 67 in 2027
- 1947 Sofia Rotaru, Ukrainian singer, songwriter and actress — turns 80 in 2027
- 317 Constantius II, Roman emperor (317-361)
- 1958 Bruce Dickinson, English heavy metal singer (born 1958) — turns 69 in 2027
August 7 in history
- 1987 Lynne Cox became the first person to swim between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, crossing from Little Diomede to Big Diomede in the Bering Strait in 2 hours and 5 minutes.
- 1955 Hurricane Diane, the first Atlantic hurricane to cause more than $1 billion in damages, formed between the Lesser Antilles and Cape Verde.
- 1946 The Soviet Union informed Turkey that the way in which the latter was handling the Turkish Straits no longer represented the security interests of Turkey's fellow Black Sea nations, escalating the Turkish Straits crisis.
- 1944 IBM presented the first program-controlled calculator to Harvard University, after which it became known as the Mark I.
Holidays and observances on August 7
- Assyrian Martyrs Day (Assyrian community)
- Battle of Boyacá Day (Colombia)
- Christian feast day: Afra
Born on August 8
220th day of the year (221st in leap years) · ♌ Leo, 17th day of the sign · Sunday in 2027, Tuesday in 2028, Wednesday in 2029 · weekend in 2027 and 2032 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on December 24, 2054 · US: about 12,422 births that day each year (8th of 366)
- 1981 Roger Federer, Swiss tennis player (born 1981) — turns 46 in 2027
- 1902 Paul Dirac, British theoretical physicist (1902–1984)
- 1951 Mohamed Morsi, president of Egypt from 2012 to 2013
- 1937 Dustin Hoffman, American actor (born 1937) — turns 90 in 2027
- 1964 Giuseppe Conte, Prime Minister of Italy from 2018 to 2021 — turns 63 in 2027
- 1879 Emiliano Zapata, Mexican revolutionary (1879–1919)
- 1901 Ernest Lawrence, American nuclear physicist (1901–1958)
- 1931 Roger Penrose, English mathematical physicist, recreational mathematician and philosopher — turns 96 in 2027
August 8 in history
- 2014 The World Health Organization declared the Western African Ebola epidemic, which began in December 2013, to be a public health emergency of international concern.
- 2009 Nine people died when a tour helicopter and a small private airplane collided over the Hudson River in Hoboken, New Jersey.
- 1991 Hudson Volcano in Chile began to erupt, depositing volcanic ash over 150,000 square kilometres (58,000 sq mi).
- 1991 The Warsaw radio mast, then the tallest structure ever built, at 646.38 metres (2,120.7 ft), collapsed due to an error in exchanging the guys on the highest telecommunications equipment of the mast.
Holidays and observances on August 8
- Ceasefire Day (end of Iran–Iraq War) (Iraqi Kurdistan)
- Christian Feast Day: Altmann of Passau
- Christian Feast Day: Bonifacia Rodríguez y Castro
Born on August 9
221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) · ♌ Leo, 18th day of the sign · Monday in 2027, Wednesday in 2028, Thursday in 2029 · weekend in 2031 and 2036 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on December 25, 2054 · US: about 12,101 births that day each year (32nd of 366)
- 1963 Whitney Houston, American singer, actress, and film producer (1963–2012)
- 1896 Jean Piaget, Swiss psychologist, biologist, logician, philosopher and academic (1896–1980)
- 1968 Gillian Anderson, American actress (born 1968) — turns 59 in 2027
- 1939 Romano Prodi, Italian politician and economist (born 1939) — turns 88 in 2027
- 1776 Amedeo Avogadro, Italian scientist
- 1938 Leonid Kuchma, Ukrainian businessman and politician, second President of Ukraine from 1994 to 2005 — turns 89 in 2027
- 1914 Tove Jansson, Finnish children's writer and illustrator (1914–2001)
- 1972 Juanes, Colombian musician (born 1972) — turns 55 in 2027
August 9 in history
- 2006 British police arrested 24 people for conspiring to detonate liquid explosives carried on board airliners travelling from the UK to the US and Canada.
- 1988 Wayne Gretzky was traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings in one of the most controversial player transactions in ice hockey history.
- 1979 Female workers of YH Trading in South Korea held a sit-in protest in response to the company's unilateral shutdown.
- 1974 On the verge of an impeachment and removal from office amid the Watergate scandal, Richard Nixon became the first president of the United States to resign.
Holidays and observances on August 9
- Battle of Gangut Day (Russia)
- Christian feast day: Candida Maria of Jesus
- Christian feast day: Edith Stein (St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross)
Born on August 10
222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) · ♌ Leo, 19th day of the sign · Tuesday in 2027, Thursday in 2028, Friday in 2029 · weekend in 2030, 2031 and 2036 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on December 26, 2054 · US: about 11,687 births that day each year (96th of 366)
- 1874 Herbert Hoover, president of the United States from 1929 to 1933 (1874–1964)
- 1951 Juan Manuel Santos, president of Colombia from 2010 to 2018 — turns 76 in 2027
- 1960 Antonio Banderas, Spanish actor — turns 67 in 2027
- 1810 Camillo Benso di Cavour, first Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Italy from March to June in 1861
- 1997 Kylie Jenner, American media personality — turns 30 in 2027
- 1912 Jorge Amado, Brazilian writer (1912–2001)
- 1973 Javier Zanetti, Argentine association football player (born 1973) — turns 54 in 2027
- 1913 Wolfgang Paul, German physicist (1913–1993)
August 10 in history
- 2007 Amid large protests against the impending demolition of the Queen's Pier, the Hong Kong High Court dismissed legal attempts to preserve the landmark.
- 1988 The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 became law, authorizing reparations to surviving Japanese Americans interned during World War II.
- 1953 First Indochina War: The French Union withdrew its forces from Operation Camargue against the Việt Minh in central modern-day Vietnam.
- 1901 The Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers began an ultimately unsuccessful strike to reverse its declining fortunes and organize large numbers of new members.
Holidays and observances on August 10
- Argentine Air Force Day (Argentina)
- Christian feast day: Bessus
- Christian feast day: Blane (Roman Catholic Church)
Born on August 11
223rd day of the year (224th in leap years) · ♌ Leo, 20th day of the sign · Wednesday in 2027, Friday in 2028, Saturday in 2029 · weekend in 2029, 2030 and 2035 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on December 27, 2054 · US: about 11,681 births that day each year (97th of 366)
- 1943 Pervez Musharraf, Pakistani soldier and politician (1943-2023)
- 1950 Steve Wozniak, American computer pioneer, inventor, computer engineer and programmer; co-founder of Apple Inc. — turns 77 in 2027
- 1983 Chris Hemsworth, Australian actor (born 1983) — turns 44 in 2027
- 1897 Enid Blyton, English author (1897–1968)
- 1953 Hulk Hogan, American professional wrestler, actor and television personality (1953–2025)
- 1965 Viola Davis, American actress and producer (born 1965) — turns 62 in 2027
- 1858 Christiaan Eijkman, Dutch physician (1858–1930)
- 1926 Aaron Klug, British chemist and biophysicist
August 11 in history
- 1999 A tornado struck downtown Salt Lake City, damaging 120 homes and injuring over 100 people.
- 1999 Ken Levine's System Shock 2 was released to mediocre sales, but later received critical acclaim and influenced subsequent first-person shooter game design.
- 1992 The Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, opened as the largest shopping mall in the United States.
- 1977 The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration initiated an investigation into the alleged vulnerability of the Ford Pinto to fuel leakage and fire in a rear-end collision.
Holidays and observances on August 11
- Christian Feast Day: Athracht
- Christian Feast Day: Clare of Assisi
- Christian Feast Day: Gaugericus
Born on August 12
224th day of the year (225th in leap years) · ♌ Leo, 21st day of the sign · Thursday in 2027, Saturday in 2028, Sunday in 2029 · weekend in 2028, 2029, 2034 and 2035 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on December 28, 2054 · US: about 11,744 births that day each year (83rd of 366)
- 1954 François Hollande, President of France from 2012 to 2017 (born 1954) — turns 73 in 2027
- 1887 Erwin Schrödinger, Austrian physicist (1887–1961)
- 1930 George Soros, Hungarian-American investor and philanthropist (born 1930) — turns 97 in 2027
- 1866 Jacinto Benavente, Spanish writer (1866-1954)
- 1762 George IV of the United Kingdom, King of the United Kingdom and Hanover from 1820 to 1830
- 1990 Mario Balotelli, Italian association football player — turns 37 in 2027
- 1971 Pete Sampras, American tennis player (born 1971) — turns 56 in 2027
- 1831 Helena Blavatsky, Russian occult writer (1831-1891)
August 12 in history
- 2016 The state-owned Taedonggang Brewing Company inaugurated the first beer festival in North Korea.
- 1990 Near Faith, South Dakota, American paleontologist Sue Hendrickson found one of the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons, nicknamed Sue.
- 1969 The Troubles: Riots erupted in the neighbourhood of Bogside in Derry, and spread across much of Northern Ireland.
- 1952 Thirteen Jewish poets were executed in Moscow for espionage based on false confessions.
Holidays and observances on August 12
- Christian feast day: Euplius
- Christian feast day: Eusebius of Milan
- Christian feast day: Herculanus of Brescia
Born on August 13
225th day of the year (226th in leap years) · ♌ Leo, 22nd day of the sign · Friday in 2027, Sunday in 2028, Monday in 2029 · weekend in 2028, 2033 and 2034 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on December 29, 2054 · US: about 11,672 births that day each year (99th of 366)
- 1926 Fidel Castro, Cuban politician, author and revolutionary (1926–2016)
- 1899 Alfred Hitchcock, British filmmaker (1899–1980)
- 1918 Frederick Sanger, British biochemist (1918–2013)
- 1871 Karl Liebknecht, German socialist, editor, and co-founder of the Spartacus League (1871-1919)
- 1888 John Logie Baird, Scottish inventor, demonstrating the world's first working television (1888–1946)
- 1963 Sridevi, Indian actress (1963–2018)
- 1946 Janet Yellen, 78th United States Secretary of the Treasury — turns 81 in 2027
- 1970 Alan Shearer, English footballer — turns 57 in 2027
August 13 in history
- 2010 After being boarded by Canadian authorities, MV Sun Sea docked in British Columbia and the 492 Sri Lankan Tamil refugee claimants on board were placed in detention.
- 2004 Merely 22 hours after Tropical Storm Bonnie struck the U.S. state of Florida, Hurricane Charley inflicted further damage to the region.
- 1999 The Act on National Flag and Anthem was adopted, formally establishing the Hinomaru and "Kimigayo" as the Japanese national flag and anthem, respectively.
- 1940 World War II: The German Luftwaffe launched an air operation, codenamed Adlertag, to destroy the British Royal Air Force; its failure indefinitely postponed the German invasion of the United Kingdom.
Holidays and observances on August 13
- Christian feast day: Benedetto Sinigardi
- Christian feast day: Benildus Romançon
- Christian feast day: Cassian of Imola
Born on August 14
226th day of the year (227th in leap years) · ♌ Leo, 23rd day of the sign · Saturday in 2027, Monday in 2028, Tuesday in 2029 · weekend in 2027, 2032 and 2033 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on December 30, 2054 · US: about 12,009 births that day each year (46th of 366)
- 1867 John Galsworthy, English novelist and playwright (1867–1933)
- 1983 Mila Kunis, American actress (born 1983) — turns 44 in 2027
- 1966 Halle Berry, American actress (born 1966) — turns 61 in 2027
- 1777 Hans Christian Ørsted, Danish physicist and chemist (1777-1851)
- 1742 Pius VII, head of the Catholic Church, ruler of the Papal States from 1800 to 1823 (1742–1823)
- 1959 Magic Johnson, American basketball player and entrepreneur (born 1959) — turns 68 in 2027
- 1945 Wim Wenders, German filmmaker (born 1945) — turns 82 in 2027
- 1984 Giorgio Chiellini, Italian sports executive and former association football player — turns 43 in 2027
August 14 in history
- 2010 The inaugural edition of the Youth Olympic Games opened in Singapore for athletes aged between 14 and 18.
- 1975 The Rocky Horror Picture Show premiered in London, the first in its record-breaking run in cinemas, which continues in limited release.
- 1945 Kenji Hatanaka and other Japanese military officers launched an attempted coup d'état to prevent the surrender of Japan.
- 1941 After a secret meeting in Newfoundland, British prime minister Winston Churchill and U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the Atlantic Charter, establishing a vision for a post–World War II world.
Holidays and observances on August 14
- Christian feast day: Arnold of Soissons
- Christian feast day: Domingo Ibáñez de Erquicia
- Christian feast day: Eusebius of Rome
Born on August 15
227th day of the year (228th in leap years) · ♌ Leo, 24th day of the sign · Sunday in 2027, Tuesday in 2028, Wednesday in 2029 · weekend in 2027 and 2032 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on December 31, 2054 · US: about 12,359 births that day each year (11th of 366)
- 1769 Napoleon, French military leader, French Emperor 1804–1814 and again in 1815 (1769–1821)
- 1771 Walter Scott, Scottish novelist, poet and playwright (1771–1832)
- 1990 Jennifer Lawrence, American actress and producer (born 1990) — turns 37 in 2027
- 1972 Ben Affleck, American film actor, director and screenwriter (born 1972) — turns 55 in 2027
- 1892 Louis de Broglie, Nobel laureate credited to pioneer the discovery of wave character of matter (1892–1987)
- 1872 Aurobindo Ghosh, Indian Bengali philosopher, yogi, maharishi, poet and nationalist (1872–1950)
- 1896 Gerty Cori, Austro-Hungarian-American biochemist (1896–1957)
- 1964 Melinda Gates, American philanthropist — turns 63 in 2027
August 15 in history
- 2005 The Helsinki Agreement between the Free Aceh Movement and the Government of Indonesia was signed, ending more than 28 years of fighting.
- 1977 Big Ear, a radio telescope at Ohio State University, received a strong, apparently extraterrestrial radio signal that became known as the Wow! signal.
- 1963 President Fulbert Youlou was overthrown in the Republic of Congo, after a three-day uprising in the capital.
- 1948 The Republic of Korea was established with Syngman Rhee as its first president.
Holidays and observances on August 15
- Armed Forces Day (Poland)
- Christian feast day: Altfrid
- Christian feast day: Alypius of Thagaste
Born on August 16
228th day of the year (229th in leap years) · ♌ Leo, 25th day of the sign · Monday in 2027, Wednesday in 2028, Thursday in 2029 · weekend in 2031 and 2036 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on January 1, 2055 · US: about 12,146 births that day each year (29th of 366)
- 1954 James Cameron, Canadian filmmaker and explorer (born 1954) — turns 73 in 2027
- 1920 Charles Bukowski, German-American writer (1920–1994)
- 1913 Menachem Begin, Israeli politician and former Prime Minister (1913–1992)
- 1845 Gabriel Lippmann, Luxembourgish physicist nationalized French (1845-1921)
- 1832 Wilhelm Wundt, German physician, physiologist, philosopher and professor (1832–1920)
- 1888 T. E. Lawrence, British archaeologist, army officer and diplomat (1888–1935)
- 1815 John Bosco, Italian Roman Catholic priest, educator, writer (1815–1888)
- 1645 Jean de La Bruyère, 17th-century French writer and philosopher (1645–1696)
August 16 in history
- 2009 At the World Championships in Athletics in Berlin, Usain Bolt ran the 100 metres in 9.58 seconds, breaking his own record set a year earlier.
- 1986 Typhoon Wayne formed over the South China Sea, going on to become one of the longest-lived tropical cyclones in the north-western Pacific, lasting 21 days.
- 1962 The English rock band the Beatles fired their drummer Pete Best, replacing him with Ringo Starr.
- 1946 Widespread riots between Hindus and Muslims took place in Calcutta following the All-India Muslim League's call for an independent Pakistan.
Holidays and observances on August 16
- Bennington Battle Day (Vermont, United States)
- Children's Day (Paraguay)
- Christian feast day: Ana Petra Pérez Florido
Born on August 17
229th day of the year (230th in leap years) · ♌ Leo, 26th day of the sign · Tuesday in 2027, Thursday in 2028, Friday in 2029 · weekend in 2030, 2031 and 2036 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on January 2, 2055 · US: about 11,765 births that day each year (79th of 366)
- 1943 Robert De Niro, American actor (born 1943) — turns 84 in 2027
- 1953 Herta Müller, German-Romanian novelist, poet and essayist (born 1953) — turns 74 in 2027
- 1893 Mae West, American actress, singer, screenwriter, and writer (1893–1980)
- 1932 V. S. Naipaul, Trinidadian-British writer (1932–2018)
- 1977 Thierry Henry, French association football player and manager — turns 50 in 2027
- 1960 Sean Penn, American actor — turns 67 in 2027
- 1926 Jiang Zemin, former General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (1926–2022)
- 1629 John III Sobieski, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1629–1696)
August 17 in history
- 2008 Michael Phelps won his eighth gold medal of the Summer Olympics in Beijing, setting the record for the most gold medals won by an athlete at a single games.
- 1959 American musician Miles Davis released Kind of Blue, which became one of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed jazz recordings of all time.
- 1945 Animal Farm, George Orwell's satirical allegory of Soviet totalitarianism, was first published.
- 1945 The independence of Indonesia was proclaimed, igniting a revolution against the Dutch Empire.
Holidays and observances on August 17
- Christian feast day: Saint Beatrice of Silva
- Christian feast day: Saint Clare of Montefalco
- Christian feast day: Elias of Enna
Born on August 18
230th day of the year (231st in leap years) · ♌ Leo, 27th day of the sign · Wednesday in 2027, Friday in 2028, Saturday in 2029 · weekend in 2029, 2030 and 2035 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on January 3, 2055 · US: about 11,734 births that day each year (86th of 366)
- 1933 Roman Polanski, French-Polish filmmaker (born 1933) — turns 94 in 2027
- 1830 Franz Joseph I of Austria, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary (1830-1916)
- 1936 Robert Redford, American actor and director (1936–2025)
- 1969 Edward Norton, American actor — turns 58 in 2027
- 1952 Patrick Swayze, American actor, producer, singer and dancer (1952–2009)
- 1932 Luc Montagnier, French virologist and joint recipient of the Nobel Prize of Physiology or Medicine (2008)
- 1750 Antonio Salieri, Italian composer and teacher (1750–1825)
- 1962 Felipe Calderón, 63th President of Mexico — turns 65 in 2027
August 18 in history
- 2008 Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf resigned under pressure from a movement to impeach him.
- 1983 Hurricane Alicia made landfall near Galveston, Texas, causing $3 billion in damage and 21 fatalities.
- 1966 Vietnam War: Members of the 6th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment were surrounded by a much larger Viet Cong unit at the Battle of Long Tan, but held them off for several hours until reinforcements arrived.
- 1948 Australia won the fifth Test of the 1948 Ashes series, becoming the first Test cricket team to go undefeated in England, earning them the nickname "The Invincibles".
Holidays and observances on August 18
- Christian feast day: Agapitus of Palestrina
- Christian feast day: Alberto Hurtado
- Christian feast day: Daig of Inniskeen
Born on August 19
231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) · ♌ Leo, 28th day of the sign · Thursday in 2027, Saturday in 2028, Sunday in 2029 · weekend in 2028, 2029, 2034 and 2035 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on January 4, 2055 · US: about 11,638 births that day each year (106th of 366)
- 1946 Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States (1993–2001) — turns 81 in 2027
- 1883 Coco Chanel, French fashion designer (1883–1971)
- 1631 John Dryden, 17th-century English poet and playwright (1631–1700)
- 1969 Matthew Perry, American-Canadian actor (1969–2023)
- 1924 Willard Boyle, Canadian physicist and inventor (1924–2011)
- 1967 Satya Nadella, Indian-American business executive and CEO of Microsoft — turns 60 in 2027
- 1921 Gene Roddenberry, American television screenwriter and producer (1921–1991)
- 1951 John Deacon, British musician, bassist and songwriter (born 1951) — turns 76 in 2027
August 19 in history
- 2017 Around 250,000 farmed non-native Atlantic salmon were accidentally released into the wild near Cypress Island, Washington.
- 2005 Thunderstorms in southern Ontario, Canada, spawned at least three tornadoes that caused over C$500 million in damage.
- 1950 The 766th Independent Infantry Regiment of North Korea was disbanded after fighting for less than two months in the Korean War.
- 1934 A referendum supported the recent merging of the posts of chancellor and president of Germany, consolidating Adolf Hitler's assumption of supreme power.
Holidays and observances on August 19
- Afghan Independence Day, commemorates the Treaty of Rawalpindi in 1919, granting independence from Britain (Afghanistan)
- August Revolution Commemoration Day (Vietnam)
- Birthday of Crown Princess Mette-Marit (Norway)
Born on August 20
232nd day of the year (233rd in leap years) · ♌ Leo, 29th day of the sign · Friday in 2027, Sunday in 2028, Monday in 2029 · weekend in 2028, 2033 and 2034 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on January 5, 2055 · US: about 12,024 births that day each year (40th of 366)
- 1833 Benjamin Harrison, President of the United States, 1889-1893 (1833–1901)
- 1992 Demi Lovato, American singer-songwriter and actress (born 1992) — turns 35 in 2027
- 1983 Andrew Garfield, English and American actor (born 1983) — turns 44 in 2027
- 1890 H. P. Lovecraft, American writer and editor (1890–1937)
- 1944 Rajiv Gandhi, Prime Minister of India (1984-1989)
- 1941 Slobodan Milošević, Yugoslav–Serbian politician (1941–2006)
- 1974 Amy Adams, American actress (born 1974) — turns 53 in 2027
- 1901 Salvatore Quasimodo, Italian writer (1901-1968)
August 20 in history
- 2018 Silent Sam, a Confederate monument on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was toppled by protestors.
- 1989 The final stage of the O-Bahn Busway in Adelaide, South Australia, was finished, completing at the time the world's longest and fastest guided busway, with buses travelling 12 km (7.5 mi) at speeds of up to 100 km/h (62 mph).
- 1988 More than 150,000 acres (610 km2) were burned on the worst day of the largest wildfire in the recorded history of Yellowstone National Park in the United States.
- 1950 Korean War: United Nations forces repelled an attempt by North Korea to capture the city of Taegu.
Holidays and observances on August 20
- Christian feast day: Amadour
- Christian feast day: Bernard of Clairvaux
- Christian feast day: Blessed Georg Häfner
Born on August 21
233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) · ♌ Leo, 30th day of the sign · Saturday in 2027, Monday in 2028, Tuesday in 2029 · weekend in 2027, 2032 and 2033 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on January 6, 2055 · US: about 11,964 births that day each year (55th of 366)
- 1986 Usain Bolt, Jamaican sprinter — turns 41 in 2027
- 1988 Robert Lewandowski, Polish association football player (born 1988) — turns 39 in 2027
- 1963 Mohammed VI of Morocco, king of Morocco since 1999 — turns 64 in 2027
- 1973 Sergey Brin, American billionaire businessman (born 1973) — turns 54 in 2027
- 1765 William IV, King of the United Kingdom and Hanover from 1830 to 1837
- 1961 Stephen Hillenburg, American marine science educator and artist (1961-2018)
- 1789 Augustin-Louis Cauchy, French mathematician (1789–1857)
- 1938 Kenny Rogers, American country singer (1938–2020)
August 21 in history
- 2007 BioShock was released in North America, becoming a critical success and a demonstration of video games as an art form.
- 1986 A limnic eruption of Lake Nyos in Cameroon released a cloud of carbon dioxide, suffocating 1,746 people and 3,500 livestock.
- 1945 American physicist Harry Daghlian accidentally dropped a tungsten carbide brick onto a plutonium bomb core, exposing himself to neutron radiation and later becoming the first Manhattan Project fatality due to a criticality accident.
- 1944 World War II: A combined Canadian–Polish force captured the town of Falaise, France, in the final offensive of the Battle of Normandy.
Holidays and observances on August 21
- Christian Feast Day: Abraham of Smolensk (Eastern Orthodox Church)
- Christian Feast Day: Bernard of Alzira
- Christian Feast Day: Cyriaca
Born on August 22
234th day of the year (235th in leap years) · ♌ Leo, 31st day of the sign · Sunday in 2027, Tuesday in 2028, Wednesday in 2029 · weekend in 2027 and 2032 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on January 7, 2055 · US: about 12,256 births that day each year (14th of 366)
- 1904 Deng Xiaoping, Chinese politician and paramount leader from 1978 to 1989
- 1862 Claude Debussy, French classical composer (1862–1918)
- 1920 Ray Bradbury, American author and screenwriter (1920–2012)
- 1995 Dua Lipa, British singer-songwriter — turns 32 in 2027
- 1902 Leni Riefenstahl, German filmmaker, photographer, actress, and nazi propagandist (1902–2003)
- 1760 Leo XII, Pope of the Catholic Church from 1823 to 1829
- 1893 Dorothy Parker, American poet, short story writer, critic and satirist (1893-1967)
- 1874 Max Scheler, German philosopher (1874-1928)
August 22 in history
- 2006 Grigori Perelman was awarded the Fields Medal for his proof of the Poincaré conjecture in mathematics but refused to accept the medal.
- 2003 Roy Moore, Alabama's chief justice, was suspended after refusing to comply with a U.S. federal court order to remove a rock inscribed with the Ten Commandments from the lobby of the Supreme Court of Alabama building.
- 1984 The constitution of Singapore was amended to apportion seats to defeated opposition candidates in Parliament, which had hitherto entirely comprised members of the People's Action Party.
- 1914 First World War: German forces captured Rossignol in Belgium, taking more than 3,800 French prisoners.
Holidays and observances on August 22
- Christian feast day: Immaculate Heart of Mary (Roman Catholic calendar of 1960)
- Christian feast day: John Kemble
- Christian feast day: Queenship of Mary
Born on August 23
235th day of the year (236th in leap years) · ♍ Virgo, 1st day of the sign · Monday in 2027, Wednesday in 2028, Thursday in 2029 · weekend in 2031 and 2036 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on January 8, 2055 · US: about 12,011 births that day each year (45th of 366)
- 1754 Louis XVI of France, King of France and Navarre from 1774 to 1791, then King of the French from 1791 to 1792 (1754-1793)
- 1978 Kobe Bryant, American basketball player (1978–2020)
- 1912 Gene Kelly, American dancer, actor, singer, director and choreographer (1912–1996)
- 1769 Georges Cuvier, French naturalist, zoologist and paleontologist (1769–1832)
- 1954 Halimah Yacob, 8th President of Singapore — turns 73 in 2027
- 1974 Konstantin Novoselov, Russian-British physicist known for graphene work — turns 53 in 2027
- 1921 Kenneth Arrow, American economist (1921–2017)
- 1910 Giuseppe Meazza, Italian association football player and manager (1910-1979)
August 23 in history
- 2011 A 5.8 MW earthquake struck the Piedmont region of Virginia, and was felt by more people than any other quake in U.S. history.
- 2006 Natascha Kampusch, who had been abducted at the age of ten in Vienna, escaped from her captor's house in Strasshof an der Nordbahn after more than eight years in captivity.
- 1991 The World Wide Web was opened to the public.
- 1989 Singing Revolution: Approximately two million people joined hands to form a human chain spanning 675.5 kilometres (419.7 mi) across the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian Soviet republics to demonstrate their desire for independence.
Holidays and observances on August 23
- Battle of Kursk Day (Russia)
- Christian feast day: Ascelina
- Christian feast day: Asterius, Claudius, and Neon
Born on August 24
236th day of the year (237th in leap years) · ♍ Virgo, 2nd day of the sign · Tuesday in 2027, Thursday in 2028, Friday in 2029 · weekend in 2030, 2031 and 2036 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on January 9, 2055 · US: about 11,658 births that day each year (102nd of 366)
- 1899 Jorge Luis Borges, Argentine writer, essayist, poet and translator (1899–1986)
- 1947 Paulo Coelho, Brazilian lyricist and novelist (born 1947) — turns 80 in 2027
- 1948 Sauli Niinistö, Finnish politician and the 12th President of Finland (2012-2024) — turns 79 in 2027
- 1988 Rupert Grint, English actor (born 1988) — turns 39 in 2027
- 1948 Jean-Michel Jarre, French composer, performer and record producer (born 1948) — turns 79 in 2027
- 1902 Fernand Braudel, French historian and leader of the Annales School
- 1965 Marlee Matlin, American actress (born 1965) — turns 62 in 2027
- 1997 Alan Walker, Norwegian electronic dance music producer (born 1997) — turns 30 in 2027
August 24 in history
- 2006 The International Astronomical Union passed a resolution redefining the term planet and classifying Pluto as a dwarf planet.
- 1992 Hurricane Andrew, the third-most intense Category 5 cyclone to impact the United States in the 20th century, made landfall in southern Florida.
- 1966 Cultural Revolution: Red Guards vandalised the Jokhang (depicted), the holiest Buddhist temple in Tibet.
- 1963 Buddhist crisis: The U.S. State Department ordered Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. to encourage South Vietnamese Army officers to oust Ngo Dinh Diem if he did not willingly remove Ngo Dinh Nhu from his unofficial position of power.
Holidays and observances on August 24
- Christian feast day: Aurea of Ostia
- Christian feast day: Bartholomew the Apostle (Roman Catholic, Anglican)
- Christian feast day: Edward Klinik
Born on August 25
237th day of the year (238th in leap years) · ♍ Virgo, 3rd day of the sign · Wednesday in 2027, Friday in 2028, Saturday in 2029 · weekend in 2029, 2030 and 2035 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on January 10, 2055 · US: about 11,655 births that day each year (103rd of 366)
- 1930 Sean Connery, Scottish actor (1930–2020)
- 1744 Johann Gottfried Herder, German philosopher, theologian, poet (1744–1803)
- 1912 Erich Honecker, former leader of East Germany, General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party (1976-1989)
- 1958 Tim Burton, American filmmaker and artist (born 1958) — turns 69 in 2027
- 1911 Võ Nguyên Giáp, Vietnamese general and communist politician (1911–2013)
- 1918 Leonard Bernstein, American conductor and composer (1918–1990)
- 1970 Claudia Schiffer, German model — turns 57 in 2027
- 1987 Blake Lively, American actress (born 1987) — turns 40 in 2027
August 25 in history
- 2012 The NASA space probe Voyager 1 became the first man-made object to enter interstellar space.
- 2012 The skeleton of King Richard III of England was discovered under a car park in Leicester.
- 1989 The NASA spacecraft Voyager 2 made its closest approach to Neptune and provided definitive proof of the existence of the planet's rings.
- 1975 Bruce Springsteen released his commercial breakthrough album, Born to Run.
Holidays and observances on August 25
- Christian feast day: Æbbe of Coldingham
- Christian feast day: Aredius
- Christian feast day: Genesius of Arles
Born on August 26
238th day of the year (239th in leap years) · ♍ Virgo, 4th day of the sign · Thursday in 2027, Saturday in 2028, Sunday in 2029 · weekend in 2028, 2029, 2034 and 2035 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on January 11, 2055 · US: about 11,644 births that day each year (104th of 366)
- 1910 Mother Teresa, Albanian-Indian Catholic nun and missionary (1910–1997)
- 1743 Antoine Lavoisier, French nobleman and chemist (1743–1794)
- 1980 Chris Pine, American actor (born 1980) — turns 47 in 2027
- 1880 Guillaume Apollinaire, French poet (1880–1918)
- 1914 Julio Cortázar, Argentine writer and translator (1914–1984)
- 1882 James Franck, German-American physicist (1882–1964)
- 1980 Macaulay Culkin, American actor and singer (born 1980) — turns 47 in 2027
- 1918 Katherine Johnson, African-American mathematician
August 26 in history
- 2008 After a ceasefire was reached in the Russo-Georgian War, Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
- 1980 A bomb was planted at Harvey's Resort Hotel in Stateline, Nevada, which the FBI later described as the most complex improvised explosive device ever created.
- 1978 A conclave elected Albino Luciani as Pope John Paul I, succeeding Paul VI.
- 1970 Betty Friedan and the National Organization for Women organized the Women's Strike for Equality in New York City, in which 50,000 women protested the continuing lack of gender equality.
Holidays and observances on August 26
- Christian feast day: Alexander of Bergamo (Roman Catholic Church)
- Christian feast day: Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá
- Christian feast day: Jeanne-Elisabeth Bichier des Ages
Born on August 27
239th day of the year (240th in leap years) · ♍ Virgo, 5th day of the sign · Friday in 2027, Sunday in 2028, Monday in 2029 · weekend in 2028, 2033 and 2034 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on January 12, 2055 · US: about 11,982 births that day each year (52nd of 366)
- 1770 Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, German philosopher and theologian (1770–1831)
- 1908 Lyndon B. Johnson, president of the United States from 1963 to 1969 (1908–1973)
- 1986 Sebastian Kurz, Chancellor of Austria (2017–2019, 2020–2021) — turns 41 in 2027
- 1856 Ivan Franko, Ukrainian poet and writer (1856–1916)
- 1871 Theodore Dreiser, American novelist and journalist (1871–1945)
- 1941 Cesária Évora, Cape Verdean singer-songwriter (1941–2011)
- 1865 Charles G. Dawes, vice president of the United States from 1925 to 1929
- 1874 Carl Bosch, German chemical engineer (1874–1940)
August 27 in history
- 2009 The Myanmar military junta and ethnic armies began three days of violent clashes in the region of Kokang.
- 1964 South Vietnamese junta leader Nguyễn Khánh entered into a triumvirate power-sharing arrangement with rival generals Trần Thiện Khiêm and Dương Văn Minh, both of whom had been involved in plots to unseat Khánh.
- 1955 The first edition of the Guinness Book of Records was published.
- 1896 In the shortest recorded war in history, the Sultanate of Zanzibar surrendered to the United Kingdom after less than an hour of conflict.
Holidays and observances on August 27
- Christian feast day: Baculus of Sorrento
- Christian feast day: Caesarius of Arles
- Christian feast day: David Lewis
Born on August 28
240th day of the year (241st in leap years) · ♍ Virgo, 6th day of the sign · Saturday in 2027, Monday in 2028, Tuesday in 2029 · weekend in 2027, 2032 and 2033 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on January 13, 2055 · US: about 12,213 births that day each year (18th of 366)
- 1749 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German writer, artist, natural scientist and politician (1749–1832)
- 1965 Shania Twain, Canadian singer (born 1965) — turns 62 in 2027
- 1962 David Fincher, American film director (born 1962) — turns 65 in 2027
- 1957 Ivo Josipović, Croatian politician, third President of Croatia — turns 70 in 2027
- 1989 César Azpilicueta, Spanish association football player — turns 38 in 2027
- 1938 Paul Martin, prime minister of Canada from 2003 to 2006 — turns 89 in 2027
- 1989 Valtteri Bottas, Finnish Formula 1 racing driver — turns 38 in 2027
- 1917 Jack Kirby, American comic book artist (1917–1994)
August 28 in history
- 2021 The second phase of the Thomson-East Coast MRT line was opened for service.
- 1993 The NASA spacecraft Galileo flew by the asteroid 243 Ida and took photographs that later revealed the first known asteroid moon.
- 1987 Construction began on the Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, the tallest building in North Korea.
- 1973 Swedish police used gas bombs to end a seven-day hostage situation in Stockholm; the hostages had bonded with their captors during the incident, leading to the term Stockholm syndrome.
Holidays and observances on August 28
- Christian feast day: Alexander of Constantinople
- Christian feast day: Augustine of Hippo
- Christian feast day: Edmund Arrowsmith
Born on August 29
241st day of the year (242nd in leap years) · ♍ Virgo, 7th day of the sign · Sunday in 2027, Tuesday in 2028, Wednesday in 2029 · weekend in 2027 and 2032 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on January 14, 2055 · US: about 12,338 births that day each year (12th of 366)
- 1958 Michael Jackson, American singer, songwriter, record producer, and dancer (1958–2009)
- 1780 Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, French painter (1780–1867)
- 1936 John McCain, American politician (1936–2018)
- 1862 Maurice Maeterlinck, Belgian playwright and essayist (1862–1949)
- 1915 Ingrid Bergman, Swedish actress (1915–1982)
- 1923 Richard Attenborough, British actor (1923–2014)
- 1920 Charlie Parker, American jazz saxophonist (1920–1955)
- 1993 Liam Payne, English singer-songwriter (1993–2024)
August 29 in history
- 2016 Chen Quanguo became the Chinese Communist Party secretary of Xinjiang, and in that role later oversaw the creation of the Xinjiang internment camps.
- 2007 Six nuclear warheads were mistakenly loaded onto a United States Air Force heavy bomber that flew from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.
- 2007 Six nuclear warheads were mistakenly loaded onto a United States Air Force heavy bomber that flew from North Dakota to Louisiana.
- 1959 Mona Best opened the Casbah Coffee Club with a performance by the Quarrymen, the precursor of the Beatles.
Holidays and observances on August 29
- Christian feast day: Adelphus of Metz
- Christian feast day: Beheading of St. John the Baptist
- Christian feast day: Bronislava of Poland
Born on August 30
242nd day of the year (243rd in leap years) · ♍ Virgo, 8th day of the sign · Monday in 2027, Wednesday in 2028, Thursday in 2029 · weekend in 2031 and 2036 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on January 15, 2055 · US: about 12,161 births that day each year (28th of 366)
- 1871 Ernest Rutherford, New Zealand physicist (1871–1937)
- 1954 Alexander Lukashenka, President of the Republic of Belarus — turns 73 in 2027
- 1930 Warren Buffett, American investor, entrepreneur and businessman — turns 97 in 2027
- 1797 Mary Shelley, English writer (1797–1851)
- 1972 Cameron Diaz, American actress and model — turns 55 in 2027
- 1852 Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff, Dutch physical and organic chemist (1852-1911)
- 1958 Anna Politkovskaya, Russian journalist (1958–2006)
- 1748 Jacques-Louis David, French painter (1748–1825)
August 30 in history
- 2007 A heavy bomber that had been unintentionally loaded with nuclear missiles flew them from North Dakota to Louisiana before they were recognized.
- 1990 Gulf War: US General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. issued General Order No. 1 prohibiting US troops from consuming alcohol or possessing pornographic material.
- 1984 Discovery, the third orbiter of NASA's Space Shuttle program, lifted off on its maiden voyage from Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
- 1967 Thurgood Marshall was confirmed as the first African-American Supreme Court justice.
Holidays and observances on August 30
- Christian feast day: Alexander of Constantinople (Eastern Orthodoxy)
- Christian feast day: Blessed Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster
- Christian feast day: Blessed Eustáquio van Lieshout
Born on August 31
243rd day of the year (244th in leap years) · ♍ Virgo, 9th day of the sign · Tuesday in 2027, Thursday in 2028, Friday in 2029 · weekend in 2030, 2031 and 2036 · baby of 2027: 10,000 days on January 16, 2055 · US: about 11,825 births that day each year (73rd of 366)
- 1956 Tsai Ing-wen, 14th and 15th President of Republic of China (Taiwan) — turns 71 in 2027
- 1870 Maria Montessori, Italian physician and educator (1870-1952)
- 1960 Hasan Nasrallah, Leader of Hezbollah (1960-2024)
- 1985 Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi crown prince (born 1985) — turns 42 in 2027
- 1949 Richard Gere, American actor (born 1949) — turns 78 in 2027
- 1821 Hermann von Helmholtz, German physicist and physiologist (1821-1894)
- 1880 Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, Queen of the Netherlands from 1890 to 1948 (1880-1962)
- 1970 Queen Rania of Jordan, Queen Consort of Jordan — turns 57 in 2027
August 31 in history
- 2010 The last episode of The Bill, the longest-running police drama in British television history, was broadcast.
- 1969 On the final day of the Isle of Wight Festival 1969, attended by approximately 150,000 people over three days, Bob Dylan appeared in his first gig in three years.
- 1941 World War II: A detachment of Chetniks captured the town of Loznica in German-occupied Serbia.
- 1897 Thomas Edison was granted a patent for the Kinetoscope, a precursor to the modern movie projector.
Holidays and observances on August 31
- Baloch-Pakhtun Unity Day (Balochs and Pashtuns, International observance)
- Christian feast day: Aidan of Lindisfarne
- Christian feast day: Aristides of Athens
Frequently asked questions
What is the zodiac sign for people born in August?
Leo ♌ until August 22, then Virgo ♍ from August 23 (usual dates, give or take a day depending on the year).
Which famous people were born in August?
For example Herman Melville (August 1, 1819), Andy Warhol (August 6, 1928), Pervez Musharraf (August 11, 1943), James Cameron (August 16, 1954), Usain Bolt (August 21, 1986) and Mother Teresa (August 26, 1910). The eight best-known people for every day in August are in the entries above.
Which August birthdays fall on a weekend in 2027?
9 days out of 31: August 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29, 2027.