On This Day in History — August 2

Highlights of August 2

• 2008 — A taxi driver is murdered in Bangkok by a teenager addicted to video games leading to the Thai government banning the sale of Grand Theft Auto. Read more
• 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. Read more
• 1986 — The animated film Castle in the Sky, the first from Studio Ghibli, was released. Read more
• 1973 — A flash fire killed 50 people at a leisure centre in Douglas, Isle of Man. Read more
• 1971 — The English rock band the Who released Who's Next, their only album to top the UK charts. Read more
• 1947 — Star Dust, a British South American Airways airliner, crashed into Mount Tupungato in the Argentine Andes; its wreckage was not found until 1998. Read more
• 1939 — Leo Szilard penned a letter, signed by Albert Einstein and addressed to U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt, warning that Germany may develop atomic bombs, leading to the establishment of the Manhattan Project. Read more
• 1932 — At the California Institute of Technology, American physicist Carl David Anderson proved the existence of antimatter with the discovery of the positron, for which he would receive the 1936 Nobel Prize in Physics. Read more
• 1923 — Calvin Coolidge became the 30th president of the United States after Warren G. Harding suffered a fatal heart attack. Read more
• 1920 — Nepalese author Krishna Lal Adhikari (pictured) was sentenced to nine years in prison for publishing a book about the cultivation of corn alleged to contain attacks on the ruling dynasty. Read more
• 1916 — An explosion, blamed on Austro-Hungarian saboteurs, sank the Italian dreadnought Leonardo da Vinci. Read more
• 1914 — The French army's general headquarters was activated in anticipation of war with Germany. Read more
• 1870 — One of the world's earliest underground tube railways opened in the Tower Subway (interior depicted), a tunnel beneath the River Thames in London. Read more
• 1790 — The first United States census was officially completed, with the nation's residential population enumerated to be 3,929,214. Read more
• 1100 — While on a hunting trip in the New Forest, King William II of England was killed by an arrow through the lung loosed by one of his own men. Read more
• 461 — Unpopular among the Senate aristocracy for his reforming efforts, Roman emperor Majorian was deposed by Ricimer and executed five days later. Read more
• 338 BC — An allied army led by Philip II of Macedon overcame the forces of city-states led by Athens and Thebes at the Battle of Chaeronea, securing Macedonian hegemony over the majority of ancient Greece. Read more

Events

• 2014 — At least 146 people are killed and more than 114 injured in a factory explosion in Kunshan, Jiangsu, China. Read more
• 2005 — Air France Flight 358 lands at Toronto Pearson International Airport and runs off the runway, causing the plane to burst into flames, leaving 12 injuries and no fatalities. Read more
• 1999 — The Gaisal train disaster claims 285 lives in Assam, India. Read more
• 1991 — Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on STS-43 to deploy the TDRS-5 satellite. Read more
• 1990 — Iraqi invasion of Kuwait: Iraq invades Kuwait and temporarily establishes the Republic of Kuwait puppet state on the orders of Saddam Hussein, eventually leading to the Gulf War. Read more
• 1989 — Pakistan is re-admitted to the Commonwealth of Nations after having restored democracy for the first time since 1972. Read more
• 1989 — A massacre is carried out by an Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka killing 64 ethnic Tamil civilians. Read more
• 1985 — Delta Air Lines Flight 191, a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, crashes at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport killing 137. Read more
• 1982 — The Helsinki Metro, the first rapid transit system of Finland, is opened to the general public. Read more
• 1980 — A bomb explodes at the railway station in Bologna, Italy, killing 85 people and wounding more than 200. Read more
• 1973 — A flash fire kills 50 people at the Summerland amusement centre at Douglas, Isle of Man. Read more
• 1968 — An earthquake hits Casiguran, Aurora, Philippines killing more than 270 people and wounding 261. Read more
• 1947 — A British South American Airways Avro Lancastrian airliner crashes into a mountain during a flight from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Santiago, Chile. The wreckage would not be found until 1998. Read more
• 1945 — World War II: The Potsdam Conference ends. Read more
• 1944 — ASNOM: Birth of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia, celebrated as Day of the Republic in North Macedonia. Read more
• 1944 — World War II: The largest trade convoy of the world wars arrives safely in the Western Approaches. Read more
• 1943 — The Holocaust: Jewish prisoners stage a revolt at Treblinka, one of the deadliest of Nazi death camps where approximately 900,000 persons were murdered in less than 18 months. Read more
• 1943 — World War II: After the Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109 is rammed and sunk by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri, Lt. John F. Kennedy, future U.S. president, saves all but two of his crew. Read more
• 1939 — Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard write a letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt, urging him to begin the Manhattan Project to develop a nuclear weapon. Read more
• 1937 — The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 is passed in America, the effect of which is to render marijuana and all its by-products illegal. Read more
• 1934 — Reichskanzler Adolf Hitler becomes Führer of Germany following the death of President Paul von Hindenburg. Read more
• 1932 — The positron (antiparticle of the electron) is discovered by Carl D. Anderson. Read more
• 1923 — U.S. Vice President Calvin Coolidge becomes president upon the death of President Warren G. Harding. Read more
• 1922 — A typhoon hits Shantou, Republic of China, killing more than 50,000 people. Read more
• 1918 — The first general strike in Canadian history takes place in Vancouver. Read more
• 1916 — World War I: Austrian sabotage causes the sinking of the Italian battleship Leonardo da Vinci in Taranto. Read more
• 1914 — World War I: The German occupation of Luxembourg begins. Read more
• 1909 — End of the Tragic Week in Barcelona, a series of antiwar and antigovernment protests in Spain and especially in Barcelona. Read more
• 1903 — The Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising against the Ottoman Empire begins. Read more
• 1897 — Anglo-Afghan War: The Siege of Malakand ends when a relief column is able to reach the British garrison in the Malakand states. Read more
• 1873 — The Clay Street Hill Railroad begins operating the first cable car in San Francisco's famous cable car system. Read more
• 1870 — Tower Subway, the world's first underground tube railway, opens in London, England, United Kingdom. Read more
• 1869 — Japan's Edo society class system is abolished as part of the Meiji Restoration reforms. Read more
• 1858 — The Government of India Act 1858 replaces Company rule in India with that of the British Raj. Read more
• 1830 — July Revolution: Charles X of France abdicates the throne in favor of his grandson Henri. Read more
• 1798 — French Revolutionary Wars: The Battle of the Nile concludes in a British victory. Read more
• 1790 — The first United States Census is conducted. Read more
• 1784 — The first British mail coach service runs from Bristol to London. Read more
• 1776 — American Revolution: The signing of the United States Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress takes place. Read more
• 1610 — During Henry Hudson's search for the Northwest Passage, he sails into what is now known as Hudson Bay. Read more
• 1492 — The Jews are expelled from Spain: 40,000–200,000 leave. Sultan Bayezid II of the Ottoman Empire, learning of this, dispatches the Ottoman Navy to bring the Jews safely to Ottoman lands, mainly to the cities of Thessaloniki (in modern-day Greece) and İzmir (in modern-day Turkey). Read more
• 1415 — Thomas Grey is executed for participating in the Southampton Plot. Read more
• 1377 — Russian troops are defeated by forces of the Blue Horde Khan Arapsha in the Battle on Pyana River. Read more
• 1343 — After the execution of her husband, Jeanne de Clisson sells her estates and raises a force of men with which to attack French shipping and ports. Read more
• 1274 — Edward I of England returns from the Ninth Crusade and is crowned King seventeen days later. Read more
• 932 — After a two-year siege, the city of Toledo, in Spain, surrenders to the forces of the Caliph of Córdoba Abd al-Rahman III, assuming an important victory in his campaign to subjugate the Central March. Read more
• 461 — Western Roman Emperor Majorian is arrested near Tortona (northern Italy) and deposed by the Suebian general Ricimer. Read more
• 47 BC — Julius Caesar defeats Pharnaces II of Pontus in the battle of Zela. Read more
• 49 BC — Caesar, who marched to Spain earlier in the year, leaving Marcus Antonius in charge of Italy, defeats Pompey's general Afranius and Petreius in Ilerda (Lerida) north of the Ebro river. Read more
• 216 BC — The Carthaginian army led by Hannibal defeats a numerically superior Roman army at the Battle of Cannae. Read more
• 338 BC — A Macedonian army led by Philip II defeats the combined forces of Athens and Thebes in the Battle of Chaeronea, securing Macedonian hegemony in Greece and the Aegean. Read more

Born on August 2

• 2006 — Héctor Fort, Spanish footballer Read more
• 2000 — Varvara Gracheva, Russian tennis player Read more
• 2000 — Mohammed Kudus, Ghanaian footballer Read more
• 1999 — Anastasios Douvikas, Greek footballer Read more
• 1999 — Mark Lee, Korean-Canadian singer Read more
• 1999 — Joël Piroe, Dutch-Surinamese footballer Read more
• 1997 — Austin Theory, American wrestler Read more
• 1996 — Keston Hiura, American baseball player Read more
• 1996 — Simone Manuel, American swimmer Read more
• 1995 — Kristaps Porziņģis, Latvian basketball player Read more
• 1995 — Vikkstar123, English internet personality Read more
• 1994 — Emil Krafth, Swedish footballer Read more
• 1994 — Laura Pigossi, Brazilian tennis player Read more
• 1994 — Laremy Tunsil, American football player Read more
• 1994 — MoistCr1tikal, American YouTuber and streamer Read more
• 1993 — Gael Bussa, Congolese politician Read more
• 1993 — Joey Florez, American scholar and cultural critic Read more
• 1992 — Charli XCX, English singer-songwriter Read more
• 1991 — Evander Kane, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1990 — Ima Bohush, Belarusian tennis player Read more
• 1990 — Vitalia Diatchenko, Russian tennis player Read more
• 1990 — Skylar Diggins, American basketball player Read more
• 1989 — Nacer Chadli, Belgian footballer Read more
• 1988 — Rob Kwiet, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1988 — Golden Tate, American football player Read more
• 1986 — Mathieu Razanakolona, Canadian skier Read more
• 1986 — Lily Gladstone, American actress Read more
• 1985 — Stephen Ferris, Irish rugby player Read more
• 1985 — David Hart Smith, Canadian wrestler Read more
• 1984 — Giampaolo Pazzini, Italian footballer Read more
• 1984 — JD Vance, American politician, 50th vice president of the United States Read more
• 1983 — Michel Bastos, Brazilian footballer Read more
• 1983 — Huston Street, American baseball player Read more
• 1982 — Hélder Postiga, Portuguese footballer Read more
• 1982 — Kerry Rhodes, American football player Read more
• 1982 — Grady Sizemore, American baseball player Read more
• 1981 — Alexander Emelianenko, Russian mixed martial artist and boxer Read more
• 1981 — Tim Murtagh, English-Irish cricketer Read more
• 1980 — Ivica Banović, Croatian footballer Read more
• 1979 — Marco Bonura, Italian footballer Read more

Died on August 2

• 2023 — Nitin Chandrakant Desai, Indian art director, production designer, and film and television producer (born 1965) Read more
• 2022 — Vin Scully, American sportscaster and game show host (born 1927) Read more
• 2020 — Suzanne Perlman, Hungarian-Dutch visual artist (born 1922) Read more
• 2017 — Judith Jones, American literary and cookbook editor (born 1924) Read more
• 2016 — Terence Bayler, New Zealand actor (born 1930) Read more
• 2016 — David Huddleston, American actor (born 1930) Read more
• 2016 — Franciszek Macharski, Polish cardinal (born 1927) Read more
• 2016 — Ahmed Zewail, Egyptian-American chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1946) Read more
• 2015 — Forrest Bird, American pilot and engineer (born 1921) Read more
• 2015 — Giovanni Conso, Italian jurist and politician, Italian Minister of Justice (born 1922) Read more
• 2015 — Piet Fransen, Dutch footballer (born 1936) Read more
• 2015 — Jack Spring, American baseball player (born 1933) Read more
• 2014 — Ed Joyce, American journalist (born 1932) Read more
• 2014 — Billie Letts, American author and educator (born 1938) Read more
• 2014 — Barbara Prammer, Austrian social worker and politician (born 1954) Read more
• 2014 — James Thompson, American-Finnish author (born 1964) Read more
• 2013 — Julius L. Chambers, American lawyer and activist (born 1936) Read more
• 2013 — Richard E. Dauch, American businessman, co-founded American Axle (born 1942) Read more
• 2013 — Alla Kushnir, Russian–Israeli chess player (born 1941) Read more
• 2012 — Gabriel Horn, English biologist and academic (born 1927) Read more
• 2012 — Magnus Isacsson, Canadian director and producer (born 1948) Read more
• 2012 — Jimmy Jones, American singer-songwriter (born 1930) Read more
• 2012 — John Keegan, English historian and journalist (born 1934) Read more
• 2012 — Bernd Meier, German footballer (born 1972) Read more
• 2012 — Marguerite Piazza, American soprano (born 1920) Read more
• 2011 — José Sanchis Grau, Spanish author and illustrator (born 1932) Read more
• 2008 — Fujio Akatsuka, Japanese illustrator (born 1935) Read more
• 2007 — Chauncey Bailey, American journalist (born 1950) Read more
• 2005 — Steven Vincent, American journalist and author (born 1955) Read more
• 2004 — Ferenc Berényi, Hungarian painter and academic (born 1929) Read more
• 2004 — François Craenhals, Belgian illustrator (born 1926) Read more
• 2004 — Heinrich Mark, Estonian lawyer and politician, 5th prime minister of Estonia in exile (born 1911) Read more
• 2003 — Peter Safar, Austrian-American physician and academic (born 1924) Read more
• 1999 — Willie Morris, American writer (born 1934) Read more
• 1998 — Shari Lewis, American television host and puppeteer (born 1933) Read more
• 1997 — William S. Burroughs, American novelist, short story writer, and essayist (born 1914) Read more
• 1997 — Harald Kihle, Norwegian painter and illustrator (born 1905) Read more
• 1997 — Fela Kuti, Nigerian singer-songwriter and activist (born 1938) Read more
• 1996 — Michel Debré, French lawyer and politician, 150th prime minister of France (born 1912) Read more
• 1996 — Obdulio Varela, Uruguayan footballer and manager (born 1917) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Ahudemmeh (Syriac Orthodox Church).; Christian feast day: Basil Fool for Christ (Russian Orthodox Church); Christian feast day: Ceferino Giménez Malla; Christian feast day: Centola and Helen; Christian feast day: Joan of Aza; Christian feast day: Justin Russolillo; Christian feast day: Peter Julian Eymard; Christian feast day: Plegmund; Christian feast day: Pope Stephen I; Christian feast day: Portiuncola Indulgence ("Pardon of Assisi"), the plenary indulgence related to St. Francis of Assisi (Catholic Church).; Christian feast day: Samuel David Ferguson (Episcopal Church); Christian feast day: August 2 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Day of Azerbaijani cinema (Azerbaijan); Our Lady of the Angels Day (Costa Rica); Paratroopers Day (Russia); Republic Day (North Macedonia); Romani genocide-related observances, including: Roma Holocaust Memorial Day (Council of Europe, European Parliament)

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