On This Day in History — August 22

Highlights of August 22

• 2015 — A former military aircraft crashed at an airshow at Shoreham Airport in southern England, killing eleven people. Read more
• 2012 — A series of ethnic clashes between the Orma and the Pokomo in Kenya's Tana River District resulted in at least 52 deaths. Read more
• 2006 — Grigori Perelman was awarded the Fields Medal for his proof of the Poincaré conjecture in mathematics but refused to accept the medal. Read more
• 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. Read more
• 1985 — A fire broke out on British Airtours Flight 28M at Manchester Airport, causing 55 deaths mostly due to smoke inhalation, and leading to changes to make aircraft evacuation more effective. Read more
• 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. Read more
• 1962 — An assassination attempt orchestrated by the OAS takes place against Charles de Gaulle, although he is uninjured. Read more
• 1943 — Ian Stephens, editor of The Statesman, defied British censorship to publish pictures of death and misery (example pictured) on Calcutta's streets, informing the world of the Bengal famine of 1943. Read more
• 1914 — First World War: German forces captured Rossignol in Belgium, taking more than 3,800 French prisoners. Read more
• 1914 — First World War: A squadron of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards attacked a German scout party, the first engagement of British forces on the Western Front. Read more
• 1864 — Under the leadership of Henry Dunant and the International Committee of the Red Cross, twelve European states signed the First Geneva Convention, establishing rules for the protection of victims of armed conflict. Read more
• 1851 — The yacht America won the race for the Cup of One Hundred Sovereigns (trophy pictured), later renamed the America's Cup, near the Isle of Wight, England. Read more
• 1777 — American Revolutionary War: Benedict Arnold used a ruse to convince the British that a much larger force was arriving, causing them to abandon the siege of Fort Stanwix (reconstructed fort pictured). Read more
• 1711 — Queen Anne's War: A British attempt to attack Quebec failed when eight ships wrecked on the St. Lawrence River. Read more
• 1642 — King Charles I raised the royal standard at Nottingham, marking the beginning of the First English Civil War. Read more
• 1639 — The Vijayanagara Empire leased a small strip of land in present-day Chennai, the capital of the present-day Indian state of Tamil Nadu, to the East India Company. Read more
• 1485 — At the Battle of Bosworth Field, Lancastrian forces under Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, defeated Yorkist forces under Richard III of England, decisively ending the Wars of the Roses. Read more

Events

• 2012 — Ethnic clashes over grazing rights for cattle in Kenya's Tana River District result in more than 52 deaths. Read more
• 2007 — The Texas Rangers defeat the Baltimore Orioles 30–3, the most runs scored by a team in modern Major League Baseball history. Read more
• 2006 — Pulkovo Aviation Enterprise Flight 612 crashes near the Russian border over eastern Ukraine, killing all 170 people on board. Read more
• 2006 — Grigori Perelman is awarded the Fields Medal for his proof of the Poincaré conjecture in mathematics but refuses to accept the medal. Read more
• 2004 — Versions of The Scream and Madonna, two paintings by Edvard Munch, are stolen at gunpoint from a museum in Oslo, Norway. Read more
• 2003 — Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama Roy Moore is suspended after refusing to comply with a federal court order to remove a rock inscribed with the Ten Commandments from the lobby of the Alabama Supreme Court building. Read more
• 1999 — China Airlines Flight 642 crashes at Hong Kong International Airport, killing three people and injuring 208 more. Read more
• 1992 — FBI sniper Lon Horiuchi shoots and kills Vicki Weaver during an 11-day siege at her home at Ruby Ridge, Idaho. Read more
• 1991 — Iceland is the first nation in the world to recognize the independence of the Baltic states. Read more
• 1989 — Nolan Ryan strikes out Rickey Henderson to become the first Major League Baseball pitcher to record 5,000 strikeouts. Read more
• 1985 — British Airtours Flight 28M suffers an engine fire during takeoff at Manchester Airport. The pilots abort but due to inefficient evacuation procedures 55 people are killed, mostly from smoke inhalation. Read more
• 1981 — Far Eastern Air Transport Flight 103 disintegrates in mid-air and crashes in Sanyi Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan. All 110 people on board are killed. Read more
• 1978 — Nicaraguan Revolution: The FSLN seizes the National Congress of Nicaragua, along with over a thousand hostages. Read more
• 1978 — The District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment is passed by the U.S. Congress, although it is never ratified by a sufficient number of states. Read more
• 1973 — The Congress of Chile votes in favour of a resolution condemning President Salvador Allende's government and demands that he resign or else be unseated through force and new elections. Read more
• 1972 — Rhodesia is expelled by the IOC for its racist policies. Read more
• 1971 — J. Edgar Hoover and John Mitchell announce the arrest of 20 of the Camden 28. Read more
• 1968 — Pope Paul VI arrives in Bogotá, Colombia. It is the first visit of a pope to Latin America. Read more
• 1966 — Labor movements NFWA and AWOC merge to become the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC), the predecessor of the United Farm Workers. Read more
• 1965 — Juan Marichal, pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, strikes John Roseboro, catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, on the head with a bat, sparking a 14-minute brawl, one of the most violent on-field incidents in sports history. Read more
• 1963 — X-15 Flight 91 reaches the highest altitude of the X-15 program (107.96 km (67.08 mi) (354,200 feet)). Read more
• 1962 — The OAS attempts to assassinate French president Charles de Gaulle. Read more
• 1953 — The penal colony on Devil's Island is permanently closed. Read more
• 1949 — The Queen Charlotte earthquake is Canada's strongest since the 1700 Cascadia earthquake. Read more
• 1944 — World War II: Holocaust of Kedros in Crete by German forces. Read more
• 1942 — Brazil declares war on Germany, Japan and Italy. Read more
• 1934 — Bill Woodfull of Australia becomes the only test cricket captain to twice regain The Ashes. Read more
• 1922 — Michael Collins, Commander-in-chief of the Irish Free State Army, is shot dead in an ambush during the Irish Civil War. Read more
• 1902 — The Cadillac Motor Company is founded. Read more
• 1902 — Theodore Roosevelt becomes the first President of the United States to make a public appearance in an automobile. Read more
• 1902 — At least 6,000 people are killed by the magnitude 7.7 Kashgar earthquake in the Tien Shan mountains. Read more
• 1894 — Mahatma Gandhi forms the Natal Indian Congress (NIC) in order to fight discrimination against Indian traders in Natal. Read more
• 1875 — The Treaty of Saint Petersburg between Japan and Russia is ratified, providing for the exchange of Sakhalin for the Kuril Islands. Read more
• 1864 — Twelve nations sign the First Geneva Convention, establishing the rules of protection of the victims of armed conflicts. Read more
• 1851 — The first America's Cup is won by the yacht America. Read more
• 1849 — Passaleão incident: João Maria Ferreira do Amaral, the governor of Portuguese Macau, is assassinated by a group of Chinese locals, triggering a military confrontation between China and Portugal at the Battle of Passaleão three days later. Read more
• 1846 — The Second Federal Republic of Mexico is established. Read more
• 1827 — José de La Mar becomes President of Peru. Read more
• 1798 — French troops land at Kilcummin, County Mayo, Ireland to aid the rebellion. Read more
• 1791 — The Haitian slave revolution begins in Saint-Domingue, Haiti. Read more
• 1780 — James Cook's ship HMS Resolution returns to England (Cook having been killed on Hawaii during the voyage). Read more
• 1777 — British forces abandon the Siege of Fort Stanwix after hearing rumors of Continental Army reinforcements. Read more
• 1770 — James Cook names and lands on Possession Island, and claims the east coast of Australia for Britain as New South Wales. Read more
• 1717 — Spanish troops land on Sardinia. Read more
• 1711 — Britain's Quebec Expedition loses eight ships and almost nine hundred soldiers, sailors and women to rocks at Pointe-aux-Anglais. Read more
• 1703 — A janissary revolt forces the deposition of Ottoman sultan Mustafa II. Read more
• 1654 — Jacob Barsimson arrives in New Amsterdam. He is the first known Jewish immigrant to America. Read more
• 1642 — Charles I raises his standard in Nottingham, which marks the beginning of the English Civil War. Read more
• 1639 — Madras (now Chennai), India, is founded by the British East India Company on a sliver of land bought from local Nayak rulers. Read more
• 1614 — Fettmilch uprising: Jews are expelled from Frankfurt, Holy Roman Empire, following the plundering of the Judengasse. Read more
• 1559 — Spanish archbishop Bartolomé Carranza is arrested for heresy. Read more
• 1485 — The Battle of Bosworth Field occurs; King Richard III of England's death in battle marks the end of the reigning Plantagenet dynasty and the beginning of the Tudors under Henry VII. Read more
• 1153 — Crusader–Fatimid wars: The fortress of Ascalon is surrendered by Fatimid Egypt to an army of crusaders, Templars, and Hospitallers led by King Baldwin III of Jerusalem. Read more
• 1138 — Battle of the Standard between Scotland and England. Read more
• 851 — Battle of Jengland: Erispoe defeats Charles the Bald near the Breton town of Jengland, halting the expansion of West Francia. Read more
• 392 — Arbogast has Eugenius elected Western Roman Emperor. Read more

Born on August 22

• 2005 — Stiliana Nikolova, Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast Read more
• 2003 — Cooper Connolly, Australian cricketer Read more
• 2001 — LaMelo Ball, American basketball player Read more
• 1997 — Maxx Crosby, American football player Read more
• 1997 — Fanum, American streamer Read more
• 1997 — Lautaro Martínez, Argentine footballer Read more
• 1996 — Jessica-Jane Applegate, British Paralympic swimmer Read more
• 1996 — Jeon So-min, South Korean singer-songwriter Read more
• 1995 — Dua Lipa, English singer-songwriter Read more
• 1994 — Israel Broussard, American actor Read more
• 1994 — Olli Määttä, Finnish ice hockey player Read more
• 1993 — Laura Dahlmeier, German biathlete (died 2025) Read more
• 1993 — Dillon Danis, American mixed martial artist Read more
• 1992 — Ema Burgić Bucko, Bosnian tennis player Read more
• 1991 — Federico Macheda, Italian footballer Read more
• 1991 — Brayden Schenn, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1990 — Randall Cobb, American football player Read more
• 1990 — Drew Hutchison, American baseball player Read more
• 1990 — Robbie Rochow, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1990 — Adam Thielen, American football player Read more
• 1989 — Giacomo Bonaventura, Italian footballer Read more
• 1989 — Aleksandra Gajewska, Polish politician and businessperson Read more
• 1987 — Apollo Crews, American wrestler Read more
• 1986 — Stephen Ireland, Irish footballer Read more
• 1986 — Tokushōryū Makoto, Japanese sumo wrestler Read more
• 1985 — Luke Russert, American journalist Read more
• 1985 — Jey Uso, Samoan-American wrestler Read more
• 1985 — Jimmy Uso, Samoan-American wrestler Read more
• 1985 — Salih Yoluç, Turkish race car driver Read more
• 1984 — Lee Camp, English footballer Read more
• 1984 — Lawrence Quaye, Ghanaian-Qatari footballer Read more
• 1983 — Theo Bos, Dutch cyclist Read more
• 1983 — Jahri Evans, American football player Read more
• 1982 — Sean Rash, American bowler Read more
• 1981 — Alex Holmes, American football player Read more
• 1981 — Jang Hyun-kyu, South Korean footballer (died 2012) Read more
• 1981 — Christina Obergföll, German javelin athlete Read more
• 1980 — Roland Benschneider, German footballer Read more
• 1980 — Nicolas Macrozonaris, Canadian sprinter Read more
• 1980 — Seiko Yamamoto, Japanese wrestler Read more

Died on August 22

• 2026 — Shelley Fabares, American actress and singer (born 1944) Read more
• 2026 — Siim Kallas, Estonian politician, Prime Minister of Estonia (born 1948) Read more
• 2024 — Arthur J. Gregg, American military officer (born 1928) Read more
• 2023 — Toto Cutugno, Italian singer-songwriter (born 1943) Read more
• 2023 — Alexandra Paul, Canadian ice dancer (born 1991) Read more
• 2021 — Rod Gilbert, Canadian ice hockey player (born 1941) Read more
• 2018 — Ed King, American musician (born 1949) Read more
• 2018 — Krishna Reddy, Indian printmaker, sculptor and teacher (born 1925) Read more
• 2017 — Michael J. C. Gordon, British Computer scientist (born 1948) Read more
• 2016 — S. R. Nathan, 6th President of Singapore (born 1924) Read more
• 2016 — Toots Thielemans, Belgian and American jazz musician (born 1922) Read more
• 2015 — Arthur Morris, Australian cricketer and journalist (born 1922) Read more
• 2015 — Ieng Thirith, Cambodian academic and politician (born 1932) Read more
• 2015 — Eric Thompson, English race car driver and book dealer (born 1919) Read more
• 2014 — U. R. Ananthamurthy, Indian author, poet, and playwright (born 1932) Read more
• 2014 — Emmanuel Kriaras, Greek lexicographer and philologist (born 1906) Read more
• 2014 — Pete Ladygo, American football player and coach (born 1928) Read more
• 2014 — Noella Leduc, American baseball player (born 1933) Read more
• 2014 — John Sperling, American businessman, founded the University of Phoenix (born 1921) Read more
• 2014 — John S. Waugh, American chemist and academic (born 1929) Read more
• 2013 — Paul Poberezny, American pilot and businessman, founded the Experimental Aircraft Association (born 1921) Read more
• 2012 — Nina Bawden, English author (born 1925) Read more
• 2012 — Paul Shan Kuo-hsi, Taiwanese cardinal (born 1923) Read more
• 2012 — Jeffrey Stone, American actor and screenwriter (born 1926) Read more
• 2011 — Nick Ashford, American singer-songwriter and producer (born 1942) Read more
• 2011 — Jack Layton, Canadian academic and politician (born 1950) Read more
• 2011 — Casey Ribicoff, American philanthropist (born 1922) Read more
• 2011 — Yao Yuanjun, Chinese border police officer (born 1993) Read more
• 2010 — Stjepan Bobek, Croatian footballer and manager (born 1923) Read more
• 2009 — Muriel Duckworth, Canadian pacifist, feminist, and activist (born 1908) Read more
• 2009 — Elmer Kelton, American journalist and author (born 1926) Read more
• 2008 — Gladys Powers, English-Canadian soldier (born 1899) Read more
• 2007 — Grace Paley, American short story writer and poet (born 1922) Read more
• 2005 — Luc Ferrari, French-Italian director and composer (born 1929) Read more
• 2005 — Ernest Kirkendall, American chemist and metallurgist (born 1914) Read more
• 2004 — Konstantin Aseev, Russian chess player and trainer (born 1960) Read more
• 2004 — Angus Bethune, Australian soldier and politician, 33rd Premier of Tasmania (born 1908) Read more
• 2004 — Daniel Petrie, Canadian director and producer (born 1920) Read more
• 2003 — Arnold Gerschwiler, Swiss figure skater and coach (born 1914) Read more
• 2000 — Abulfaz Elchibey, 2nd President of Azerbaijan (born 1938) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Immaculate Heart of Mary (Roman Catholic calendar of 1960); Christian feast day: John Kemble; Christian feast day: Queenship of Mary; Christian feast day: Blessed Symeon Lukach; Christian feast day: August 22 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief; Earliest day on which National Heroes' Day (Philippines) can fall, while August 28 is the latest; celebrated on the fourth Monday in August.; Flag Day (Russia); Madras Day (Chennai and Tamil Nadu, India)

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