On This Day in History — August 5

Highlights of August 5

• 2015 — United States Environmental Protection Agency personnel accidentally caused a spillage (aftermath pictured) of 3 million gallons (11 million litres) of mine waste water and tailings trapped inside the Gold King Mine near Silverton, Colorado. Read more
• 2012 — Radio Network House (pictured), damaged in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, becomes the first building to be demolished by implosion in New Zealand. Read more
• 2012 — An American white supremacist carried out a mass shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, killing six people and wounding four others. Read more
• 2012 — Radio Network House, damaged in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, becomes the first building to be demolished by implosion in New Zealand. Read more
• 2011 — NASA launched the Juno probe to Jupiter as part of the New Frontiers program. Read more
• 1993 — Wizards of the Coast released Magic: The Gathering, the first trading card game. Read more
• 1984 — A Biman Bangladesh Airlines aircraft crashed while attempting to land in Dhaka, killing 49 people in the deadliest aviation accident in Bangladeshi history. Read more
• 1981 — U.S. president Ronald Reagan fired the 11,345 striking members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization en masse. Read more
• 1973 — Due to an athletics scandal, the National Collegiate Athletic Association applied the death penalty to the basketball program at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. Read more
• 1969 — Police raided a screening of the film Lonesome Cowboys in Atlanta, Georgia, leading to the creation of a Gay Liberation Front in that city. Read more
• 1962 — American actress and model Marilyn Monroe was found dead of a barbiturate overdose in her home in Brentwood, Los Angeles. Read more
• 1949 — An earthquake registering 6.4 Ms struck near Ambato, Ecuador, killing 5,050 people. Read more
• 1916 — First World War: The British Empire's Sinai and Palestine campaign began with a victory at the Battle of Romani. Read more
• 1888 — Bertha Benz made the first long-distance automobile trip, driving 106 km (66 mi) from Mannheim to Pforzheim, Germany, in a Benz Patent-Motorwagen. Read more
• 1816 — Sir John Barrow, secretary at the Admiralty, rejected a proposal to use Francis Ronalds's electrical telegraph, deeming it "wholly unnecessary". Read more
• 1772 — Russia, Prussia and Habsburg Austria began the First Partition of Poland, with the primary motive to restore the regional balance of power in Eastern Europe. Read more
• 1716 — Austro-Turkish War: The Ottoman army were defeated in their attempt to capture the Habsburg-controlled Petrovaradin Fortress despite having twice the number of soldiers. Read more
• 1689 — Beaver Wars: Aggravated by increased French incursions into their territory, a large force of Mohawk warriors substantially destroyed the settlement of Lachine in present-day Quebec. Read more
• 1600 — Scottish nobleman John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie, was killed during what was most likely a failed attempt to kidnap King James VI. Read more
• 1506 — Muscovite–Lithuanian Wars: The Grand Duchy of Lithuania achieved one of the greatest Lithuanian victories against the Tatars at the Battle of Kletsk. Read more
• 1460 — The Kingdom of Scotland captures Roxburgh, one of the last English strongholds in Scotland, following a siege. Read more
• 1100 — Henry I was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey. Read more
• 25 — Liu Xiu (pictured) proclaimed himself the monarch of the Han dynasty as Emperor Guangwu. Read more

Events

• 2024 — Following the non-cooperation movement against the government of Bangladesh, Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina resigns and flees the country, ending her rule of 15 consecutive years and a total of almost two decades. The date is also known as 36 July. Read more
• 2021 — Australia's second most populous state Victoria enters its sixth COVID-19 lockdown, enacting stage four restrictions statewide in reaction to six new COVID-19 cases recorded that morning. Read more
• 2019 — The revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir (state) occurred and the state was bifurcated into two union territories (Jammu and Kashmir (union territory) and Ladakh). Read more
• 2015 — The Environmental Protection Agency at Gold King Mine waste water spill releases three million gallons of heavy metal toxin tailings and waste water into the Animas River in Colorado. Read more
• 2012 — The Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting took place in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, killing six victims; the perpetrator committed suicide after being wounded by police. Read more
• 2010 — The Copiapó mining accident occurs, trapping 33 Chilean miners approximately 2,300 ft (700 m) below the ground for 69 days. Read more
• 2010 — Ten members of International Assistance Mission Nuristan Eye Camp team are killed by persons unknown in Kuran wa Munjan District of Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan. Read more
• 2008 — The New England Revolution win the 2008 North American SuperLiga final against the Houston Dynamo. Read more
• 2003 — A car bomb explodes in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta outside the Marriott Hotel killing 12 and injuring 150. Read more
• 1995 — Yugoslav Wars: The city of Knin, Croatia, a significant Serb stronghold, is taken by Croatian forces during Operation Storm. The date is celebrated in Croatia as Victory Day. Read more
• 1984 — A Biman Bangladesh Airlines Fokker F27 Friendship crashes on approach to Zia International Airport, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, killing all 49 people on board. Read more
• 1981 — President Ronald Reagan fires 11,359 striking air-traffic controllers who ignored his order for them to return to work. Read more
• 1979 — In Afghanistan, Maoists undertake the Bala Hissar uprising against the Leninist government. Read more
• 1974 — Watergate scandal: President Richard Nixon, under orders of the US Supreme Court, releases the "Smoking Gun" tape, recorded on June 23, 1972, clearly revealing his actions in covering up and interfering investigations into the break-in. His political support vanishes completely. Read more
• 1973 — Mars 6 is launched from the USSR. Read more
• 1971 — The first Pacific Islands Forum (then known as the "South Pacific Forum") is held in Wellington, New Zealand, with the aim of enhancing cooperation between the independent countries of the Pacific Ocean. Read more
• 1969 — The Lonesome Cowboys police raid occurs in Atlanta, Georgia, leading to the creation of the Georgia Gay Liberation Front. Read more
• 1966 — A group of red guards at Experimental High in Beijing, including Deng Rong and Liu Pingping, daughters of Deng Xiaoping and Liu Shaoqi respectively, beat the deputy vice principal, Bian Zhongyun, to death with sticks after accusing her of counter-revolutionary revisionism, producing one of the first fatalities of the Cultural Revolution. Read more
• 1965 — The Indo-Pakistani war of 1965 begins as Pakistani soldiers cross the Line of Control dressed as locals. Read more
• 1964 — Vietnam War: Operation Pierce Arrow: American aircraft from carriers USS Ticonderoga and USS Constellation bomb North Vietnam in retaliation for strikes against U.S. destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin. Read more
• 1963 — Cold War: The United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union sign the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Read more
• 1962 — Apartheid: Nelson Mandela is jailed. He would not be released until 1990. Read more
• 1962 — American actress Marilyn Monroe is found dead at her home from a drug overdose. Read more
• 1960 — Burkina Faso, then known as Upper Volta, becomes independent from France. Read more
• 1957 — American Bandstand, a show dedicated to the teenage "baby-boomers" by playing the songs and showing popular dances of the time, debuts on the ABC television network. Read more
• 1949 — In Ecuador, an earthquake destroys 50 towns and kills more than 6,000. Read more
• 1949 — In Montana, 12 smokejumper firefighters and a US Forest Service fire guard are killed in the Mann Gulch Fire. Read more
• 1944 — World War II: At least 1,104 Japanese POWs in Australia attempt to escape from a camp at Cowra, New South Wales; 545 temporarily succeed but are later either killed, commit suicide, or are recaptured. Read more
• 1944 — World War II: Polish insurgents liberate a German labor camp (Gęsiówka) in Warsaw, freeing 348 Jewish prisoners. Read more
• 1944 — World War II: The Nazis begin a week-long massacre of between 40,000 and 50,000 civilians and prisoners of war in Wola, Poland. Read more
• 1940 — World War II: The Soviet Union formally annexes Latvia. Read more
• 1939 — The Thirteen Roses: Thirteen female members of the Unified Socialist Youth are executed by Francoist forces in Madrid, Spain. Read more
• 1931 — Judge and Nazi Party member Werner Best drafts the Boxheim Documents, which described a violent takeover of the government by the NSDAP. Read more
• 1926 — Harry Houdini performs his greatest feat, spending 91 minutes underwater in a sealed tank before escaping. Read more
• 1925 — Plaid Cymru is formed with the aim of disseminating knowledge of the Welsh language that is at the time in danger of dying out. Read more
• 1916 — World War I: Battle of Romani: Allied forces, under the command of Archibald Murray, defeat an attacking Ottoman army under the command of Friedrich Freiherr Kress von Kressenstein, securing the Suez Canal and beginning the Ottoman retreat from the Sinai Peninsula. Read more
• 1914 — World War I: The German minelayer SS Königin Luise lays a minefield about 40 miles (64 km) off the Thames Estuary (Lowestoft). She is intercepted and sunk by the British light-cruiser HMS Amphion. Read more
• 1914 — World War I: The guns of Point Nepean fort at Port Phillip Heads in Victoria (Australia) fire across the bows of the Norddeutscher Lloyd steamer SS Pfalz which is attempting to leave the Port of Melbourne in ignorance of the declaration of war and she is detained; this is said to be the first Allied shot of the War. Read more
• 1914 — In Cleveland, Ohio, the first electric traffic light is installed. Read more
• 1906 — Persian Constitutional Revolution: Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar, King of Iran, agrees to convert the government to a constitutional monarchy. Read more
• 1901 — Peter O'Connor sets the first World Athletics recognised long jump world record of 24 ft 11.75 in (7.6137 m), a record that would stand for 20 years. Read more
• 1888 — Bertha Benz drives from Mannheim to Pforzheim and back in the first long distance automobile trip, commemorated as the Bertha Benz Memorial Route since 2008. Read more
• 1884 — The cornerstone for the Statue of Liberty is laid on Bedloe's Island (now Liberty Island) in New York Harbor. Read more
• 1882 — Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, today known as ExxonMobil, is established officially. The company would later grow to become the holder of all Standard Oil companies and the entity at the center of the breakup of Standard Oil. Read more
• 1874 — Japan launches its postal savings system, modeled after a similar system in the United Kingdom. Read more
• 1864 — American Civil War: The Battle of Mobile Bay begins at Mobile Bay near Mobile, Alabama, Admiral David Farragut leads a Union flotilla through Confederate defenses and seals one of the last major Southern ports. Read more
• 1862 — American Civil War: Battle of Baton Rouge: Along the Mississippi River near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Confederate troops attempt to take the city, but are driven back by fire from Union gunboats. Read more
• 1861 — American Civil War: In order to help pay for the war effort, the United States government levies the first income tax as part of the Revenue Act of 1861 (3% of all incomes over US$800; rescinded in 1872). Read more
• 1861 — The United States Army abolishes flogging. Read more
• 1860 — Charles XV of Sweden–Norway is crowned king of Norway in Trondheim. Read more
• 1858 — Cyrus West Field and others complete the first transatlantic telegraph cable after several unsuccessful attempts. It will operate for less than a month. Read more
• 1824 — Greek War of Independence: Konstantinos Kanaris leads a Greek fleet to victory against Ottoman and Egyptian naval forces in the Battle of Samos. Read more
• 1816 — The British Admiralty dismisses Francis Ronalds's new invention of the first working electric telegraph as "wholly unnecessary", preferring to continue using the semaphore. Read more
• 1796 — The Battle of Castiglione in Napoleon's first Italian campaigns of the French Revolutionary Wars results in a French victory. Read more
• 1781 — British and Dutch ships engage in the second Battle of Dogger Bank. Read more
• 1772 — First Partition of Poland: The representatives of Austria, Prussia, and Russia sign three bilateral conventions condemning the "anarchy" of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and imputing to the three powers "ancient and legitimate rights" to the territories of the Commonwealth. The conventions allow each of the three great powers to annex a part of the Commonwealth, which they proceed to do over the course of the following two months. Read more
• 1766 — An earthquake in the Sea of Marmara and Gallipoli (present-day Turkey) along the North Anatolian Fault kills at least 5,000 people. Read more
• 1763 — Pontiac's War: Battle of Bushy Run: British forces led by Henry Bouquet defeat Chief Pontiac's Indians at Bushy Run. Read more
• 1735 — Freedom of the press: New York Weekly Journal writer John Peter Zenger is acquitted of seditious libel against the royal governor of New York, on the basis that what he had published was true. Read more
• 1716 — Austro-Turkish War (1716–1718):The Austrians defeat the Ottomans in the Battle of Petrovaradin. One-fifth of a Turkish army and the Grand Vizier are killed. Read more

Born on August 5

• 2008 — Hudson Meek, American actor (died 2024) Read more
• 2004 — Gavi, Spanish footballer Read more
• 2003 — Toni Shaw, British Paralympic swimmer Read more
• 2001 — Anthony Edwards, American basketball player Read more
• 2000 — Tom Gilbert, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1999 — Kim Si-hyeon, South Korean singer Read more
• 1998 — Adam Doueihi, Australian-Lebanese rugby league player Read more
• 1997 — Jack Cogger, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1997 — Olivia Holt, American actress and singer Read more
• 1997 — Wang Yibo, Chinese dancer, singer and actor Read more
• 1997 — Yungblud, English musician and actor Read more
• 1996 — Takakeishō Mitsunobu, Japanese sumo wrestler Read more
• 1996 — Cho Seung-youn, South Korean singer-songwriter and rapper Read more
• 1995 — Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Danish footballer Read more
• 1994 — Natalia García, Spanish rhythmic gymnast Read more
• 1991 — Esteban Gutiérrez, Mexican race car driver Read more
• 1991 — Wi Ha-joon, South Korean actor Read more
• 1991 — Konrad Hurrell, Tongan rugby league player Read more
• 1991 — Daniëlle van de Donk, Dutch footballer Read more
• 1991 — Andreas Weimann, Austrian footballer Read more
• 1989 — Ryan Bertrand, English footballer Read more
• 1989 — Mathieu Manset, French footballer Read more
• 1988 — Michael Jamieson, Scottish-English swimmer Read more
• 1988 — Federica Pellegrini, Italian swimmer Read more
• 1987 — Orce Gjorgjievski, Macedonian politician Read more
• 1986 — Paula Creamer, American golfer Read more
• 1986 — Kathrin Zettel, Austrian skier Read more
• 1985 — Laurent Ciman, Belgian footballer Read more
• 1985 — Salomon Kalou, Ivorian footballer Read more
• 1985 — Gil Vermouth, Israeli footballer Read more
• 1985 — Erkan Zengin, Swedish footballer Read more
• 1984 — Steve Matai, New Zealand rugby league player Read more
• 1982 — Jamie Houston, English-German rugby player Read more
• 1982 — Lolo Jones, American hurdler Read more
• 1982 — Michele Pazienza, Italian footballer Read more
• 1982 — Jeff Robson, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1982 — Pete Sell, American mixed martial artist Read more
• 1981 — David Clarke, English ice hockey player Read more
• 1981 — Carl Crawford, American baseball player Read more
• 1981 — Maik Franz, German footballer Read more

Died on August 5

• 2025 — Col Joye, Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1937) Read more
• 2022 — Judith Durham, Australian singer-songwriter (born 1943) Read more
• 2022 — Cherie Gil, Filipino actress (born 1963) Read more
• 2022 — Ali Haydar, Syrian army officer (born 1932) Read more
• 2022 — Issey Miyake, Japanese fashion designer (born 1938) Read more
• 2022 — Dillon Quirke, Irish hurler (born 1998) Read more
• 2020 — Hawa Abdi, Somali human rights activist and physician (born 1947) Read more
• 2019 — Toni Morrison, American author, Pulitzer Prize winner, and Nobel laureate (born 1931). Read more
• 2018 — Alan Rabinowitz, American zoologist (born 1953) Read more
• 2015 — Arthur Walter James, English journalist and politician (born 1912) Read more
• 2015 — Tony Millington, Welsh footballer (born 1943) Read more
• 2014 — Harold J. Greene, American general (born 1962) Read more
• 2014 — Vladimir Orlov, Russian author (born 1936) Read more
• 2014 — Chapman Pincher, Indian-English historian, journalist, and author (born 1914) Read more
• 2014 — Jesse Leonard Steinfeld, American physician and academic, 11th Surgeon General of the United States (born 1927) Read more
• 2013 — Ruth Asawa, American sculptor and educator (born 1926) Read more
• 2013 — Shawn Burr, Canadian-American ice hockey player (born 1966) Read more
• 2013 — Willie Dunn, Canadian singer-songwriter and producer (born 1942) Read more
• 2013 — Roy Rubin, American basketball player and coach (born 1925) Read more
• 2013 — May Song Vang, American activist (born 1951) Read more
• 2013 — Rob Wyda, American commander and judge (born 1959) Read more
• 2012 — Erwin Axer, Polish director and screenwriter (born 1917) Read more
• 2012 — Michel Daerden, Belgian lawyer and politician (born 1949) Read more
• 2012 — Fred Matua, American football player (born 1984) Read more
• 2012 — Martin E. Segal, Russian-American businessman, co-founded Film Society of Lincoln Center (born 1916) Read more
• 2012 — Chavela Vargas, Costa Rican-Mexican singer-songwriter and actress (born 1919) Read more
• 2012 — Roland Charles Wagner, French author and translator (born 1960) Read more
• 2011 — Andrzej Lepper, Polish farmer and politician, Deputy Prime Minister of Poland (born 1954) Read more
• 2011 — Aziz Shavershian, Australian bodybuilder (born 1989) Read more
• 2009 — Budd Schulberg, American author, screenwriter, and producer (born 1914) Read more
• 2008 — Neil Bartlett, English-American chemist and academic (born 1932) Read more
• 2008 — Reg Lindsay, Australian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (born 1929) Read more
• 2007 — Jean-Marie Lustiger, French cardinal (born 1926) Read more
• 2007 — Florian Pittiș, Romanian actor, singer, director, and producer (born 1943) Read more
• 2005 — Polina Astakhova, Russian gymnast and coach (born 1936) Read more
• 2005 — Jim O'Hora, American football player and coach (born 1915) Read more
• 2005 — Raul Roco, Filipino lawyer and politician, 31st Filipino Secretary of Education (born 1941) Read more
• 2005 — Eddie Jenkins, Welsh footballer (born 1909) Read more
• 2002 — Josh Ryan Evans, American actor (born 1982) Read more
• 2002 — Chick Hearn, American sportscaster (born 1916) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Abel of Reims; Christian feast day: Addai; Christian feast day: Afra; Christian feast day: Cassian of Autun; Christian feast day: Dedication of the Basilica of St Mary Major (Catholic Church); Christian feast day: Emygdius; Christian feast day: Margaret the Barefooted; Christian feast day: Memnius; Christian feast day: Nonna of Nazianzus; Christian feast day: Oswald of Northumbria; Christian feast day: August 5 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Independence Day (Burkina Faso); July Mass Uprising Day (Bangladesh); Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian defenders (Croatia)

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