Events on Aug 20
- 0573Gregory of Tours selected Bishop of Tours
- 0917Battle at Anchialus: Bulgaria army counter attacks Byzantines
- 1191Crusader King Richard I kills 3,000 muslim prisoners in Akko
- 1534Turkish Admiral Chaireddin"Barbarossa" occupies Tunis
- 1566Iconoclasm reaches Antwerp Belgium
- 1585English Queen Elizabeth I signs Treaty of Nonsuch: aid to the Netherland
- 15971st Dutch East India Company ships returned from Far East
- 1604Spanish garrison of Sluis surrenders to count Maurice
- 16191st Black slaves brought by Dutch to colony of Jamestown Virginia
- 1641Britain and Scotland sign Treaty of Pacification
- 1741Alaska discovered by Danish explorer Vitus Bering
- 1781George Washington begins to move his troops south to fight Cornwallis
- 1791Danish navigator Vitus Jonas Bering discovers Alaska
- 1794Gen Mad Anthony Wayne defeated the Indians at Fallen Timbers Ohio
- 1795Joseph Haydn returns to Vienna from England
- 1852Steamer "Atlantic" collided with fishing boat, sinks with 250 aboard
- 1856Wilberforce University forms in Ohio
- 1861Skirmish at Jonesboro, Missouri
- 18648th / last day of battle at Deep Bottom Run Va (about 3900 casualties)
- 1865President Johnson proclaims an end to "insurrection" in Texas
- 1866President Andrew Johnson formally declares Civil War over
- 1879Government Kappeijne of Coppello resigns
- 1893Shechita (ritual slaughtering) prohibited in Switzerland
- 1895Start of Sherlock Holmes "Adventure of Norwood Builder" (BG)
- 1896Dial telephone patented
- 1901Fawcett committee visits Mafeking concentration camp in Cape Colony
- 1908Congo Free State becomes Belgian Congo
- 1910US supported opposition brings down Madriz in Nicaragua
- 1912Plant Quarantine Act goes into effect
- 1912Washingston Senator Carl Cushion no-hits Cleveland Indians, 2-0 in 6 innings
Born on Aug 20
- 1517Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle: Cardinal / Viceroy of Naples (1571-75)
- 1526Peter Opmeer: Church historian / humanist (Historia Martyrum)
- 1561Jacopo Peri: Composer
- 1625Thomas Corneille: French playwright
- 1637Cornelis Van Aerssen: Dutch Governor / co-owner of Surinam
- 1665Bernardus Smijtegelt: Vicar (Gekrookte Reed)
- 1702Stepan F graaf Apraksin: Russian General-Field Marshal
- 1710Thomas Simpson: English mathematician (rules of Simpson)
- 1720Bernard de Bury: Composer
- 1756Bernardo Bittoni: Composer
- 1764Charles F Bentinck: Dutch Minister of Colonies
- 1785Oliver Hazard Perry: US Naval hero ("We have met the enemy")
- 1788Jose Bernardo Alcedo: Composer
- 1799Heinrich WA Freiherr von Gagern: German liberal politician
- 1802Cadwalader Ringgold: Commander (Union Navy), died in 1867
- 1811Gilman Marston: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1890
- 1820Adolfe Louis Eugene Fetis: Composer
- 1824Absalom Baird: Bvt Major General (Union Army), died in 1905
- 1832Thaddeus Sobieski Constantine Lowe: Inventor, died in 1913
- 1833Benjamin Harrison: North Bend, Ohio -- (R) 23rd President (1889-1893)
- 1842Juliaan de Vriendt: Flemish painter
- 1873Eliel Saarinen: Finland -- Architect (GM Tech Institute, Michigan)
- 1873William Henry Bell: Composer
- 1881Edgar Albert Guest: Detroit, Michigan -- Poet / newspaperman
- 1881Nikolay Yakovlevich Myaskovsky: Composer
- 1885Dino Campana: Italian poet (Canti orfici)
- 1886Paul Tillich: German / US theologist (Die sozial Entscheidung)
- 1888George Sklavos: Composer
- 1889Witold Friemann: Composer
- 1890H P Lovecraft: United States -- Gothic Novelist (At the Mountains of Madness)
Died on Aug 20
- 0984John XIV [Petrus Canepanova]: Italian Pope (983-84)
- 1153Bernard[us] van Clairvaux: French saint
- 1384Geert Great [Gerardus Magnus]: Theologist (Getijdenboek)
- 1538Aefgen Listinck: Dutch anabaptist, burned at stake
- 1632Valentin de Boulogne: French painter, buried at 38
- 1639Martin Opitz: German Poet / Historian (Troerinnen), dies at 41
- 1648Edward Herbert of Cherbury: English military / philosopher, dies at 65
- 1672Cornelis de Witt: Dutch, statesman, lynched at 49
- 1672Johan de Witt: Advisor of Holland, lynched
- 1679Jacob Alting: Dutch theologist, dies at 60
- 1799Johann Christian Gottlob Eidenbenz: Composer, dies at 37
- 1804Charles Floyd: Only fatality of the Lewis & Clark Expedition
- 1813Jan Krtitel Vanhal: Composer, dies at 74
- 1823Pius VII [Luigi B Chiaramonti]: Pope (1800-23), dies at 83
- 1825Richard Wainwright: Composer, dies at 68
- 1854Friedrich WJ von Schelling: German philosopher, dies at 79
- 1856Philipp Jakob Riotte: Composer, dies at 80
- 1864Daniel Chaplin: US Union Brigadier General
- 1864John H Kelly: US Confederate Brigadier General, dies in battle at 24
- 1885Edouard J A Agneessens: Flemish Painter (Slave Market), dies at 42
- 1908Louis Varney: Composer, dies at 64
- 1910Arthur Coquard: Composer, dies at 64
- 1912William Booth: English Minister / founder (Leader des Heils)
- 1914Pius X [Giuseppe M Sarto]: Pope (1903-14)
- 1915Paul Ehrlich: German geneologist (Chemotherapy, Nobel 1908)
- 1917JFW Adolf Ritter von Baeyer: German chemist (Nobel 1905)
- 1931Waldemar von Baussnern: Composer, dies at 64
- 1932Emille-Louis-Victor Mathieu: Composer, dies at 87
- 1932Paul Keller: German writer (Vergrabenes Gut), dies at 59
- 1932Tadeusz Joteyko: Composer, dies at 60
Historical events on August 21
- 0959Erachus becomes Bishop of Luik
- 1321160 Jews of Chincon France, burned at stake
- 1560Tycho Brahe becomes interested in astronomy
- 1673Sea battle at Kijkduin: De Ruyter defeats English and French fleet
- 1703Turkish army removes Sultan Mustafa II
- 1718Emperor Karel VI, Turkey and Venice sign peace treaty
- 1831Nat Turner slave revolt kills 55 (Southampton County, Virginia)
- 1841John Hampton patents venetian blind
- 18581st Lincoln-Douglas debate (Illinois)
- 1863Raid at Lawrence KS by William Quantrill
- 1864Battle at Globe Tavern, Virginia, ends after 2500 casualties
- 1864Battle of Grubbs Crossroads, Kentucky
- 1864Battle of Summit Point, Virginia
- 1864General Major Nathan B Forrests assault on Memphis, Tennessee
- 1878American Bar Association organizes at Sarasota, New York
- 1883Providence shuts out Phillies 28-0
- 1887Mighty (Dan) Casey struck-out in a game with New York Giants!
- 1888William Seward Burroughs patents adding machine
- 1891Dutch Mackay government resigns
- 1897Oldsmobile begins operation as a General Motors Corp division
- 190121st US Mens Tennis: William Larned beats Beals C Wright (62 68 64 64)
- 1901Joe McGinnity, suspended from NL for punching and spitting on an ump
- 1912Mr Carter-Cotton chosen 1st chancellor of University of British Columbia
- 191420th US Golf Open: Walter Hagen shoots a 290 at Midlothian Country Club - Illinois
- 1914Belgium: German troops occupy Tamines
- 1914French offensive in the Ardennen / Sambre
- 19203rd PGA Championship: Jock Hutchison at Flossmoor Country Club - Flossmoor, Illinois
- 1922Curly Lambeau and Green Bay Football Club granted NFL franchise
- 1925BV Emmen soccer team forms
- 1926White Sox Ted Lyons no hits Red Sox 6-0 in just 67 minutes at Fenway
Born on August 21
- 1165Philip II Augustus: 1st great Capetian King of France (1179-1223)
- 1567Francois de Sales: French Bishop of Geneva / writer / Saint
- 1642Johann Friedrich Treiber: Composer
- 1643Afonso VI: King of Portugal (1656-67) (mentally ill)
- 1660Hubert Gautier: Engineer (wrote 1st book on bridge building)
- 1689Jose Pradas Gallen: Composer
- 1721Lucretia W van Winter-van Merken: Dutch poet
- 1725Jean-Baptiste Greuze: French painter
- 1751Johann Georg Witthauer: Composer
- 1765William IV: King of England (1830-37)
- 1780Jernej Kopitar: Slovenian censor (Slovenian Grammar)
- 1789Augustin-Louis Baron Cauchy: French mathematician
- 1801Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer: WWII Dutch Statesman / historian
- 1806Johannes Frederick Frohlich: Composer
- 1809Francesco Schira: Composer
- 1810Thomas Jefferson McKean: Bvt Major General (Union volunteers)
- 1821William Barksdale: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1863
- 1824John Sanford Mason: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1897
- 1825Kate Fanny Loder: Composer
- 1829Otto Goldschmidt: Composer
- 1852Benedetto Junck: Composer
- 1871Leonid N Andrejev: Russian journalist / writer (Red Laugh)
- 1872Aubrey Beardsley: England, United Kingdom -- Artist (Salome)
- 1874Herman A van Karnebeek: Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs (1918-27)
- 1875Maurice Lippens: Belgian Earl / Minister / Governor of Congo
- 1879Henry Ainley: Leeds, England -- Actor (As You Like It)
- 1880Johan H Westerveld: Dutch WWII resistance fighter / leader (OD)
- 1890Bill Henry: San Francisco, California -- Newscaster (Who Said That?)
- 1892Charles Vanel: Rennes, France -- Actor (Wages of Fear)
- 1893Juliette Marie Olga Lili Boulanger: Composer
Died on August 21
- 1131Boudouin II van Bourg: King of Jerusalem
- 1190Godfried III: Duke of Brabant (Grimbergse war)
- 1245Alexander van Hales: English scholar
- 1516John III van Egmont [Manke John]: Viceroy of Holland, dies at 78
- 1627Jacques Mauduit: Composer, dies at 69
- 1629Camillo Procaccini: Italian Painter / etcher
- 1673Isaac Sweers: Dutch fleet Admiral / Civil rights activist, dies at 51
- 1673John de Love I: Vice-admiral, dies in sea battle at about 54
- 1723Dimitrie Cantemir: Philosopher / Monarch of Moldova 1710-11, dies at 49
- 1772Alessandro Felici: Composer, dies at 29
- 1772Johann Andreas Joseph Giulini: Composer, dies at 48
- 1785Jean B Pigalle: French Sculptor (Child with Pigeon)
- 1798Corneille F de Nelis: Flemish Scholar / Bishop of Antwerp, dies at 62
- 1812Silverius Muller: Composer, dies at 67
- 1824John Taylor: Philosopher (Jeffersonian Democracy), dies at 70
- 1824Santiago Ferrer: Composer, dies at 62
- 1838A v Chamisso: Writer, dies at 57
- 1856Peter Joseph von Lindpaintner: Composer, dies at 64
- 1864John Calhoun Sanders: Confederate Brigadier General, dies in battle at 24
- 1888Simon Vissering: Dutch Minister of Finance (1879-81), dies at 70
- 1898Nicola van Westerhout: Composer, dies at 40
- 1905Jules Oppert: German Assyriologist (decodes characters), dies at 80
- 1932Frederick Corder: Composer, dies at 80
- 1935Josef Cyril Sychra: Composer, dies at 76
- 1940Leon Trotsky: Russian revolutionary, icepicked by Frank Jackson at 62
- 1940Paul Juon: Russian / Swiss violinist / composer, dies at 68
- 1942Kiyoano Ichiki: Japanese Colonel (WWII)
- 1943Henrik Pontoppidan: Writer (Peter Gelukkige, Nobel 1917), dies at 86
- 1947Ettore Bugatti: Italian / French car manufacturer
- 1949Gerhard von Keussler: Composer, dies at 75
Events on Aug 22
- 0565St. Columba reported seeing monster in Loch Ness
- 1138English defeated Scots at Cowton Moor Banners of various saints were carried into battle which led to being called Battle of the Standard
- 1454Jews are expelled from Brunn Moravia by order of King Ladislaus
- 1572Failed assassination on Admiral De Coligny
- 1582King James IV of Scotland captured
- 16031st stones layed in Zuiderkerk Amsterdam
- 1614Trades people under Vincent Fettmilch chase and plunder Jews out of ghetto in Frankfurt
- 1632Prince Frederik Hendrik occupies Maastricht
- 1642Civil War in England began between Royalists and Parliament
- 16541st Jewish immigrant to US, Jacob Barsimson arrives in New Amsterdam
- 1707Prince Eugenius van Savoye siege of Toulon
- 1707Sweden and Prussia sign military treaty
- 1717Spanish troops lands on Sardinia
- 17621st female (Ann Franklin) US newspaper editor, Newport RI, Mercury
- 1775King George III proclaims colonies to be in open rebellion
- 1780Resolution, without Captain Cook, returns to England
- 1788Sierra Leone, settled by British as a former haven for slaves
- 1791Haitian Slave Revolution begins under voodoo priest Boukman
- 1818Grand duchy of Bathe forms
- 1826Colonies under Jedediah Strong Smith move near Salt Lake City, Utah
- 1846US annexes New Mexico
- 1851Gold fields discovered in Australia
- 1862Santee Sioux indian attack Fort Ridgely
- 1864Geneva Convention signed by 12 nations
- 1864International Red Cross forms
- 1867Fisk University forms, 1867
- 1901Cadillac Co forms
- 1902President Teddy Roosevelt became 1st US chief executive to ride in a car
- 19061st Victor Victrola manufactured
- 1907Colin Buchanan, town planner
Born on Aug 22
- 1530Bartolomeo Spontone: Composer
- 1615Christopher Gibbons: Composer
- 1647Denis Papin: French physicist (Papiniaanse pot, steam machine)
- 1681Pierre Danican Philidor: Composer
- 1753Christian Friedrich Ruppe: Composer
- 1760Leo XII [Annibale Sermattei]: Italy -- Pope (1823-29)
- 1766Joseph-Denis Doche: Composer
- 1771Jan Joseph Rosler: Composer
- 1788Thomas Tredgold: Engineer / carpenter
- 1795Abraham Capadose: Physician / Missionary
- 1822George Stoneman: US Union General Major / (Gov-California, 1883-87)
- 1827Edouard Silas: Composer
- 1827Josef Strauss: Austria -- Composer (Dorfschwalben aus Austria)
- 1827Joseph Anthony Mower: Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1870
- 1834Nathaniel Harrison Harris: Brigadier General (Confederate Army)
- 1846B Amalie Skram-Alver: Norway -- Writer (Hellemyrsfolket)
- 1847Alexander Campbell Mackenzie: Composer
- 1852Alfredo Oriani: Italian writer (Political Struggle in Italy)
- 1854Milan I: King of Serbia
- 1860Paul G Nipkow: German TV pioneer (Nipkow Award)
- 1862Claude Debussy: St. Germain-en-Laye, France -- Composer (La Mer, Clair de lune)
- 1865Piet A W Hopmans: Bishop of Breda (Eucharistic Crusade)
- 1873Karl Nef: Switzerland -- Musicologist
- 1874Edward Cuthbert Bairstow: Composer
- 1874Max Scheler: German philosopher (Vom Umsturz der Werte)
- 1888Violet Farebrother: Grimsby, England -- Actress (Downhill, Easy Virtue)
- 1890Floyd Henri Allport: US psychologist / sociologist
- 1891Francis McDonald: Bowling Green, Kentucky -- Actor (Will-Adv of Champion)
- 1891Jacques Lipchitz: Polish / French / US painter / cubist sculptor
- 1893Dorothy Parker: New Jersey, United States -- Short story writer (1958 Marjorie Peabody Award)
Died on Aug 22
- 0408Flavius Stilicho: West Roman field leader (395-408), dies at 48
- 0634Abd Allah Abu Bekr: Arabic Merchant / 1st kalief of Islam
- 1241Gregory IX [Ugolino di Segni]: Italian Pope
- 1280Nicholas III [Giovanni Gaetano Orsini]: Italian Pope (1277-80)
- 1286Erik V Klipping: King of Denmark, murdered
- 1350Philips VI: Of Valois, King of France (1328-50)
- 1367Egidius AC Albornor: Spanish Archbishop of Toledo, dies at about 57
- 1485Richard III: King of England (1483-85), killed in battle at 32
- 1532William Warham: English Archbishop of Canterbury (1502-32), dies at 82
- 1553John Dudley: English Lord Admiral / Premier (1551-53), beheaded
- 1755Caspar Burman: Historian / mayor (Utrecht)
- 1793Louis Duke de Noailles: Marshal of France, dies at 80
- 1801Pieter G van Overstraten: Governor-General of the Netherlands Indies, dies at 46
- 1818Warren Hastings: 1st Governor-General of India (1773-84), dies at 85
- 1828Franz Joseph Gall: German / French Physician (frenology), dies at 70
- 1850Nikolaus Lenau: Writer, dies at 48
- 1862Henry Bohlen: German / US Brigadier General (Union), dies in battle at 51
- 1874Sydney Thompson Dobell: Poet
- 1879Friedrich August Kummer: Composer, dies at 82
- 1886Jose da Silva Mendes Leal: Portuguese Author (Indiana), dies at 67
- 1889John Sanger: Circus entrepreneur
- 1890Vasile Alecsandri: Romania Poet / Foreign minister, dies at 69
- 1893Ernst II: Duke of Saxony-Coburg-Gotha (1844-93) / composer, dies at 75
- 1901Gunnar Wennerberg: Composer, dies at 83
- 1903Robert A T G C Salisbury: British Premier (1885..1902), dies at 73
- 1912Pope Gregory IX
- 1914Raffenel: French General (3rd Colonial Div, WWI), dies in battle
- 1914Rondoney: French General (3rd Colonial Div, WWI), dies in battle
- 1920Anders Zorn: Swedish Painter (Gustavus Vasa), dies at 60
- 1922Michael Collins: Irish nationalist leader, killed in ambush