Events on Aug 7
- 0626Battle at Constantinople: Slavic / Persians / Avarenvloot defeated
- 0768Stephen III [IV] begins his reign as Catholic Pope
- 0936Otto I the Great becomes King of Germany
- 1409Council of Pisa closes
- 1479Battle of Guinegate: Emperor Maximilian I vs. King Louis XI
- 1485Henry (VII) Tudors army lands in Milford Harbor, South-Wales
- 1498Columbus arrives in Caribbean
- 1573Francis Drakes fleet returns to Plymouth
- 1575Spanish troops conquer Oudewater, almost all inhabitants died
- 1710Earl van Godolphin resigns as English Minister of Finance
- 1750Slave uprising on Curacao
- 1760Ft Loudon, Tennessee surrenders to Cherokee Indians
- 1782George Washington creates Order of Purple Heart
- 1789Congress creates Department of War & Lighthouse Service
- 1802Napoleon orders re-instatement of slavery on St. Domingue (Haiti)
- 1814Pope Pius VII reinstates Jesuits
- 18201st potatoes planted in Hawaii
- 1867Battle of Moorefield, West Virginia
- 1882Hatfields of south WV and McCoys of east Ky feud, 100 wounded or die
- 1884Germany annexes Angra Pequena (Southwest-Africa)
- 18855 German warships anchor at Zanzibar
- 1888Theophilus Van Kannel of Philadelphia patents revolving door
- 189353rd Congress (1893-95) convenes
- 1900Diamond workers in Amsterdam strike
- 1904Train derailed on bridge in Eden Colo during a flash flood, kills 96
- 1907Walter Johnson wins 1st of his 416 wins, 7-2 over Cleveland
- 1909US issues 1st Lincoln penny
- 1912Progressive (Bull Moose) Party nominates Theodore Roosevelt for President
- 1914British Gloucester vs. German Breslau / Goeben off Greece
- 1914French government awards King Albert of Belgium the Great Cross
Born on Aug 7
- 0317Flavius Julius Constantius II: Emperor Egypt / Byzantine / Rome (337-61)
- 1598Georg Stiernhielm: "father of Swedish poetry" (Hercules)
- 1742Nathanael Greene: American Revoluntionary War General
- 1746Daniel W Wyttenbach: Dutch classical / historian
- 1751Wilhelmina FS: Princess of Prussia / Orange / Wife of Willem V
- 1779Carl Ritter: Cofounder of modern science of geography
- 1783John Heathcoat: Inventor (lace-making machinery)
- 1818Henry Charles Litolff: French composer / pianist
- 1823Faustina Hasse Hodges: Composer
- 1826Carl AE Ahlqvist [A Oksanen]: Finnish poet (Suomalainen Runousoppi)
- 1829Thomas Ewing, Jr.: Major General, Bvt (Union volunteers), died in 1896
- 1833Powell Clayton: Brigadier General (Union volunteers) / (Gov-R-Ark)
- 1836Evander McIvor Law: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1920
- 1867Emil Nolde [Hansen]: German painter / graphic artist
- 1868Granville Bantock: English composer / conductor (Hebridean Symphony)
- 187019 kittens: Born to Tarawood Antigone (4 still born)
- 1870Jozef Brems: Flemish apostole (vicar of Denmark)
- 1872Andries C D de Graeff: Governor-General of the Netherlands Indies (1926-31)
- 1880Ernst Laqueur: Chemist / pharmacology / psychology (sexual hormones)
- 1883J Ringelnatz: Writer
- 1885Billie Burke: Washington, DC -- Actress (Glinda-Wizard of Oz)
- 1885Gordon Harker: London, England -- Actor (Facts of Love, Champagne)
- 1886Louis Hazeltine: Inventor (neutrodyne circuit, making radio possible)
- 1887Jan HA Eman: Aruban politician
- 1887Luckey Roberts: Composer
- 1895Edward Gill: Baseball player
- 1897Franz J Weinrich [Heinrich Lerse]: German writer (Himmlisches)
- 1899Ricci Riano: England, United Kingdom
- 1900Taylor Caldwell: Novelist
- 1903Louis Leakey: Anthropologist (1964 Richard Hooper Medal)
Died on Aug 7
- 1033Frederick II: Duke of Upper Lorraine
- 1106Henry IV: Roman German King / Emperor (1056 / 84-1105), dies at 54
- 1547Cajetanus van Thiene: Italian saint
- 1609Eustache du Caurroy: Composer, dies at 60
- 1616Vincenzo Scamozzi: Ital Architect (Procurazie Nuove, Venice)
- 1657Robert Blake: English Admiral (Dover, Dungeness), dies at about 57
- 1712Friederich Wilhelm Zachow: Composer, dies at 48
- 1786Friedrich Schwindl: Composer, dies at 49
- 1798Johann Gottlieb Sollner: Composer, dies at 65
- 1799John Bacon: English sculptor, dies at 58
- 1816Dionysius G van der Keessel: Dut lawyer (Theses selectae), dies at 77
- 1846Johann Christian Heinrich Rinck: Composer, dies at 76
- 1867Ira F Aldridge: US actor (Othello / Shylock), dies at 63 in Lodes, Poland
- 1885Antony EJ Modderman: Dutch Minister of Justice (1879-83), dies at 46
- 1893Alfredo Catalani: Composer, dies at 39
- 1913David Popper: Composer, dies at 70
- 1914Boleslaw Dembinski: Composer, dies at 81
- 1916Charles E Manning: Australian judge / major, dies in battle at 36
- 1921Alexander A Block: Russian Poet (Dvenatsat), dies at 40
- 1923Hendrik Pierson: Dutch Theologist (H Pierson Foundation), dies at 89
- 1924Camille Zeckwer: Composer, dies at 49
- 1931Leon Bismarck "Bix" Beiderbecke: Jazz cornetist (In Mist), dies at 29
- 1938Konstantin S Stanislavski: Russian director (S Method), dies at 75
- 1941Radindranath Tagore: Indian philosopher / Poet / writer, dies at 80
- 1942Richard Gott: British General / Commandant of 8th Army, dies in battle at 43
- 1957Oliver Hardy: Comedian of Laurel & Hardy, dies at 65
- 1959Armas Emmanuel Launis: Composer, dies at 75
- 1960Vaino Hannikainen: Composer, dies at 60
- 1962Morris Louis: US Painter (post painterly abstraction), dies at 49
- 1967Max Branch: Music / radio commentator, dies at 75
Historical events on August 8
- 0070Tower of Antonia destroyed by Romans
- 0870Kings Charles the Bare and Louis the German divide Lutherans
- 0936German King Otto I the Great, crowned
- 1322Emperor Godaigo, makes Sojiji monastery. chief monastery of Soto Sect
- 1502Jacobus IV of Scotland marries Margaretha Tudor
- 1549France declares war on England
- 1570Peace of Saint-Germain-and-Laye, more freedom for huguenots
- 1585Pope Sixtus excommunicates Hendrik van Navarra (Henri IV)
- 1588Sea battle at Grevelingen: English fleet battles Spanish armada
- 1673Dutch battle fleet of 23 ships demands surrender of New York City
- 1700Denmark and Sweden sign peace treaty
- 17091st known ascent in hot-air balloon, Bartolomeu de Gusmao (indoors)
- 1758British troops occupy and plunder Cherbourg
- 1786Congress adopts silver dollar and decimal system of money
- 1786Jacques Balmat and Michel Paccard are 1st to climb to top of Mont Blanc
- 1788King Louis XVI calls French States and Generals together
- 1796Boston African Society establishes with 44 members
- 180970 disciples of Gaon of Vilnus, arrive in Israel (Palestine)
- 1814Peace negotiations begin in Ghent, Belgium
- 1815Napoleon Bonaparte set sail for exile on St. Helena
- 1816Bavarian joins Saint Alliance
- 1829French government of De Polignac forms
- 1831Battle of Hasselt - Dutch army drives out Belgian Army
- 1843Natal (South Africa) is made a British colony
- 1844Brigham Young chosen Mormon Church head following Joseph Smith death
- 1853Russian fleet appears at Nagasaki Japan
- 1854Smith and Wesson patents metal bullet cartridges
- 1860Queen of Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) arrives in New York City
- 1864Comet C / 1864 N1 (Tempel) approaches within 0.0964 AUs of Earth
- 1864Red Cross forms in Geneva
Born on August 8
- 1571John Ward: Composer
- 1586Adolf: Earl of Nassau-Siegen
- 1617Adriaan W "Joris" van Geel: Flemish Missionary (Bantu Dictionary)
- 1653Jacques Basnage: French / Netherlands historian / vicar
- 1693Laurent Belissen: Composer
- 1705Gustaaf Imhoff: Gov of Ceylon (1736-40) / Governor of the Netherlands Indies (1743-50)
- 1732Johann C Adelung: German linguist / librarian
- 1746Hieronymus van Alphen: Dutch attorney / poet (church songs)
- 1755Luigi Marchesi: Composer
- 1763Charles Bulfinch: Boston, Massachusetts -- 1st US pro architect (Mass State House)
- 1805Antoon Jurgens: Dutch margarine manufacturer
- 1812John Rodgers II: Commander (Union Navy), died in 1882
- 1814Esther Hobart Morris: Suffragist / anti-slavery activist
- 1819Charles Anderson Dana: Assistant Secretary of War, (Union) died in 1897
- 1820Winfield Scott "Old Swet" Featherston: Army Brigadier General (Confederate)
- 1823Theodule Augustin Ribot: Painter
- 1835James William Forsyth: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1906
- 1839Nelson Appleton Miles: Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1925
- 1852Barend Barendse: Actor / director (Wandering Jew)
- 1857Cecile Chaminade: Composer
- 1857Henry Osborn: Connecticut, United States -- Paleontologist / author (52 Years of Research)
- 1861William Bateson: English biologist (originator of term "genetics")
- 1864Henri de Vries [Van Walterop]: Dutch actor (Cleopatra, White Cargo)
- 1866Matthew A Henson: 1st Black to reach North Pole (June 4, 1909)
- 1871William Henry Squire: Composer
- 1879Emiliano Zapata: Mexican revolutionary, peasant leader
- 1881Paul L E von Kleist: German General-Field Marshal (Eastern Front)
- 1884Sara Teasdale: United States -- Poet (1st Pulitzer Prize-1918-"Love Songs")
- 1886Daniel Ruyneman: Composer
- 1886Pietro Alessandro Yon: Composer
Died on August 8
- 0869Lotharius II: King of Middle-France (Lotharingen) (855-869)
- 1506Sesshu Toyo: Zen Monk / painter, dies at 86 in Yamaguchi, Japan
- 1616Cornelis Ketel: Dutch portrait Painter / poet, buried at 68
- 1685Sassoferrato [Giovanni B Salvi]: Ital Painter (Madonna), dies at 75
- 1694Antoine Arnauld [le grand Arnauld]: French lawyer / theology, dies at 82
- 1700Matthias Henriksen Schacht: Composer, dies at 40
- 1705Willem Roukens: Mayor (Nimegen ort Nimeguen), beheaded
- 1759Karl Heinrich Graun: German composer, dies at 55
- 1788Louis FAD Duke the Richelieu: French marshal, dies at 92
- 1816Blas de Laserna: Composer, dies at 65
- 1827George Canning: British Minister of Foreign Affairs, dies at 57
- 1834Silvestro Palma: Composer, dies at 80
- 1888Friedrich Wilhelm Jahns: Composer, dies at 79
- 1897Jacob Burckhardt: Swiss cultural historian, dies at 79
- 1902Jean Y Y Tissot: French Painter / illustrator
- 1908Joseph [Maria] Olbrich: Architect (Wiener Sezession), dies at 40
- 1918Gertrude E Durden Rush: US Composer / playwright, dies at 38
- 1921Juhani Aho: Fins journalist / writer (Panu, Tuomio), dies at 59
- 1928Stjepan Radic: Founder / leader (Croatian Boer party)
- 1934Wilbert Robinson: Baseball manager (Brooklyn Dodgers)
- 1944Erwin von Witzleben: German Field Marshal, hanged
- 1950Ernest F E Douwes Dekker: Founder National-India Party
- 1950Nicolai Yakovlevich Miaskovsky: Composer, dies at 69
- 1954Gino Tagliapietra: Composer, dies at 67
- 1960Danton Walker: Columnist (Broadway Spotlight), dies at 61
- 1961Charlie Gemora: Actor (who portrayed King Kong), dies at 58
- 1961Franc N D Buchman: US theology (Moral Rearms), dies at 83
- 1963Sandor Jemnitz: Composer, dies at 72
- 1965Shirley Hardie Jackson: US Author (Road Through the Wall), dies at 45
- 1966Pierre Charles: Belgian heavyweight boxer, dies at 63
Events on Aug 9
- 0378Battle of Adrianople, Visigoth Calvary defeats Roman Army
- 1378Cardinals declare Pope Urbanus VI lawless (anti Christian / devil)
- 1559Willem of Orange becomes Viceroy of Holland / Zealand / Utrecht
- 1596Henry van Cuyk becomes Bishop of Roermond
- 1638Jonas Bronck of Holland becomes 1st European settler in Bronx
- 1655Lord Protector Cromwell divides England into 11 districts
- 1673Admiral Cornelis Evertsen de Jonge recaptures New York
- 1673Dutch recapture New York from English; regained by English in 1674
- 1726Netherlands signs Covenant of Hannover
- 1757English Ft William Henry, NY, surrenders to French and Indians troops
- 1778Captain Cook reaches Cape Prince of Wales, Bering straits
- 1790Columbia returns to Boston after 3 year journey, 1st ship to carry US flag around the world
- 18031st horses arrive in Hawaii
- 1829"Stourbridge Lion" locomotive goes into service
- 1830Louis-Philippe formally accepts crown of France, following abdication of Charles X
- 18311st US steam engine train run (Albany to Schenectady, NY)
- 1832King Leopold I of Belgium marries Louisa Maria
- 1841Erie boat in Buffalo New York catches fire; 242 die
- 1842US-Canada border defined by Webster-Ashburton Treaty
- 1848Austria and Sardinia sign cease fire
- 1848Barnburners (anti-slavery) party merges with Free Soil Party nominateing Martin Van Buren for President
- 1849Hungarian Republic crushed by Austria and Russia
- 1854Henry David Thoreau publishes "Walden"
- 1855Battle of Acapulco during Mexican Liberal uprising
- 1859Elevator patented
- 1862Battle of Cedar Mountain VA (Slaughter Mountain, Southwest Mountain)
- 1862Prelude to 2nd Manassas, Jackson is victorious at Battle of Cedar Mt, however General Charles S Winder is killed
- 1864Battle of Ft Morgan, Alabama
- 18901st 44 Javans arrive in Suriname, to work 5 year on sugar plantations
- 18931st US bowling magazine, Gut Holz, published in New York
Born on Aug 9
- 1593Izaak Walton: England, United Kingdom -- Biographer / fisherman / writer (Compleat Angler)
- 1611Henry Earl of Nassau-Siegen: Colonel / Governor of Hulst Netherlands
- 1677Jacob Campo Weyerman: Netherlands -- Adventurer / painter / writer
- 1690Lorenzo Gaetano Zavateri: Composer
- 1696Jozef Wenceslas: Monarch of Liechtenstein / General
- 1718Placidus Cajetan von Camerloher: Composer
- 1758Bruno Dalberg / Anonymus Belga [Petrus the Wacker van Zon]: Writer
- 1781Michael Umlauf: Composer
- 1808William Thomas Ward: Bvt Major General (Union volunteers)
- 1819William Thomas Green Morton: Dentist, used ether (HOF 1920)
- 1823Daniel Marsh Frost: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1900
- 1824Simon Goodell Griffin: Bvt Major General (Union volunteers)
- 1825Elisha Ferry: (Gov-R-Washington, 1872-80, 1889-93)
- 1834Elias Alvares Lobo: Composer
- 1845Xavier Mellery: Belgian painter / illustrator
- 1861Wilhelm Berger: Composer
- 1869Randle Ayrton: Chester, England -- Actor (Manxman)
- 1874Reynaldo Hahn: Composer
- 1875Albert William Ketelbey: Aston, England -- Composer (Wonder Worker)
- 1883George Hoyt: NBA hall of fame referee (elected 1961)
- 1884Maria "Mary" Beekman: Actress (Genius against Violence)
- 1887Abraham Schierbeek: Dutch biologist (Swammerdam)
- 1888Hans Oster: German major General / spy / July 20th plotter
- 1890Cesar Cortinas: Composer
- 1890Eino Kaila: Finnish psychologist / philosopher
- 1890Sandor Jemnitz: Composer
- 1891Max Tak: Dutch violinist / radio commentator
- 1892Charles Delaney: NYC, New York -- Actor (Air Police, Lonesome Trail)
- 1895Nat Pendleton: Davenport, Iowa -- Olympic wrestler / actor (Reckless)
- 1896Jean Piaget: Switzerland -- Pioneer developmental psychologist / zoologist
Died on Aug 9
- 0378Flavius Valens: Emperor of Byzantium (364-78), dies in battle at 50
- 0803Irene: Byzantine empress / Wife of Emperor Leo IV
- 1048Damasius II [Poppo]: Pope (1047-48)
- 1516Jeroen Bosch: Painter (Garden of the Lusten), dies at 66
- 1612Ottavio M Frangipani: Pope elect
- 1613Giovanni Righi: Composer, dies at 36
- 1634Pieter I de Jode: Flemish publisher
- 1652John Both: Landscape Painter / etcher, dies at about 37
- 1668Francois Anguier: French sculptor, dies at about 64
- 1672Jose Ximenez: Composer, dies at 70
- 1710Gabriel Schutz: Composer, dies at 77
- 1727Johann Philipp Treiber: Composer, dies at 52
- 1738Pierre Drevet: French engraver
- 1763John Althuysen: Fries vicar / Poet (Frysk Jierboek), dies at 47
- 1806Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia Christian: Composer, dies at 33
- 1835Claus Nielsen Schali: Composer, dies at 78
- 1848Frederick Marryat: English captain / Author (Mr Midshipman Easy)
- 1854Frederik Augustus II: King of Saxon (1836-54), dies at 57
- 1862Joseph Bennett Plummer: US Union Brigadier General, dies at 42 or 46
- 1888Charles Cros: French Mathematician / chemist / poet, dies at 45
- 1888Isaac Strauss: Composer, dies at 82
- 1892Matthias de Vries: Linguistic (spelling)
- 1896Otto Lilenthal: Aircraft pioneer, killed during a glider test at 48
- 1904Friedrich Ratzel: German social-geographer (Lebensraum), dies at 59
- 1915Henry Longbottom: English lieutenant, dies in battle
- 1919Ernst Haeckel: German philosopher (Social Darwinism), dies at 85
- 1919Ruggiero Leoncavallo: Italian Composer (Pagliacci), dies at 62
- 1924Jacob P Vis: Dutch founder (NV Royal Salt Industries), dies at 66
- 1928Frederik II W: Grand Duke of Baden (1907-18), dies at 71
- 1929Heinrich Zille: German cartoonist (Simplicissimus), dies at 71