AUGUST 28 | Birthdays and Events
Famous Birthdays
People born on August 28
John Lynch
Died: October 31, 1820 (age 80 years)
Abolitionist and founder of the city of Lynchburg, Virginia.
Charles F. Kettering
Died: November 25, 1958 (age 82 years)
Founder of the Delco Electronics Company and inventor of the "auto self-starter."
Nancy Kulp
Died: February 3, 1991 (age 69 years)
Actress fondly remembered for her role as Miss Hathaway on The Beverly Hillbillies.
Roxie Roker
Died: December 2, 1995 (age 66 years)
Actress who played the sassy character Helen Willis on the The Jeffersons.
Karen Spärck Jones
Died: April 4, 2007 (age 71 years)
A self-taught British computer programmer and information scientist who responsible for the concept of IDF (inverse document frequency), the technology that underlies most modern search engines.
Satoshi Tajiri
Japanese video game developer who created Pokémon.
Jack Black
Actor who often plays roles in family and comedy films, such as School of Rock, Goosebumps, the Jumanji: The Next Level and A Minecraft Movie.
Rick Recht
American singer-songwriter who is considered to be one of the early pioneers of contemporary Jewish rock music.
Historical Events on August 28
Events that occurred on August 28 throughout history
Pedro Menéndez de Avilés sights land near St. Augustine, Florida.
Pedro Menéndez de Avilés sights land near St. Augustine, Florida. After an encounter with French forces, he finally makes it to land on September 8 to found a new community. St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city in the continental U.S.
Delaware Bay is discovered by Henry Hudson.
Delaware Bay is discovered by the English explorer Henry Hudson.
William Herschel discovers a new moon of Saturn.
William Herschel discovers a new moon of Saturn, which was named Enceladus. Herschel found the moon during the first light use of his 40-foot (1.2-meter) telescope, which was the largest in the world at that time.
A steam locomotive races a horse-drawn car.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's new Tom Thumb steam locomotive races a horse-drawn car, presaging steam's role in U.S. railroads. Unfortunately, the locomotive did not win the race. It ran out of steam.
The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 receives royal assent in the British Empire.
The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 receives royal assent in the British Empire, making the purchase or ownership of slaves illegal.
The first issue of the Scientific American magazine is published.
The first issue of the Scientific American magazine is published. The four-page weekly newspaper sold for 25 cents per issue and focused heavily on new inventions, patents, manufacturing, and engineering. The magazine is the oldest continuously published magazine in the U.S.
The U.S. takes possession of the Midway Atoll.
The U.S. takes possession of the island Midway Atoll. The Island became the first offshore island territory officially annexed by the U.S. government.
The first known photograph of a tornado is taken.
The first known photograph of a tornado is taken near Howard, Dakota Territory (now South Dakota).
"Brad's Drink" is renamed "Pepsi-Cola".
Caleb Bradham's beverage "Brad's Drink" is renamed "Pepsi-Cola". Originally created as a digestive aid, the drink was named by patrons after Bradham's last name. However, the "Pepsi-Cola" name was created from two ingredients--pepsin and cola nut.
Silliman University is founded in the Philippines.
Silliman University is founded in the Philippines and becomes the first American private school in the country.
UPS is founded in Seattle, Washington.
The United Parcel Service (UPS) is founded by James E. Casey in Seattle, Washington.
Ten members of the Silent Sentinels are arrested while picketing outside the White House.
Ten members of the Silent Sentinels are arrested while picketing outside the White House in favor of women's suffrage.
Nazi Germany begins its mass arrests of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Nazi Germany begins its mass arrests of Jehovah's Witnesses. The members interned in concentration camps for refusing mandatory military service and to work in war-related industries based on their religious beliefs.
U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond begins a filibuster to prevent voting on the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond begins a filibuster to prevent voting on the Civil Rights Act of 1957. His failed filibuster lasted 24 hours and 18 minutes. Within two hours of him stopping his filibuster, a vote was taken and the Act passed despite his attempts to stop it.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gives his I Have a Dream speech.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gives his I Have a Dream speech on the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
The first Subway sandwich shop opens.
The first Subway sandwich shop opens in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Police and protesters clash during 1968 Democratic National Convention protests.
Police and protesters clash during 1968 Democratic National Convention protests. The protests in opposition of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.
A 1952 Mickey Mantle baseball card sells for $12.6 million at auction.
A 1952 Mickey Mantle baseball card sells for $12.6 million at auction. The card remains the most expensive sports card and piece of sports memorabilia ever sold.
