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International observance days, weeks, and months for August 5, 2026. Plus historical events and birthdays.
These observances run for a full week; this calendar day falls inside the week.
Events that occurred on August 5 throughout history
Henry I is crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey. The coronation was quick to avoid his older brother Robert becoming King, who was away returning from the First Crusade.
Sir Humphrey Gilbert establishes the first English colony in North America. The exhibition was backed by Queen Elizabeth I and marked the beginning of English expansion overseas.
The Mayflower departs from Southampton, England, on its first attempt to reach North America. The ship was forced to dock in Dartmouth when its companion ship, the Speedwell, springs a leak, forcing both ships to turn back.
New York Weekly Journal writer John Peter Zenger is acquitted of seditious libel against the royal governor of New York because the information printed was true. The ruling marked the beginning of freedom of the press.
The British Admiralty dismisses Francis Ronalds's new invention of the first working electric telegraph. It was stated the invention was "wholly unnecessary" and it was preferred to continue using the semaphore.
Project leader Cyrus West Field and others complete the first transatlantic telegraph cable across the Atlantic Ocean after several unsuccessful attempts. The connection was 2,000 miles long between the Valentia Island in Ireland to Trinity Bay in Newfoundland. The cable stretched over 2,000 miles and failed within a month.
The U.S. abolishes flogging as a form of discipline in the military.
The U.S. government levies the first income tax as part of the Revenue Act of 1861 to help pay for the Civil War. Each resident whose income was over $800 was required to pay a 3% tax. The Act was rescinded in 1872.
Japan launches its postal savings system, modeled after a similar system in the UK.
Standard Oil Company of New Jersey is established officially. The company would change its name to ExxonMobil and become holder of all Standard Oil companies.
The cornerstone for the Statue of Liberty is laid on Bedloe's Island in New York Harbor.
German automotive pioneer Bertha Benz becomes first person to drive an internal combustion engine automobile over a long distance. She was also the business partner, investor and wife of automobile inventor Carl Benz.
The first electric traffic light is installed in Cleveland, Ohio.
Harry Houdini performs his greatest feat by spending 91 minutes underwater in a sealed tank before escaping a sealed, 700-pound coffin submerged in a hotel swimming pool.
The Nazis begin a week-long massacre of civilians and prisoners of war in Wola, Poland. An estimated 40,000 to 50,000 men, women, children, and hospital patients were killed under the orders of Heinrich Himmler and Adolf Hitler.
Polish insurgents liberate the German concentration and forced-labor camp Gęsiówka in Warsaw. The liberation freed 348 Jewish prisoners, who joined the resistance.
In Montana, 12 smokejumper firefighters and 1 U.S. Forest Service fire guard are killed in the Mann Gulch Fire. The disaster prompted the U.S. Forest Service to change wildfire safety training, communication, and response strategies.
American Bandstand, hosted by Dick Clark, debuts on the ABC television network. The show was dedicated to the teenage "baby-boomers" by playing the songs and showing popular dances of the time. The first guests were Buddy Holly and The Chordettes.
Marilyn Monroe is found dead at her home. The LA police classified her death as a probable suicide.
Nelson Mandela is jailed for fighting against apartheid in South Africa. President F.W. de Klerk ordered his release in 1990.
People born on August 5
Physicist and the first African American woman to earn a doctorate at the MIT.
Current guitarist and songwriter or the Foo Fighters. He also co-founded the punk band Germs and was a touring guitarist for Nirvana.
Former Jamaican-American basketball player who played professional basketball for 17 years. During his career, he played for the New York Knicks, Seattle SuperSonics, and Orlando Magic.
Pilot, engineer, and astronaut. He was the first man to walk on the Moon.
Japanese keyboard player and composer who is well-known for his contributions in video games, including the Star Ocean, Mario Golf, Mario Tennis, and the Dark Souls series.
Actress known for her role as Jennifer Marlowe on the CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati.
English-American botanist and microbiologist who isolated and determined the structure of auxin, the first known plant hormone. His studies in plant hormones were very influential in agriculture and horticulture.
French novelist, poet and short story writer celebrated as a master of the short story.
The first African-American female lawyer in Iowa after being admitted to the bar in 1918. She also helped found the National Bar Association in 1925.
English-Canadian ballerina who co-founded National Ballet School of Canada.
Known as Funkmaster "Funk" Flex, Taylor is a DJ, radio and television host, rapper, and record producer. He is credited with hosting the first hip hop radio show on Hot 97 in New York.
