0564 – Columba reported seeing a monster in Loch Ness, Scotland on the 22nd August 564.

1770 – James Cook named and landed on Possession Island, Queensland on the 22nd August 1770, and claimed the east coast of Australia as New South Wales in the name of King George III.

1780 – James Cook’s ship HMS Resolution returned to England on the 22nd August 1780, after he was killed in Hawaii during the voyage.

1849 – The 1st air raid in history was on the 22nd August 1849, when Austria launched pilotless balloons against the city of Venice.

1851 – The 1st America’s Cup was won by the yacht America on the 22nd August 1851.

1862 – Claude Debussy the French composer was born on the 22nd August 1862 (died 1918).

1864 – 12 nations sign the 1st Geneva Convention on the 22nd August 1864, when the Red Cross was formed.

1902 – Cadillac Motor Company was founded on the 22nd August 1902.

1902 – Theodore Roosevelt become the 1st President of the United States to ride in an automobile on the 22nd August 1902.

1904 – Deng Xiaoping the Chinese politician and diplomat was born on the 22nd August 1904 (died 1997).

1908 – Henri Cartier-Bresson the French photographer was born on the 22nd August 1908 (died 2004).

1917 – John Lee Hooker the American singer-songwriter and guitarist was born on the 22nd August 1917 (died 2001).

1932 – The BBC first experiments with television broadcasting on the 22nd August 1932. See the full Timeline of the BBC.

1934 – Bill Woodfull of Australia became the only cricket captain to twice regain The Ashes on the 22nd August 1934.

1936 – Chuck Brown the American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer was born on the 22nd August 1936 (died 2012).

1943 – Masatoshi Shima the Japanese computer scientist and co-designer of the Intel 4004 was born on the 22nd August 1943.

1947 – Donna Jean Godchaux the American singer from Grateful Dead was born on the 22nd August 1947.

1947 ~ Cindy Williams the American actress, producer, television and director was born Cynthia Williams in Van Nuys, California on the 22nd August 1947. Cindy Williams is best known for her role as Shirley Feeney on the Laverne & Shirley sitcom. YouTube video: Laverne & Shirley Season 1 Opening (1976)…

1950 – Althea Gibson became the 1st black competitor in international tennis on the 22nd August 1950.

1952 – The penal colony on Devil’s Island was permanently closed on the 22nd August 1952.

1961 – Ida Siekmann died on the 22nd August 1961, attempting to cross the Berlin Wall.

1963 – Tori Amos the American singer-songwriter and producer was born on the 22nd August 1963.

1967 – Layne Staley the American singer-songwriter from Alice in Chains was born on the 22nd August 1967.

1968 – Pope Paul VI arrived in Bogotá, Colombia on the 22nd August 1968, becoming the 1st visit of a pope to Latin America.

1978 ~ James Corden the English actor, comedian, television comedy writer, producer and presenter was born on the 22nd August 1978.

1996 – Bill Clinton signed welfare reform into law on the 22nd August 1996, representing a major shift in US welfare policy.

2004 – The Scream (version) and Madonna paintings by Edvard Munch were stolen on the 22nd August 2004, at gunpoint from a museum in Oslo, Norway.

Today in History for August 22nd ~ video presented by the Associated Press… 

1770 – James Cook formally claimed eastern Australia for Great Britain on the 21st day of August in 1770, naming it New South Wales.

1791 ~ The Haitian Revolution began on the 21st August 1791.

1821 – Jarvis Island was discovered on the 21st August 1821, by the crew of the ship, Eliza Frances.

1858 ~ Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria the Archduke of Austria and Crown Prince of Austria–Hungary was born at Schloss Laxenburg, a castle near Vienna, on the 21st August 1858 (died 30 January 1889 aged 30). Rudolf’s suicide death with his mistress, Baroness Mary Vetsera, at his Mayerling hunting lodge in 1889 made international headlines.

1888 – The 1st successful adding machine in the United States was patented on the 21st August 1888, by William Seward Burroughs.

1897 – Oldsmobile, a brand of American automobiles was founded on the 21st August 1897..

1944 – Dumbarton Oaks Conference, the prelude to the United Nations, began on the 21st August 1944.

1904 – William “Count” Basie the American bandleader was born on the 21st August 1904 (died 1984).

1905 – Friz Freleng the American animator, director, and producer was born on the 21st August 1905 (died 1995)

1911 – The Mona Lisa was stolen by a Louvre employee on the 21st August 1911.

1920 – Christopher Robin Milne the British soldier and bookseller was born on the 21st August 1920 (died 1996).

1928 – Art Farmer the American trumpet player was born on the 21st August 1928 (died 1999)

1930 – Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon was born on the 21st August 1930 (died 2002).

1944 – Jackie DeShannon the American singer-songwriter was born on the 21st August 1944.

1944 – Peter Weir the Australian director was born on the 21st August 1944.

1938 – Kenny Rogers the American singer and actor was born on the 21st August 1938.

1940 – Leon Trotsky the Russian politician and theorist died on the 21st August 1940 (born 1879).

1952 – Joe Strummer the British musician and singer from The Clash was born on the 21st August in 1952 (d. 2002).

1956 – Kim Cattrall the British-born Canadian actress was born on the 21st August 1956.

1961 – Motown released what would be its first No.1 hit, “Please Mr. Postman” by The Marvelettes on the 21st August 1961.

1973 – Sergey Brin the Russian-American computer scientist, businessman and co-founder of Google was born on the 21st August 1973.

1986 – Carbon dioxide gas erupted from volcanic Lake Nyos in Cameroon on the 21st August 1986, killing approximately 1,800 people within a 20 kilometer range.

1991 – Latvia declared renewal of its full independence on the 21st August 1991, after the occupation of Soviet Union.

1993 – NASA lost contact with the Mars Observer spacecraft on the 21st August 1993.

2013 ~ The Ghouta alleged chemical attacks on the 21st August 2013, with approximately 1300 people killed, when a series of alleged chemical attacks in the Ghouta region of the Rif Dimashq Governorate of Syria occurred, although the Syrian government and Army deny that chemical attacks occurred. The Syrian government prevented United Nations investigators from reaching the sites of the attacks, despite their accommodations being only a few kilometers away.

Today in History for August 21st ~ video presented by the Associated Press… 

1858 – Charles Darwin first published his theory of evolution on the 20th August 1858, through natural selection in The Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London.

1866 – President Andrew Johnson formally declared the American Civil War over on the 20th August 1866.

1882 – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky‘s 1812 Overture debuted in Moscow, Russia on the 20th August 1882.

1910 – The Great Fire of 1910 (aka the Big Blowup or the Big Burn) occurred on the 20th August 1910, in northeast Washington, northern Idaho (the panhandle), and western Montana, burning approximately 3 million acres (12,000 km²).

1920 – The 1st commercial radio station, 8MK (now WWJ), began on the 20th August 1920, in Detroit, Michigan.

1923 – Jim Reeves, American singer-songwriter was born on the 20th August 1923 (died 1964).

1926 – Japan‘s public broadcasting company, Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (NHK) was established on the 20th August 1926.

1927 – Peter Oakley the English video blogger was born on the 20th August 1927. Peter Oakley’s website: www.askGeriatric.com. Peter Oakley aka Geriatric1927 had over 2 million views of his 1st YouTube video..

1938 – Lou Gehrig hit his 23rd career grand slam on the 20th August 1938, a record that still stands in 2013.

1940 – In Mexico City, exiled Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky was fatally wounded on the 20th August 1940, with an ice axe by Ramón Mercader. He died the next day.

1940 – British Prime Minister Winston Churchill made the 4th of his famous wartime speeches on the 20th August 1940, containing the line “Never was so much owed by so many to so few“.

1941 – Dave Brock the English singer-songwriter and guitarist from Hawkwind was born on the 20th August 1941.

1942 – Isaac Hayes the American singer-songwriter, pianist, producer, and actor was born on the 20th August 1942 (died 2008).

1947 – Alan Lee the English illustrator was born on the 20th August 1947.

1947 – James Pankow the American trombone player and songwriter from the band Chicago was born on the 20th August 1947.

1948 – Robert Plant the English singer-songwriter from Led Zeppelin was born on the 20th August 1948.

1948 – John Noble the Australian actor was born on the 20th August 1948.

1949 – Phil Lynott the Irish singer-songwriter from Thin Lizzy was born on the 20th August 1949 (died 1986).

1952 – Doug Fieger the American singer-songwriter and guitarist from The Knack and Sky was born on the 20th August 1952 (died 2010).

1962 – The NS Savannah, the world’s 1st nuclear-powered civilian ship embarked on its maiden voyage on the 20th August 1962.

1970 – Fred Durst the American singer-songwriter from Limp Bizkit was born on the 20th August 1970.

1974 – Amy Adams the American actress and singer was born on the 20th August 1974.

1975 – NASA launched the Viking 1 planetary probe toward Mars on the 20th August 1975.

1977 – NASA launched the Voyager 2 spacecraft on the 20th August 1977.

1978 ~ Kris Smith the English model, ex-professional rugby league player and television presenter on The Daily Edition was born on the 20th August 1978. The Daily Edition Facebook

1988 – “Black Saturday” of the Yellowstone fire in Yellowstone National Park was on the 20th August 1988.

1989 – The O-Bahn Busway in Adelaide, the world’s longest guided busway, opened on the 20th August 1989.

Today in History for August 20th ~ video presented by the Associated Press… 

1768 – Saint Isaac’s Cathedral was founded in Saint Petersburg, Russia on the 19th August 1768..

1839 – The French government announced that Louis Daguerre‘s photographic process was a gift “free to the world” on the 19th August 1839.

1848 – California Gold Rush: the New York Herald announced the news to the East Coast of the United States of the gold rush in California on the 19th August 1848, which actually started in January.

1861 – First ascent of Weisshorn the 5th highest summit in the Alps was on the 19th August 1861.

1871 – Orville Wright the American aviation pioneer was born on the 19th August 1871 (died 1948).

1883 – Coco Chanel the French fashion designer and founder of the Chanel Company was born on the 19th August 1883 (died 1971).

1909 – The 1st automobile race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway took place on the 19th August 1909.

1919 – Afghanistan gained full independence from the United Kingdom on the 19th August 1919.

1934 – The 1st All-American Soap Box Derby was held on the 19th August 1934, in Dayton, Ohio .

1934 – The creation of the position Führer was approved by the German electorate on the 19th August 1934, with 89.9% of the popular vote.

1940 – Johnny Nash the American singer-songwriter and actor was born on the 19th August 1940.

1940 – 1st flight of the B-25 Mitchell medium bomber was on the 19th August 1940.

1946 – Bill Clinton the 42nd President of the United States was born on the 19th August 1946.

1951 – John Deacon the English bass player and songwriter from Queen was born on the 19th August 1951.

1963 – Joey Tempest the Swedish singer-songwriter from the band Europe was born on the 19th August 1963.

1965 ~ Darryn Lyons the Australian paparazzo, media personality and entrepreneur was born on the 19th August 1965.

1965 – Kyra Sedgwick the American actress was born on the 19th August 1965.

1977 – Groucho Marx the American comedian and actor died on the 19th August 1977, aged 86 (born 1890).

1983 – Missy Higgins the Australian singer-songwriter and actress was born on the 19th August 1983.

1989 – Radio Caroline the offshore pirate station in the North Sea was raided by British and Dutch governments on the 19th August 1989.

1983 – Reeva Steenkamp the South African model was born on the 19th August 1983. Reeva Steenkamp died on Valentine’s Day on the 14th February 2013, aged 29, when she was shot dead by Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, whom she had been dating since November 2012.

1983 ~ Tammin Sursok the Australian Actress and Singer-Songwriter was born on the 19th August 1983. Tammin is best known for her roles as Dani Sutherland on Home and Away and Jenna Marshall on Pretty Little Liars. Tammin released her only album Whatever Will Be in 2005. See the video of Rebecca Cartwright waxing Tammin Sursok’s legs on an episode of Home & Away: 

Today in History for August 19th ~ video presented by the Associated Press… 

1783 – A huge fireball meteor was seen across Great Britain as it passed over the east coast, on the 18th day of August in 1783.

1783 ~ Andreas Friedrich Bauer the German engineer was born on the 8th August 1783 (died 1860). He developed and invented the 1st functional steam-powered printing press  with his colleague Friedrich Koenig, and sold it to The Times in London in 1814.

1830 – Franz Joseph I of Austria was born on the 18th August 1830 (died 1916).

1868 – French astronomer Pierre Janssen discovered helium on the 18th day of August in 1868.

1877 – Asaph Hall discovered the 2nd Martian moon Phobos on the 18th day of August in 1877.

1903 – Karl Jatho the German engineer allegedly flew his self-made, motored gliding airplane on the 18th day of August in 1903, four months before the 1st flight of the Wright brothers.

1933 – Roman Polanski the French-Polish director, producer, writer, and actor was born on the 18th August 1933.

1936 – Robert Redford the American actor, director, and producer was born on the 18th August 1936.

1952 – Patrick Swayze the American actor was born on the 18th August 1952 (died 2009).

1957 – Denis Leary the American comedian and actor was born on the 18th August 1957.

1958 – Madeleine Stowe the American actress was born on the 18th August 1958.

1958 – Vladimir Nabokov‘s controversial novel Lolita was published in the United States on the 18th day of August in 1958.

1966 – Vietnam War: the Battle of Long Tan ensued after a patrol from the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment clashed with a Viet Cong force in Phuoc Tuy province on the 18th August 1966.

1969 – Edward Norton the American actor was born on the 18th August 1969.

1969 – Christian Slater the American actor was born on the 18th August 1969.

1971 – Vietnam War: Australia and New Zealand decided to withdraw their troops from Vietnam on the 18th August 1971.

1972 – Shaun Wilson the Australian painter and director was born on the 18th August 1972.

1983 – Mika the Lebanese-English singer-songwriter was born on the 18th August 1983.

1989 ~ The 1989 Australian pilots’ strike began on the 18th August 1989.

1993 ~ Maia Mitchell the Australian actress was born on the 18th August 1993. Maia Mitchell is best known for her role as Brittany Flune in Mortified on Nine Network Australia, and as Natasha Hamilton in Trapped on Seven Network. In America she co-stars in the The Fosters.

Today in History for August 18th ~ video presented by the Associated Press… 

1913 – Tōhoku Imperial University of Japan (now Tohoku University) became the 1st university in Japan to admit female students on the 16th August 1913.

1913 – Completion of the Royal Navy battlecruiser HMS Queen Mary on the 16th August 1913.

1930 – The 1st color sound cartoon, called Fiddlesticks, was made by Ub Iwerks on the 16th August 1930.

1940 – Bruce Beresford the Australian film director was born on the 16th August 1940.

1948 – Barry Hay the Indian-Dutch singer from Golden Earring was born on the 16th August 1948.

1954 – The 1st issue of Sports Illustrated was published on the 16th August 1954.

1957 – Tim Farriss the Australian bass player from INXS was born on the 16th August 1957.

1958 – Madonna the American singer-songwriter was born on the 16th August 1958.

1962 – Steve Carell the American actor, comedian, voice artist, producer, writer, and director was born on the 16th August 1962.

1974 – The Ramones played their 1st show on the 16th August 1974, in a local New York club named CBGB.

1977 – Elvis Presley the American singer, guitarist, and actor died on the 16th August 1977 aged 42 (born 8th January 1935).

1980 – Vanessa Carlton the American singer and pianist was born on the 16th August 1980.

1989 – A solar flare from the Sun created a geomagnetic storm on the 16th August 1989, which affected micro chips, leading to a halt of all trading on Toronto’s stock market.

2008 – The Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago was topped off at 1,389 feet (423 m) on the 16th August 2008, becoming the world’s highest residence above ground-level, at the time.

2010 – China overtook Japan as World’s Second-Biggest Economy on the 16th August 2010.

Today in History for August 16th ~ video presented by the Associated Press… 

1519 – Panama City was founded on the 15th August 1519.

1857 – Albert Ballin the  German businessman was born on the 15th August 1857 (died 1918).

1860 – Florence Harding the American publisher, and 31st First Lady of the United States was born on the 15th August 1860 (died 1924).

1865 – Mikao Usui the Japanese spiritual leader, and founder  of  Reiki was born on the 15th August 1865 (died 1926).

1872 – Sri Aurobindo the Indian guru, poet, and philosopher was born on the 15th August 1872 (died 1950).

1914 – The Panama Canal opened to traffic on the 15th August 1914, with the transit of the cargo ship SS Ancon.

1950 ~ Andres Serrano the American photographer and artist was born on the 15th August 1950. Andres Serrano became notorious for his controversial work Piss Christ in 1987.

1965 – The Beatles played to nearly 60,000 fans at Shea Stadium in New York on the 15th August 1965, an event later regarded as the birth of stadium rock.

1964 – Melinda Gates the American businesswoman, philanthropist and co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was born on the 15th August 1964.

1968 ~ Debra Messing the American actress was born on the 15th August 1968. Debra Lynn is best known for her television roles in Will & Grace, The Starter Wife and Smash.

1969 – Woodstock opened on the 15th August 1969.

1969 – Bernard Fanning the Australian singer-songwriter from Powderfinger was born on the 15th August 1969.

1972 – Ben Affleck the American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer was born on the 15th August 1972.

1977 ~ The Wow! signal was a strong narrowband radio signal detected by Jerry R. Ehman on the 15th August 1977, while he was working on a SETI project at the Big Ear radio telescope of The Ohio State University (originally located at Ohio Wesleyan University‘s Perkins Observatory in Delaware). The signal bore the expected hallmarks of non-terrestrial and non-Solar System origin, lasting for the full 72-second window that Big Ear was able to observe it, but has never been detected again.

1978 ~ Waleed Aly the Australian radio and television presenter was born in Melbourne on the 15th August 1978. Waleed Aly has also worked as a lawyer and rock musician.

1986 ~ Anna Segal the Australian freestyle skier was born in Melbourne on the 15th August 1986. Anna Segal won a gold medal at the 2011 FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships. Anna Segal grew up as an inner city kid in Melbourne and started skiing at the age of 3, and ironically hated skiing then. After a few years Anna discovered that skis gave her the chance to escape from parental supervision and roam the mountain free with her friends. Anna originally raced in cross country skiing, and eventually crossed over to mogul skiing. Anna trained and competed with the Australian Development team until she discovered free-skiing. Anna spends the Northern winters in Breckenridge Colorado, and the Southern winters in the mountains of Australia and New Zealand. Anna Segal’s official website: www.AnnaSegal.com | Anna Segal’s Twitter verified: www.Twitter.com/AnnaSegal | Anna Segal’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/Anna.Segal.14 |Anna Segal’s Olympic Winter Institute of Australia bio | Anna Segal FiS-Ski.com Profile | YouTube video: (K2 Skis) SkiRotica – Anna Segal’s 2012 Season Mashup…

1989 – Joe Jonas the American singer-songwriter from the Jonas Brothers was born on the 15th August 1989.

1990 ~ Jennifer Lawrence the American actress was born in Louisville, Kentucky on the 15th August 1990. Jennifer Lawrence at age of 20 was the 3rd youngest actress to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress. At the age of 22, Jennifer Lawrence won an Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, Satellite Award and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Actress for her performance in the romantic comedy Silver Linings Playbook (2012), making her the youngest person ever to be nominated for 2 Academy Awards for Best Actress and the 2nd youngest Best Actress winner. Jennifer Lawrence also ranked No. 1 on AskMen‘s list of Top 99 Most Desirable Women of the year. Jennifer Lawrence’s website: www.jenniferSLawrence.com | Jennifer Lawrence Facebook verified account: www.FACEBOOK.com/JenniferLawrence | YouTube video: The Silver Linings Playbook (2012) Official Trailer [HD]: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence & Robert De Niro…

2013 – The Smithsonian announced the discovery of the Olinguito on the 15th August 2013, the 1st new carnivoran species found in the Americas in 35 years.

Today in History for August 15th ~ video presented by the Associated Press… 

1880 – Construction of Cologne Cathedral in Germany was completed on the 14th August 1880..

1885 – Japan’s first patent was issued to the inventor of a rust-proof paint on the 14th August 1885.

1888 – An audio recording of English composer Arthur Sullivan‘s The Lost Chord was played during a press conference introducing Thomas Edison‘s phonograph in London, England on the 14th August 1888. It is known as one of the 1st recordings of music ever made.

1893 – France became the 1st country to introduce motor vehicle registration on the 14th August 1893.

1901 – The 1st claimed powered flight, by Gustave Whitehead in his Number 21 was on the 14th August 1901.

1926 – René Goscinny the French comic-strip author was born on the 14th August 1926 (died 1977). René Goscinny is best known for Astérix,  the comic book he created with illustrator Albert Uderzo.

1935 – Social Security Act created a government pension system for the retired on the 14th August 1935.

1941 – David Crosby the American singer-songwriter and guitarist from The Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young was born on the 14th August 1941.

1945 – Steve Martin the American actor, singer, writer, and producer was born on the 14th August 1945.

1947 – Danielle Steel the American novelist was born on the 14th August 1947.

1950 – Gary Larson the American cartoonist was born on the 14th August 1950.

1951 ~ Reg Mombassa the New Zealand born Australian resident artist and musician was born on the 14th August 1951. Reg Mombassa was born Chris O’Doherty, and is known as a founding member of Mental As Anything, and for his artwork designs for Mambo Graphics.

1957 – Peter Costello the Australian politician was born on the 14th August 1957.

1959 – Magic Johnson the American basketball player was born on the 14th August 1959.

1965 ~ Terry Richardson the American fashion and portrait photographer was born on the 14th August 1965.

1966 – Halle Berry the American model and actress was born on the 14th August 1966.

1967 – UK Marine Broadcasting Offences Act declared participation in offshore pirate radio illegal on the 14th August 1967.

1974 – Ana Matronic the American singer-songwriter from Scissor Sisters was born on the 14th August 1974.

1975 – The Rocky Horror Picture Show (the longest-running release in film history) opened at the USA Theatre in Westwood, Los Angeles, California on the 14th August 1975.

1978 – Kate Ritchie the Australian actress was born on the 14th August 1978.

1983 – Mila Kunis the Ukrainian-American actress was born on the 14th August 1983.

1987 – All the children held at Kia Lama, a rural property on Lake Eildon, Australia, run by the Santiniketan Park Association, were released after a police raid on the 14th August 1987.

2010 – The 1st-ever Youth Olympic Games were held in Singapore on the 14th August 2010.

2013 – Egypt was declared a state of emergency on the 14th August 2013, as security forces killed 100s of demonstrators supporting former president Mohamed Morsi. Over 600 people were killed, including 595 civilians and 43 police officers, with about 3,994 injured. The total casualty count made this the deadliest day in recent Egyptian history.

Today in History for August 14th ~ video presented by the Associated Press… 

1899 – Alfred Hitchcock the English director and producer was born on the 13th August 1899 (died 1980).

1913 – First production in the UK of stainless steel on the 13th August 1913, by Harry Brearley.

1915 ~ JOHN FRAWLEY the Australian artist was born on the 13th August 1915. See John Frawley’s war artworks

1926 – Fidel Castro the 15th President of Cuba was born on the 13th August 1926.

1951 – Dan Fogelberg the American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and composer was born on the 13th August 1951 (died 2007).

1952 – Herb Ritts the American photographer was born on the 13th August 1952 (died 2002).

1958 – Feargal Sharkey the Irish singer was born on the 13th August 1958.

1969 – The Apollo 11 astronauts were released from a 3 week quarantine on the 13th August 1969, to enjoy a ticker tape parade in New York, New York. That evening, at a state dinner in Los Angeles, California, they were awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President Richard Nixon.

1972 ~ John Safran the Australian documentary maker and radio broadcaster was born in Melbourne on the 13th August 1972. Official website: www.JohnSafran.com | Facebook official page: www.facebook.com/JohnSafran | Twitter verified: www.Twitter.com/JohnSafran | instagram: www.instagram.com/JohnSafran

2007 ~ Californication the American television series was first broadcast on the 13th August 2007. Californication official website | YouTube video: Californication – Opening HD…

Today in History for August 13th ~ video presented by the Associated Press… 

1851 – Isaac Singer was granted a patent for his sewing machine on the 12th August 1851.

1877 – Asaph Hall discovered the 1st Mars moon Deimos on the 12th August 1877. Six days later he discovered the 2nd Mars moon Phobos on August 18th, while deliberately searching for Martian moons.

1881 – Cecil B. DeMille the American director was born on the 12th August 1881 (d. 1959).

1885 ~ Sir Keith Arthur Murdoch the Australian journalist and the father of Rupert Murdoch was born on the 12th August 1885 (died 4th October 1952 aged 67).

1906 – Harry Hopman the Australian tennis player and coach was born on the 12th day of August in 1906 (d. 1985).

1907 ~ Boy Charlton the Australian Olympic gold medal winning freestyle swimmer was born Andrew Murray Charlton in North Sydney on the 12th August 1907 (died 10th December 1975 aged 68). Boy Charlton won a gold medal in the 1500m freestyle at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris. He set 5 world records, and also won 3 silver and 1 bronze medal after participating in 3 Olympic Games. He enjoyed a life of solitude upon retiring from his swimming , via starting a pharmacy business in Canberra in 1934. In 1936 he returned to the land near Tarago, New South Wales raising sheep. He then married in 1937 and settled on a 12,000-acre property near Goulburn. Boy Charlton was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1972. He died in Sydney of a heart attack at the age of 68, after suffering from emphysema after chain smoking most of his life.

YouTube video: The Konrads Swim Champions featuring Boy Charlton (National Film Board 1959) ~ John and Ilsa Konrads were teenage sensations in a golden time for Australian swimming. Here we see them rise through the ranks with the aid of coach Don Talbot and examine their training techniques that led them to achieve multiple world records. It also shows other earlier champions, including Andrew “Boy” Charlton…

1914 – United Kingdom declared war on Austria-Hungary, on the 12th day of August in 1941, during the start of World War I.

1928 – Charles Blackman the Australian artist was born on the 12th day of August in 1928.

1949 – Mark Knopfler the English singer, songwriter, guitarist from Dire Straits was born on the 12th day of August in 1949.

1958 – Art Kane photographed 57 notable jazz musicians in the black and white group portrait “A Great Day in Harlem” in New York City, on the 12th day of August in 1958.

1960 – Echo 1A, NASA’s first successful communications satellite was launched on the 12th day of August in 1960.

1963 – Sir Mix-a-Lot the American rapper and producer was born on the 12th day of August in 1963.

1964 – South Africa was banned from the Olympic Games due to the country’s racist policies, on the 12th day of August in 1964.

1971 – Pete Sampras the American tennis player was born on the 12th day of August in 1971.

1974 ~ Karl Stefanovic the Australian Gold Logie-winning television presenter was born on the 12th day of August in 1974. Karl Stefanovic is best known as co-host of the Nine Network‘s breakfast program Today.

1981 – The IBM Personal Computer was released on the 12th day of August in 1981.

1991 ~ Jesinta Campbell the Australian pageant titleholder of Miss Universe Australia 2010 was born on the 12th day of August in 1991. Jesinta Campbell official website: www.jesinta.com.au | Facebook: www.facebook.com/jesinta.campbell | Twitter: www.Twitter.com/JesintaCampbell

2012 ~ The 2012 SUMMER OLYMPiCS CLOSiNG CEREMONY in London, also known as A Symphony of British Music, was held on the 12th day of August in 2012. The worldwide broadcast began at 21:00 BST (UTC+1) with a duration of 3 hours and 11 minutes. The estimated global audience of the 2012 Olympics was 750 million. The ceremony included the handover to Rio de Janeiro, the next host city for the 2016 Summer Olympics. (See the new website for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games: www.Rio2016.org) The Olympic cauldron was extinguished at 1 minute past midnight, to signify the end of the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Today in History for August 12th ~ video presented by the Associated Press…