1420 – Construction of the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore began in Florence on the 7th August 1420.

1574 – Robert Dudley the English explorer and cartographer was born on the 7th August 1574 (died 1649).

1789 – The United States Department of War was established on the 7th August 1789.

1779 – Louis de Freycinet the French explorer was born on the 7th August 1779 (died 1842).

1779 – Carl Ritter the German geographer was born on the 7th August 1779 (died 1859).

1844 – Auguste Michel-Lévy the French geologist was born on the 7th August 1844 (died 1911).

1860 – Alan Leo the English astrologer and author was born on the 7th August 1860 (died 1917).

1867 – Emil Nolde the German painter was born on the 7th August 1867 (died 1956).

1890 – Anna Månsdotter became the last woman in Sweden to be executed on the 7th August 1890, for the 1889 Yngsjö murder.

1903 – Louis Leakey the Kenyan-English archaeologist was born on the 7th August 1903 (died 1972).

1907 – Albert Kotin the American painter was born on the 7th August 1907 (died 1980).

1916 – Kermit Love the American puppeteer, costume designer, and actor was born on the 7th August 1916 (died 2008).

1921 – Manitas de Plata the French guitarist was born on the 7th August 1921.

1925 – Felice Bryant the American songwriter was born on the 7th August 1925 (died 2003).

1926 – Stan Freberg the American voice actor and singer was born on the 7th August 1926.

1927 – The Peace Bridge opened between Fort Erie, Ontario and Buffalo, New York on the 7th August 1927.

1930 – Togrul Narimanbekov the Azerbaijani painter was born on the 7th August 1930 (died 2013).

1932 – Rien Poortvliet the Dutch painter was born on the 7th August 1932 (died 1995).

1938 – The building of Mauthausen concentration camp began.

1940 ~ Ringo Starr (MBE) the English musician, singer, songwriter and drummer from for The Beatles was born Richard Starkey at 9 Madryn Street, Dingle, Liverpool, England on the 7th July 1940. Ringo Starr’s official website: www.RingoStarr.com | Facebook.com/RingoStarrMusic 

1942 – B. J. Thomas the American singer was born on the 7th August 1942.

1944 – IBM dedicated the 1st program-controlled calculator on the 7th August 1944, the Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator (known as the Harvard Mark I).

1947 – Thor Heyerdahl‘s balsa wood raft the Kon-Tiki smashed into the reef at Raroia in the Tuamotu Islands on the 7th August 1947, after a 101-day, 7,000 kilometres (4,300 miles) journey across the Pacific Ocean, in an attempt to prove that pre-historic people could have travelled from South America.

1948 – Greg Chappell the Australian cricketer and coach was born on the 7th August 1948.

1952 – Alexei Sayle the English comedian, actor, and author was born on the 7th August 1952.

1955 – Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering the precursor to Sony, sold its first transistor radios in Japan on the 7th August 1955.

1958 – Bruce Dickinson the English singer-songwriter from Iron Maiden was born on the 7th August 1958.

1959 – Explorer program: Explorer 6 launched from the Atlantic Missile Range in Cape Canaveral, Florida on the 7th August 1959.

1959 – The Lincoln Memorial design on the U.S. penny went into circulation on the 7th August 1959. It replaced the “sheaves of wheat” design, and was minted until 2008.

1960 – Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) became independent from France on the 7th August 1960.

1960 – Jacquie O’Sullivan the English singer-songwriter from Bananarama was born on the 7th August 1960.

1960 – David Duchovny the American actor was born on the 7th August 1960.

1964 – John Birmingham the Australian author was born on the 7th August 1964.

1966 – Jimmy Wales the American businessman and co-founder of Wikipedia was born on the 7th August 1966.

1974 – Philippe Petit performed a high wire act between the twin towers of the World Trade Center on the 7th August 1974, at 1,368 feet (417m) above ground level.

1975 – Charlize Theron, South African model and actress was born on the 7th August 1975.

1975 – David Hicks the Australian alleged terrorist was born on the 7th August 1975.

1976 – Viking program: Viking 2 entered orbit around Mars on the 7th August 1976.

1981 – The Washington Star ceased all operations on the 7th August 1981, after 128 years of publication.

1987 – Lynne Cox became the 1st person to swim from the United States to the Soviet Union on the 7th August 1987, crossing from Little Diomede Island in Alaska to Big Diomede in the Soviet Union.

2007 – Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants broke baseball great Hank Aaron‘s record on the 7th August 2007, by hitting his 756th home run.

2013 ~ Bill Putt the Australian bass player from Spectrum and Ariel died of a heart attack on the 7th August 2013.

2013 ~ Hold On, We’re Going Home by Drake was released on the 7th August 2013. Drake’s official website: www.DrakeOfficial.com | Drake’s Twitter verified: www.twitter.com/Drake | Drake’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/DrakeVevo | Drake MySpace: www.myspace.com/Drake | Drake on iTunes | YouTube video: Drake Performs Hold On, We’re Going Home (2013) on The Ellen Show…

Today in History for August 7th ~ video presented by the Associated Press… 

1538 – Bogotá, Colombia was founded by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada on the 6th August 1538.

1825 – Bolivia gained independence from Spain on the 6th August 1825.

1911 – Lucille Ball the American actress was born on the 6th August 1911 (died 1989).

1917 – Barbara Cooney the American children’s author and illustrator was born on the 6th August 1917 (died 2000).

1926 – Elisabeth Beresford the British author and creator of The Wombles was born on the 6th August 1926 (died 2010).

1928 – Andy Warhol the American artist was born on the 6th August 1928 (died 1987).

1951 – Daryl Somers the Australian television host was born on the 6th August 1951.

1962 – Jamaica became independent from the United Kingdom on the 6th August 1962..

1964 – Prometheus, a bristlecone pine and the world’s oldest tree was cut down on the 6th August 1964.

1972 – Geri Halliwell the English singer-songwriter from Spice Girls was born on the 6th August 1972.

1973 ~ David Campbell the Australian singer, stage performer and television presenter was born in South Australia on the 6th August 1973. David Campbell is the son of Jimmy Barnes.

1976 – Melissa George the Australian actress was born on the 6th August 1976.

1981 – Travie McCoy the American rapper and songwriter from Gym Class Heroes was born on the 6th August 1981.

2012 ~ TOM SLiNGSBY won Australia’s 2nd gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics in the Laser sailing class on the 6th day of July in 2012.

Read the Herald Sun full story: Tom Slingsby has won Australia’s second gold medal of the London Olympics with victory in Laser sailing class 

The stamp featured above is available from Australia Post 

The official website of Tom Slingsby: www.TomSlingsby.com 

2012 ~ The NASA CURiOSiTY ROVER landed on the surface of Mars on the 6th day of August in 2012.

2012 ~ ROBERT HUGHES the Australian born art critic and writer died on the 6th day of August in 2012, aged 74 (born 28 July 1938)

Today in History for August 6th ~ video presented by the Associated Press… 

1100 – Henry I was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey on the 5th August 1100.

1620 – The Mayflower departed from Southampton, England on the 5th August 1620, on its 1st attempt to reach North America.

1908 – Harold Holt the 17th Prime Minister of Australia was born on the 5th August 1908 (died 1967).

1928 ~ Jeff Carter the Australian photographer and author was born in Melbourne on the 5th August 1928 (died 25th October 2010 aged 82). Jeff Carter’s official website: www.JeffCarterPhotos.com

1930 ~ Neil Armstrong the American astronaut and first man on the Moon, was born on the 5th day of August in 1930 (died in 2012 aged 82).

1945 – Loni Anderson the American actress was born on the 5th August 1945.

1947 – Angry Anderson the Australian singer-songwriter from Rose Tattoo, The Party Boys, and Buster Brown was born on the 5th August 1947.

1953 – Samantha Sang the Australian singer was born on the 5th August 1953.

1962 – Nelson Mandela was jailed on the 5th August 1962, and not released until 1990.

Today in History for August 5th ~ video presented by the Associated Press…

1693 – Dom Perignon‘s invented Champagne on the 4th August 1693, although he actually did not have anything to do with sparkling wine.

1783 – Mount Asama eruped in Japan on the 4th August 1783, killing about 1,400 people.

1821 – Louis Vuitton the French fashion designer and founder of Louis Vuitton was born on the 4th August 1821 (d. 1892).

1821 – Atkinson & Alexander published The Saturday Evening Post for the first time on the 4th August 1821, as a weekly newspaper.

1900 – Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was born on the 4th August 1900 (d. 2002).

1901 – Louis Armstrong the American trumpeter and singer was born on the 4th August 1901 (d. 1971).

1902 – The Greenwich foot tunnel under the River Thames opened on the 4th August 1902.

1906 – Central railway station, Sydney opened on the 4th August 1906.

1923 – Reg Grundy the Australian television producer was born on the 4th August 1923.

1937 ~ David Holliday the American Broadway actor and television voice actor was born on the 4th August 1937 (died 1999).

1944 –  Anne Frank, her family, and 4 others were arrested on the 4th August 1944.

1947 – The Supreme Court of Japan was established on the 4th August 1947.

1958 – The Billboard Hot 100 was published for the first time on the 4th August 1958.

1960 – Tim Winton the Australian writer was born on the 4th August 1960.

1961 – Barack Obama the 44th President of the United States was born on the 4th August 1961.

1989 – Jessica Mauboy the Australian singer-songwriter and actress was born on the 4th August 1989.

2007 – NASA‘s Phoenix spaceship was launched on the 4th August 2007.

2011 ~ Red Dog the Australian film starring Koko the Kelpie was released on the 4th August 2011.

 

Today in History for August 4th ~ video presented by the Associated Press…   

1492 – Christopher Columbus set sail from Palos de la Frontera, Spain on the 3rd August 1492.

1527 – The 1st known letter from North America was sent on the 3rd August 1527, by John Rut while at St. John’s, Newfoundland.

1601 – Long War: Austria captured Transylvania in the Battle of Goroszló on the 3rd August 1601.

1678 – Robert LaSalle built the Le Griffon on the 3rd August 1678, the 1st known ship built on the Great Lakes.

1783 – Mount Asama erupted in Japan on the 3rd August 1783, killing 35,000 people.

1856 – Alfred Deakin the Australian politician, 2nd Prime Minister of Australia was born on the 3rd August 1856 (d. 1919).

1900 – The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company was founded on the 3rd August 1900.

1926 – Tony Bennett the American singer was born on the 3rd August 1926.

1934 – Adolf Hitler became the supreme leader of Germany on the 3rd August 1934, by joining the offices of President and Chancellor into Führer.

1936 – Jesse Owens won the 100 meter dash on the 3rd August 1936, defeating Ralph Metcalfe, at the Berlin Olympics.

1946 – Santa Claus Land, the world’s 1st themed amusement park opened on the 3rd August 1946, in Santa Claus, Indiana, United States.

1958 – The nuclear submarine USS Nautilus travelled beneath the Arctic ice cap on the 3rd August 1958.

1960 – Niger gained independence from France on the 3rd August 1960.

1977 – Tandy Corporation announced the TRS-80 on the 3rd August 1977, one of the world’s first mass-produced personal computers.

2004 – The pedestal of the Statue of Liberty reopened on the 3rd August 2004, after being closed since the September 11 attacks.

2008 – Roger Voudouris the American singer-songwriter and guitarist died on the 3rd August 2008 aged 48 (born 1954). Roger Voudouris was best known for his 1979 hit Get Used To It (YouTube video)…

Today in History for August 3rd ~ video presented by the Associated Press…   

1610 – Henry Hudson sailed into what is now known as Hudson Bay on the 2nd August 1610, thinking he had made it through the Northwest Passage and reached the Pacific Ocean.

1790 – The 1st US Census was conducted on the 2nd August 1790.

1870 – Tower Subway, the world’s 1st underground tube railway, opened in London, England, on the 2nd August 1870.

1916 – World War I: Austrian sabotage caused the sinking of the Italian battleship Leonardo da Vinci in Taranto on the 2nd August 1916.

1922 – A typhoon hit Shantou, Republic of China killing more than 50,000 people on the 2nd August 1922.

1932 ~ Peter O’Toole the Irish actor was born in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland on the 2nd August 1932 (died 14th December 2013 aged 81). Peter O’Toole is known for his roles in Lawrence of Arabia (1962) ~ Becket (1964) ~ The Night of the Generals (1967) ~ The Lion in Winter (1968) ~ Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969) ~ Man of La Mancah (1972) ~ The Ruling Class (1972) ~ The Stunt Man (1980) ~ My Favorite Year (1982) ~ Troy (2004) ~ Venus (2006) and more. YouTube video: Peter O’Toole Best Movies: Retiring After Epic Career…

1934 – Adolf Hitler became the Führer of Germany on the 2nd August 1934.

1939 – Albert Einstein and Leó Szilárd wrote a letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt on the 2nd August 1939, urging him to begin the Manhattan Project to develop a nuclear weapon.

1939 – Wes Craven the American director, producer, and screenwriter was born on the 2nd August 1939.

1944 – Jim Capaldi the English drummer and songwriter from Traffic was born on the 2nd August 1944 (died 2005).

1945 – Alex Jesaulenko the Australian rules footballer was born on the 2nd August 1945.

1950 ~ Graham Hancock the British writer and journalist was born on the 2nd August 1950. Graham Hancock specialises in unconventional theories involving ancient civilizations, stone monuments, megaliths, altered states of consciousness, ancient myths, astronomical and astrological data from the past. The main theme through many of his books is the possible global connection with a mother culture, from which he believes all ancient historical civilizations sprang. Graham Hancock – Why Are We Here?..

1951 – Joe Lynn Turner the American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Deep Purple was born on the 2nd August 1951.

1957 – Butch Vig the American drummer and songwriter from Garbage was born on the 2nd August 1957.

1961 – Pete de Freitas the Spanish drummer from Echo & the Bunnymen was born on the 2nd August 1961 (died 1989).

1964 – Mary-Louise Parker the American actress was born on the 2nd August 1964.

1965 ~ Andrew Blackman the Australian actor and theatre director was born in Brisbane on the 2nd August 1965. Andrew Blackman is best known as Taylor Fry’s dad Don Fry in Mortified.

1965 – Joe Hockey the Australian politician and 38th Treasurer of Australia was born on the 2nd August 1965.

1968 – An earthquake hit Casiguran, Aurora, Philippines on the 2nd August 1968, killing more than 270 people and wounding 261.

1973 – A flash fire killed 51 at the Summerland amusement centre at Douglas, Isle of Man on the 2nd August 1973.

1976 – Sam Worthington the English-Australian actor was born on the 2nd August 1976.

1980 – A bomb exploded at the railway station in Bologna, Italy on the 2nd August 1980, killing 85 people and wounding more than 200.

1985 – Delta Air Lines Flight 191, a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar crashed at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on the 2nd August 1985, killing 137 people.

1989 – Pakistan was re-admitted to the Commonwealth of Nations on the 2nd August 1989, after having restored democracy for the first time since 1972.

2005 – Air France Flight 358 landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport and run off the runway on the 2nd August 2005, causing the plane to burst into flames, leaving 12 people injured.

Today in History for August 2nd ~ video presented by the Associated Press…   

1192 – Richard the Lionheart landed on Jaffa on the 1st August 1192, and defeated the army of Saladin.

1498 – Christopher Columbus became the 1st European to visit Venezuela on the 1st August 1498.

1831 – A new London Bridge opened on the 1st August 1831.

1834 – Slavery was abolished in the British Empire on the 1st August 1834, as the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 came into force.

1855 – The 1st ascent of Monte Rosa was on the 1st August 1855. It’s the 2nd highest summit in the Alps.

1876 – Colorado was admitted as the 38th U.S. state on the 1st August 1876.

1914 – Germany declared war on Russia on the 1st August 1914, at the opening of World War I.

1936 – W. D. Hamilton the English biologist was born on the 1st August 1936 (died 2000).

1936 – Yves Saint Laurent the French fashion designer was born on the 1st August 1936 (died 2008).

1942 – Jerry Garcia the American singer-songwriter and guitarist from the Grateful Dead was born on the 1st August 1942 (died 1995).

1948 – David Gemmell the British fantasy author was born on the 1st August 1948.

1951 – Tim Bachman the Canadian musician from Bachman-Turner Overdrive was born on the 1st August 1951.

1959 – Joe Elliott the English singer-songwriter and guitarist from Def Leppard was born on the 1st August 1959.

1963 – Coolio the American rapper, producer, and actor was born on the 1st August 1963.

1964 – Adam Duritz the American singer-songwriter and musician from Counting Crows was born on the 1st August 1964.

1980 – Vigdís Finnbogadóttir was elected President of Iceland on the 1st August 1980, becoming the world’s 1st democratically elected female head of state.

1981 – MTV began broadcasting in the United States on the 1st August 1981, and aired its 1st video, “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.

1984 –  Lindow Man was discovered on the 1st August 1984, at Lindow Moss, Cheshire, northwest England.

1986 – Anton Strålman the Swedish ice hockey player was born on the 1st August 1986.

Today in History for August 1st ~ video presented by the Associated Press…