| 1099 |
|
At the Battle of Ascalon 1,000 Crusaders, led by Godfrey of Bouillon, route an Egyptian relief column heading for Jerusalem, which had already fallen to the Crusaders. |
| 1687 |
|
At the Battle of Mohacs, Hungary, Charles of Lorraine defeats the Turks. |
| 1762 |
|
The British capture Cuba from Spain after a two month siege. |
| 1791 |
|
Black slaves on the island of Santo Domingo rise up against their white masters. |
| 1812 |
|
British commander the Duke of Wellington occupies Madrid, Spain, forcing out Joseph Bonaparte. |
| 1863 |
|
Confederate raider William Quantrill leads a massacre of 150 men and boys in Lawrence, Kansas. |
| 1864 |
|
After a week of heavy raiding, the Confederate cruiser Tallahassee claims six Union ships captured. |
| 1896 |
|
Gold is discovered near Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada. After word reaches the United States in June of 1897, thousands of Americans head to the Klondike to seek their fortunes. |
| 1898 |
|
The Spanish American War officially ends after three months and 22 days of hostilities. |
| 1908 |
|
Henry Ford’s first Model T rolls off the assembly line. |
| 1922 |
|
The home of Frederick Douglass in Washington, D.C. is dedicated as a memorial. |
| 1935 |
|
President Franklin Roosevelt signs the Social Security Bill. |
| 1941 |
|
French Marshal Henri Philippe Petain announces full French collaboration with Nazi Germany. |
| 1961 |
|
The erection of the Berlin Wall begins, preventing access between East and West Germany. |
| 1969 |
|
American installations at Quan-Loi, Vietnam, come under Viet Cong attack. |
| 1972 |
|
As U.S. troops leave Vietnam, B-52’s make their largest strike of the war. |
| 1977 |
|
Steven Biko, leader of the black consciousness movement in South Africa, is arrested. |
| 1992 |
|
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is concluded between the United States, Canada and Mexico, creating the world’s wealthiest trade bloc. |
|
Born on August 12 |
| 1762 |
|
George IV, named Prince Regent in 1810 when his father, George III, is declared insane. |
| 1774 |
|
Robert Southey, English poet laureate (1813-1843). |
| 1781 |
|
Robert Mills, architect and engineer whose designs include the Washington Monument, the National Portrait Gallery and the U.S. Treasury Building. |
| 1859 |
|
Katherine Bates, composer of "America the Beautiful." |
| 1881 |
|
Cecil B. DeMille, American film director, producer and screenwriter, famous for epic productions. |
| 1889 |
|
Zerna Sharp, creator of the "Dick and Jane" reading books. |
| 1911 |
|
Cantinflas, Mexican circus clown, acrobat and actor. |
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