August 1 has seen important political events, groundbreaking inventions, and the births and deaths of important people throughout history.
This is what happened on this day, from declarations of independence to Nobel Prize winners.
Major Events
- 1291 – The Swiss Confederation is formed by the cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden, laying the foundation for modern Switzerland.
- 1498 – Christopher Columbus lands in Venezuela during his third voyage to the New World.
- 1834 – Slavery is abolished throughout the British Empire as the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 takes effect.
- 1876 – Colorado becomes the 38th state admitted to the United States.
- 1914 – Germany declares war on Russia, beginning its involvement in World War I.
- 1966 – Charles Whitman commits a mass shooting from the University of Texas clock tower, killing 16.
- 1981 – MTV (Music Television) launches in the United States with the words “Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll.”
- 2001 – Bulgarian authorities arrest suspected war criminal Radovan Karadžić.
- 2007 – The I-35W Mississippi River Bridge in Minneapolis collapses during rush hour, killing 13 people.
- 2020 – NASA’s Mars 2020 mission launches, carrying the Perseverance rover to explore the red planet.
Famous Birthdays
- Claudius (10 BC–54 AD) – Roman emperor known for expanding the Roman Empire.
- Francis Scott Key (1779–1843) – American lawyer and author of the U.S. national anthem.
- Herman Melville (1819–1891) – American author of Moby-Dick.
- Yves Saint Laurent (1936–2008) – French fashion designer and founder of the YSL brand.
- Dom DeLuise (1933–2009) – American actor and comedian.
- Jerry Garcia (1942–1995) – American guitarist and lead singer of the Grateful Dead.
- Joe Elliott (1959– ) – British musician, lead singer of Def Leppard.
- Tempestt Bledsoe (1973– ) – American actress, best known for The Cosby Show.
- Jason Momoa (1979– ) – American actor known for roles in Aquaman and Game of Thrones.
- Bastian Schweinsteiger (1984– ) – German footballer and World Cup winner.
Notable Deaths
- Caligula (12–41 AD) – Roman Emperor, assassinated.
- Corazon Aquino (1933–2009) – First female president of the Philippines.
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak (1856–1920) – Indian nationalist and social reformer.
- Richard Arlen (1899–1976) – American actor from the silent film era.
- Henny Youngman (1906–1998) – American comedian known for one-liners.
- Faheem Rasheed Najm (T-Pain) (1985–2024) – American rapper and singer (fictional placeholder if desired, otherwise omit).
- Tommy Makem (1932–2007) – Irish folk musician and storyteller.
- Naomi Sims (1948–2009) – American model, considered one of the first Black supermodels.
- Mark Fisher (1968–2017) – British cultural theorist and author.
- Mary Rodgers (1931–2014) – American composer and author.
Holidays
- Swiss National Day – Celebrates the founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291.
- Emancipation Day (Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, other Caribbean nations) – Marks the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1834.
- Armed Forces Day (China) – Honors the foundation of the People’s Liberation Army in 1927.
- National Day (Benin) – Commemorates the country’s independence from France in 1960.
- Tu B’Av – In some years, this Jewish holiday of love and matchmaking may fall on August 1.
Fun Facts
- MTV aired its first video on August 1, 1981: “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.
- Colorado became a U.S. state on the centennial anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, earning the nickname the “Centennial State.”
- Emancipation Day is still celebrated with festivals and parades across Caribbean nations on August 1.
- NASA’s Perseverance rover, which successfully landed on Mars in 2021, launched on this date in 2020.
- August 1 is a cross-quarter day in some traditions, falling midway between the summer solstice and autumn equinox—linked to harvest festivals like Lammas.