Major Events
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1305 – William Wallace, leader of the Scottish resistance, is executed in London for treason.
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1775 – King George III declares the American colonies in open rebellion, escalating the Revolutionary War.
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1839 – The United Kingdom seizes Hong Kong as part of expanding imperial control during the First Opium War.
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1914 – The Battle of Mons begins during World War I, marking the British Expeditionary Force’s first major action in the war.
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1927 – Italian-American anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti are executed despite worldwide protests and doubts about their guilt.
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1939 – Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union sign the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, a non-aggression treaty that includes secret plans to divide Eastern Europe.
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1990 – East and West Germany announce that they will reunite on October 3rd.
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2007 – The skeletal remains of King Richard III are discovered beneath a parking lot in Leicester, England.
Famous Birthdays
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Jean-Valentin Morel (1794–1860) – Renowned French goldsmith and jeweler.
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Gene Kelly (1912–1996) – American dancer, actor, singer, and director known for Singin’ in the Rain.
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Barbara Eden (1931) – American actress, best known for I Dream of Jeannie.
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Keith Moon (1946–1978) – English drummer for the rock band The Who.
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Rick Springfield (1949) – Australian-American musician and actor.
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Shelley Long (1949) – American actress known for her role in Cheers.
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River Phoenix (1970–1993) – American actor and teen icon of the 1980s.
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Kobe Bryant (1978–2020) – American basketball player, five-time NBA champion.
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Jeremy Lin (1988) – American professional basketball player.
Notable Deaths
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William Wallace (1270–1305) – Scottish knight and national hero.
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Rudolf Valentino (1895–1926) – Italian-American silent film actor and Hollywood sex symbol.
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Sacco and Vanzetti (1927) – Italian immigrants and anarchists executed in the U.S.
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Oscar Hammerstein II (1895–1960) – American lyricist and musical theater pioneer.
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Richard Attenborough (1923–2014) – English actor and director known for Gandhi and Jurassic Park.
Holidays
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European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism – Commemorated in many EU countries.
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Roman Catholic Church – Feast Day of Saint Rose of Lima.
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Philippines – National Heroes Day (observed on the last Monday of August).
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Japan – Love and Gratitude Day (unofficial observance).
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United States (fun) – Ride the Wind Day, celebrating the spirit of flight and adventure.
Fun Facts
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The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact shocked the world by uniting ideological enemies: Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia.
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William Wallace’s execution was brutal — he was hanged, drawn, and quartered — and later inspired the film Braveheart.
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Gene Kelly revolutionized dance in film, combining athleticism with grace.
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Kobe Bryant, born on this day, is one of the most celebrated athletes in modern basketball history.
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Ride the Wind Day marks the anniversary of the first human-powered flight to win the Kremer prize in 1977.