Six thousand Jews are killed in Mainz after being blamed for the bubonic plague. In 1349, as the **Black Death** devastated Europe, fear and desperation…
History
23 August 1898
The Southern Cross Expedition, the first British venture of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, departs from London. The **Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration** was…
22 August 1972
Rhodesia is expelled by the IOC for its racist policies. Rhodesia, now known as Zimbabwe, became increasingly isolated from international sport during the 1960s and…
21 August 1911
The Mona Lisa is stolen by Vincenzo Peruggia, a Louvre employee. On August 21, 1911, Leonardo da Vinci’s *Mona Lisa* was stolen from the Louvre…
20 August 1940
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill makes the fourth of his famous wartime speeches, containing the line “Never was so much owed by so many to…
19 August 1953
The CIA and MI6 help to overthrow the government of Mohammad Mosaddegh in Iran and reinstate the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. In August 1953, the…
18 August 1304
The Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle is fought to a draw between the French army and the Flemish militias. The **Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle** was fought on August…
17 August 2008
American swimmer Michael Phelps becomes the first person to win eight gold medals at one Olympic Games. Michael Phelps is an American former competitive swimmer…
16 August 1916
The Migratory Bird Treaty between Canada and the United States is signed. The **Migratory Bird Treaty between Canada and the United States**, formally known as…
15 August 1814
British forces launch a costly and unsuccessful night attack against American defenders during the siege of Fort Erie. The **War of 1812** was fought between…