Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands abdicates for health reasons. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands (1880–1962) reigned for nearly 58 years, making her the longest-serving Dutch…
3 September 1935
Sir Malcolm Campbell reaches a speed of 304.331 miles per hour on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, becoming the first person to drive an…
2 September 1987
In Moscow, the trial begins for 19-year-old pilot Mathias Rust, who flew his Cessna airplane into Red Square in May. Mathias Rust was an 18…
1 September 1715
At the age of five, Louis XV becomes king of France in succession to his great-grandfather, King Louis XIV. Louis XV, often called Louis the…
31 August 1950
TWA Flight 903 crashes near Itay El Barud, Egypt, killing all 55 aboard. Trans World Airlines Flight 903 was a scheduled passenger service that tragically…
30 August 1963
The Moscow–Washington hotline between the leaders of the U.S. and the Soviet Union goes into operation. The Moscow–Washington hotline, often nicknamed the “red telephone,” was…
29 August 1842
Treaty of Nanking signing ends the First Opium War. The Treaty of Nanking, signed on August 29, 1842, officially ended the First Opium War between…
28 August 1913
Queen Wilhelmina opens the Peace Palace in The Hague. The Peace Palace in The Hague is one of the most important symbols of international justice…
27 August 1832
Black Hawk, leader of the Sauk tribe of Native Americans, surrenders to U.S. authorities, ending the Black Hawk War. The Black Hawk War of 1832…
26 August 2011
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing’s all-new composite airliner, receives certification from the EASA and the FAA. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is one of the most…