What Happened in August?

The St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre occurs in France, resulting in the killing of thousands of Huguenots (Protestants). following the assassination attempt on Admiral Coligny. Catholic mobs targeted thousands of Huguenots (French Protestants), leading to widespread killings in Paris and other parts of France. Estimates for the total number of deaths vary widely, from about 2,000 to as many as 70,000.

The Spanish army of King Philip II, led by the Duke of Alba, decisively defeats the Portuguese forces of António, Prior of Crato, at the battle of Alcantara, who had proclaimed himself king during the Portuguese succession crisis. On August 27, two days after their decisive victory, King Philip captures Lisbon, effectively uniting the crowns of Portugal and Spain. Expand +

Sir Humphrey Gilbert, a British navigator and explorer takes possession of the area around St. John’s harbor, Newfoundland in the name of the Queen. He was later lost at sea in a storm off the Azores on his return trip to England.

Henry III King of France is assassinated by Jacques Clément, a young fanatical Dominican friar with a knife. Clément was killed on the spot by the guards.

The University of Groningen is established in the Netherlands by the council of the province Groningen on 23 August  23, 1614.

The first recorded enslaved Africans arrive in the English colony of Virginia at Point Comfort, present-day Fort Monroe, more than a year before the Mayflower Pilgrims docked in Plymouth Harbor on December 1620. Two English pirate ships, the Treasurer and White Lion. each carrying 20-30 African slaves land in the Jamestown colony within four days of each other. and are then bought by the colonists.  Expand +

The Dutch Republic officially cedes Dutch Brazil, also known as New Holland, to Portugal through the Treaty of The Hague in exchange for an indemnity payment from Portugal. The Dutch had initially gained control of this region in northeastern Brazil during the 17th century, but faced increasing Portuguese resistance and ultimately lost control of the major cities in 1654.

George Washington becomes a Master Mason in his hometown of Fredericksburg, Virginia. He was twenty one years old. More

Most of the 55 members of the Continental Congress signed the parchment copy of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. While the vote for independence happened on July 2, and the document was formally adopted on July 4, the signing on parchment took place later. More

The Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn, takes place, resulting in a decisive British victory. as General William Howe, defeats the Continental Army, led by General George Washington, forcing them to retreat from Brooklyn and later from Manhattan. It was the first major battle fought after the Declaration of Independence.

The Badge of Military Merit is announced by General George Washington to the Continental Army to honor soldiers wounded in battle. Designed by Washington in the form of a purple heart, It was intended as a military order for soldiers who exhibited, "not only instances of unusual gallantry in battle, but also extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way". This is thought to be the first time in modern history that military honor awards had been presented to common soldiers. Expand +

In one of the worst maritime disasters, 900 men drowned on the British battleship Royal George. A gust of wind allowed water to flood into open gun ports as the ship was being repaired whilst anchored at Spithead off Portsmouth. The ship sank within minutes.

Russians led by Grigorii Shelikhov established the first permanent Russian outpost in Alaska on Kodiak Island at Three Saints Bay. More

The Shays' Rebellion starts. It was an armed insurrection by Massachusetts farmers, including Continental Army veterans who hadn't been paid for their service and were struggling with debt, high taxes and economic hardship after the American Revolution. They were led by Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays and lasted from 1786–1787.  Expand +

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen is adopted in France, laying the groundwork for the French Revolution, becoming the basis for a nation of free individuals protected equally by the law. It is included at the beginning of the constitutions of both the French Fourth Republic (1946) and French Fifth Republic (1958) and is considered valid as constitutional law. More

The United States conducts its first national census, showing a population of 3.9M people (3,929,214). The official count started on August 2 1790 and was finished within 9 months,  Expand +

Benjamin Banneker, the son of a free Black American woman and a formerly enslaved African man from Guinea, writes a letter to Thomas Jefferson, then-Secretary of State. On the letter, Banneker criticizes Jefferson’s hypocritical stance on slavery in respectful but unambiguous terms, using Jefferson’s own words to make his case for the abolition of slavery.  Expand +

Louis XVI of France and his wife, Marie-Antoinette are imprisoned, making the French monarchy effectively overthrown, as the French Revolution continued (1789–1799). They were both executed by guillotine in 1793.

The Siege of Toulon begins. It was a French Revolutionary War engagement where young artillery officer Napoleon Bonaparte helped French forces drive out British and royalist forces from the key naval base of Toulon, a port on the south coast of France.  Expand +

President George Washington leads a militia force of 12,950 men towards Western Pennsylvania to subdue the Whiskey Rebellion, warning locals "not to abet, aid, or comfort the Insurgents aforesaid, as they will answer the contrary at their peril." More