60
Politics
Sack of Camulodunum (Colchester)
Boudica's rebel army destroyed the Roman colony of Camulodunum, the former Trinovantian capital and center of the imperial cult, killing its inhabitants.
View detailsThis Day
01August
75 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1513
Politics
Catherine appointed regent during Henry VIII’s campaign in France
Henry VIII leaves for France, appointing Catherine of Aragon as regent of England.
View details1648
Politics
Relocated capital after recapture of Luanda
In August 1648, Nzinga moved her capital after Portuguese retook Luanda, continuing resistance.
View details1786
Science
First woman to discover a comet
Herschel discovered comet C/1786 P1, becoming the first woman in history credited with discovering a comet.
View details1788
Aviation
Birth of Wilhelmine Reichard
Wilhelmine Reichard, pioneering German balloonist, was born on 1 August 1788 in Zerbst.
View details1793
Politics
Transfer to the Conciergerie
Moved to the Conciergerie, the principal prison of the Revolutionary Tribunal.
View details1797
Science
Completes 'First Impressions'; first submitted for publication
By August 1797 Austen finished 'First Impressions' and her father submitted it to a publisher, who declined it.
View details1816
Science
Completion of 'Persuasion'
By August 1816, Austen completed 'Persuasion,' written over the previous year, later published posthumously.
View details1818
Science
Birth of Maria Mitchell
Maria Mitchell was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts, and would become the first professional woman astronomer in the United States.
View details1833
Science
Publishes landmark abolitionist work 'An Appeal in Favor of That Class of Americans Called Africans'
Child published her groundbreaking abolitionist treatise in 1833, one of the first full-length antislavery books published in the U.S.
View details1834
Activism
Birth of Sarah Robinson
Sarah Robinson was born on August 1, 1834, in London, England.
View details1837
Activism
Birth of Mary Harris in County Cork, Ireland
Mary Harris (later 'Mother Jones') was born in Cork, Ireland, though her exact birthdate is debated by historians.
View details1845
Science
Detailed description of potato late blight fungus
First detailed description and naming of potato late blight fungus as Botrytis vastatrix.
View details1849
Aviation
Birth of Mary Breed Hawley (Mary Myers)
Birth of Mary Breed Hawley (later Mary Myers, “Carlotta, the Lady Aeronaut”) in Boston, Massachusetts on August 1, 1849.
View details1870
Arts
First major public exhibition of "Hagar"
Exhibition of Lewis's "Hagar" at Farwell Hall, Chicago; a significant milestone.
View details1870
Arts
First major U.S. exhibition of "Hagar" at Farwell Hall, Chicago
Lewis's sculpture Hagar received its first major American public exhibition at Farwell Hall in Chicago in August 1870.
View details1879
Medicine
First licensed Black nurse in the United States
Mary Eliza Mahony became the first licensed Black nurse in the U.S. on August 1, 1879.
View details1879
Medicine
First African American woman to earn a nursing degree
On August 1, 1879, Mahony became the first African American woman to graduate with a nursing degree.
View details1879
Medicine
First Black person registered in Massachusetts Nurses Directory
Mahony registered as the first Black person in Massachusetts Nurses Directory on August 1, 1879.
View details1887
Science
Shoots ashes from Crown Prince Wilhelm's cigarette
Annie Oakley shot the ashes off a cigarette held in the mouth of Crown Prince Wilhelm, later Kaiser Wilhelm II.
View details1887
Politics
U.S. representative to International Red Cross Conference
Cleveland appointed Barton to represent the United States at the International Red Cross Conference in Germany, recognizing her international standing.
View details1891
Activism
Birth of Tcheng Soumay
Tcheng Soumay was born on August 1, 1891, in Hunan, China, eventually becoming a pioneering female lawyer.
View details1893
Exploration
First voyage to West Africa
Kingsley departed for her first independent expedition to West Africa in August 1893, beginning her career as an explorer and ethnographer.
View details1899
1901
Science
Fatal fourth experimental mosquito bite
Maass's final experimental exposure to an infected mosquito in August 1901 led to a severe, ultimately fatal case of yellow fever.
View details1903
Science
Opening of First Beauty Salon in Melbourne
Rubinstein opened her first professional beauty salon in Melbourne in the summer of 1903, formally launching her cosmetics business.
View details1903
Exploration
Death of Calamity Jane in Terry, South Dakota
Calamity Jane died on August 1, 1903, in Terry, South Dakota, and was buried near Wild Bill Hickok in Deadwood's Mount Moriah Cemetery.
View details1910
Activism
Founded the Bharat Stree Mahamandal, one of India's first women's organizations
Sarala Devi Chaudhurani founded the Bharat Stree Mahamandal in 1910, considered the first pan-Indian women's organization dedicated to women's education and empowerment.
View details1911
Arts
Birth of Jackie Ormes
Jackie Ormes, the first African American female cartoonist, was born on August 1, 1911.
View details1911
Aviation
First American woman to earn a pilot's license
Quimby passes the Aero Club of America's tests, earning FAI certificate No. 37 as the first American woman licensed to fly.
View details1914
Arts
Born in New York City
Winifred Milius was born on August 1, 1914, in New York City, later becoming a noted political graphic artist and children's book illustrator.
View details1915
Arts
Exhibition of 'The Sock Knitter'
Exhibited 'The Sock Knitter', the first fully Post-Impressionist work in Australia, at Royal Art Society.
View details1920
Medicine
Birth of Henrietta Lacks
Henrietta Lacks (née Loretta Pleasant) was born in Roanoke, Virginia; she later became the unwitting source of the HeLa cell line.
View details1920
Literature
Final theatre review and departure from Vanity Fair
Parker's final Vanity Fair review appears in August 1920.
View details1923
Science
Creation and inaugural staging of the Wightman Cup
The first Wightman Cup, the pioneering international women's team tennis competition between the U.S. and Great Britain, was held with Hazel Wightman as donor and player.
View details1926
Literature
Publication of debut poetry collection "Enough Rope"
Parker's "Enough Rope" published in August 1926 to great acclaim.
View details1927
Arts
Breakthrough Bristol audition with the Carter Family
The Carter Family auditioned for RCA Victor in Bristol.
View details1927
Medicine
Death of educator Sarah Fuller
Death of educator Sarah Fuller in Newton Lower Falls, Massachusetts, after a long career in deaf education.
View details1927
Arts
First Carter Family recording session at the Bristol Sessions
On August 1, 1927, the Carter Family recorded their first commercial tracks at the Bristol Sessions.
View details1932
Aviation
Death of Mary Myers (Carlotta, the Lady Aeronaut)
Death of Mary Myers (born Mary Breed Hawley), “Carlotta, the Lady Aeronaut,” in Atlanta, Georgia on August 1, 1932, her 83rd birthday.
View details1933
Literature
Publication of Testament of Youth
Brittain published her landmark memoir Testament of Youth, chronicling her WWI experiences and establishing her as a major literary and pacifist voice.
View details1936
Activism
Joins Republican militia in Spanish Civil War
In August 1936 Simone Weil joins a Republican anarchist militia on the Aragon front in the Spanish Civil War, withdrawing after a severe burn injury.
View details1937
Science
Recruited as a Soviet NKVD agent (codenamed 'Hola')
Melita Norwood was recruited by Soviet intelligence in 1937 while working as a secretary at the British Non-Ferrous Metals Research Association.
View details1939
Arts
New Deal tour of Washington State
Lange documents migrant farmworkers in Washington State for the New Deal Agencies.
View details1943
Aviation
Appointed WASP Executive in Air Transport Command
By August 1943 she is named WASP Executive in Air Transport Command, overseeing six ferrying squadrons and 300+ women pilots.
View details1943
Aviation
Death in aerial combat near Dmitrievka
Lydia Litvyak was shot down and killed in an aerial dogfight near the village of Dmitrievka during the Battle of Kursk, aged 21.
View details1944
Literature
Anne Frank's last diary entry
Anne Frank wrote the last known entry in her diary.
View details1945
Aviation
First woman to fly virtually all AAF high‑performance combat aircraft
By late WWII she is the first woman to have flown nearly all AAF complex, high‑performance combat aircraft, from P‑51s to B‑17s.
View details1945
Politics
Enlistment in the Women’s Army Corps
Clarke enlists in the Women’s Army Corps during World War II, beginning a 36-year Army career.
View details1948
Law
Issuance of Harlan F. Stone commemorative U.S. postage stamp
The U.S. Post Office issues the Harlan F. Stone commemorative postage stamp.
View details1952
Politics
Service on UN Ad Hoc Commission on Prisoners of War
In August 1952, recorded here as August 1, Eugenie Anderson, then ambassador to Denmark, served as U.S. representative to the UN Ad Hoc Commission on Prisoners of War.
View details1966
Science
Patent for Home Security System Filed
Marie filed her security system patent application, a precursor to modern security.
View details1969
Aviation
First woman awarded the George Cross for peacetime gallantry
Harrison becomes the only woman awarded the George Cross for gallantry in peacetime and its youngest female recipient.
View details1969
Aviation
Posthumous award of the George Cross
Posthumous award of the George Cross to Harrison for her bravery on BOAC Flight 712, one of four women GC recipients.
View details1973
Science
First Female Chair of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
On August 1, 1973, Dixy Lee Ray became the first female chair of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
View details1973
Exploration
Birth of Edurne Pasaban
Born on August 1, 1973, in Tolosa, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Spain.
View details1979
Aviation
Among first women to attain full NASA astronaut status
In 1979, Lucid became a full-fledged NASA astronaut, among the first American women to achieve this milestone.
View details1980
Politics
Inaugurated as President of Iceland
Inaugurated on August 1, 1980, as Iceland's president, becoming the first female head of state.
View details1981
Science
Release of "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" single
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts released the single that would become a chart-topping anthem of hard rock.
View details1993
Arts
Recognized as first woman with commercial success recording with the autoharp
Sara Carter noted as first woman to achieve commercial success with autoharp recordings.
View details1993
Arts
Posthumous induction into the Autoharp Hall of Fame
Inducted into the Autoharp Hall of Fame posthumously.
View details1993
Arts
Opening of first Selena Etc. boutique-salon
Selena opens her first Selena Etc. boutique-salon in Corpus Christi, launching her fashion and business enterprise.
View details1996
Politics
Completion of 16-Year Presidency
Completed her presidency on August 1, 1996, as the longest-serving elected female head of state.
View details1996
Sports
First Olympic women’s soccer gold medal with U.S. team
Mia Hamm helped the U.S. team win the first Olympic gold in women's soccer in 1996.
View details2002
Sports
First wheelchair medal counted in official Commonwealth Games tally
Won gold in the women's 800m wheelchair race at Manchester 2002, the first wheelchair medal to count in a nation's official Commonwealth Games tally.
View details2004
Politics
Assumed office as president of Fisk University
O'Leary formally took office as president of Fisk University in August 2004, beginning a nearly decade-long tenure leading her alma mater.
View details2007
Arts
Promotion to ABT Soloist
Misty Copeland was promoted to soloist at ABT, becoming the company's second African American female Soloist.
View details2013
Exploration
First person to SUP across the Bering Strait
Became the first person to paddleboard across the Bering Strait from Russia to Alaska.
View details2014
Activism
Release of "Brides for Sale" video
Released rap song/video "Brides for Sale," drawing international activism attention.
View details2015
Activism
Flight from Syria and Aegean Sea rescue
Escaped Syria, notably rescuing a refugee boat in the Aegean Sea.
View details2015
Activism
Mary Schmidt Campbell assumes the presidency of Spelman College
On August 1, 2015, Mary Schmidt Campbell begins service as Spelman College’s 10th president.
View details2017
Science
Granted U.S. Patent 9,723,659 for thermoelectric light source
The USPTO granted Ann and Arthur Makosinski Patent No. 9723659 for a thermoelectrically powered portable light source, based on her Hollow Flashlight invention.
View details2018
Sports
First female head coach to win a men’s professional league championship
Leads BIG3 team Power to the league championship, becoming the first female head coach to win a men’s pro league title.
View details2020
Science
Major retrospective feature on Claudia Jones in Harvard Magazine
In August 2020, Harvard Magazine published a major feature reassessing Claudia Jones's legacy as a Communist, feminist, journalist, and Carnival pioneer.
View details2020
Politics
40th Anniversary of Inauguration
40th anniversary on August 1, 2020, of her inauguration as president, celebrated globally.
View details