Today in History: August 2nd is the 214th day of the year (215th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are days 151 remaining until the end of the year.
There are many noteworthy events that happened on August 2 throughout history, and that's why it's an important day in Indian and world history.
In this article, we have compiled a list of the important things that happened all around the world on August 2.
Today’s Highlight in History, also on this day:
1. Famous People's Birthday on August 2
a) 18761 - Famous scientist Prafulla Chandra Rai, 'father of chemistry' was born
b) 1876 - Pingali Venkaiah, who designed the Indian flag, was born
Today in History: What Happened This Day in India History Events
2 Aug 1999 India Deadly Train Crash
Two trains collided near Kolkata, leading to the deaths of at least 285 people. The accident took place when the trains, carrying about 2,500 people, collided at the remote station of Gaisal in West Bengal. It happened due to a signaling error. Both trains were using the same track as three of the four tracks on the line were closed for maintenance.
1858 - East India Company Transferred to British
On this day 2 August in 1858, a significant shift occurred as the British Parliament passed a bill transferring India's administration from the East India Company to the British Crown. This change was prompted by the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The introduction of the 'Viceroy' title solidified British authority in India, addressing the aftermath of the uprising and shaping a unique governance legacy.
What happened in World History on August 2
1776 - Signing of the Declaration of Independence
On August 2nd, 1776, 56 delegates of the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence, making the 13 American colonies as free and sovereign entities, breaking away from Great Britain. Penned by Thomas Jefferson, the declaration eloquently presents the motivations driving the colonists' quest for autonomy. It boldly asserts the equality of all men and their inherent, inviolable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Furthermore, it casts blame on King George III for various transgressions, including unjust taxation, the quartering of troops in private homes, and suppression of the cherished right to free expression.
1870 - World's first underground railway opened
London, England marked a historic milestone on August 2, 1870, with the inauguration of the Tower Subway – the world's pioneering underground railway. This groundbreaking subterranean passage spanned beneath the River Thames, linking the northern Tower Hill with the southern Vine Street, etching a remarkable chapter in transportation history.
1914 - Germany invades Luxembourg
Amidst escalating global tensions in the summer of 1914, Germany formulated strategies to encircle France, opting to traverse Luxembourg and Belgium—despite their neutral status. However, both nations firmly denied unhindered access to German forces, leading to their subsequent invasions on August 2 and August 4, respectively.
1914: US Extends Credit to Britain Amid World War I Economic Instability:
In 1914, due to the economic problems caused by World War I, American bankers talked about making emergency money. In Washington, President Woodrow Wilson and New York money experts discussed giving England an unusual amount of $100,000,000 to help them out."
1929 U.S.A. Extreme Heatwave Drought Conditions:
August 2, 1929, witnessed a severe heatwave and drought in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Western Missouri, with temperatures soaring over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Kansas recorded an unprecedented high of 107 degrees Fahrenheit, a historical torrid heat for the local weather station.
1990 Invasion of Kuwait: Unraveling Events, Intervention, & International Unity
On August 2nd, 1990, something big happened in the Persian Gulf – the Invasion of Kuwait. Iraq quickly took over Kuwait in just two days, and its leader Saddam Hussein said Kuwait was now a part of Iraq. This caused a lot of trouble and fighting for about seven months. But then, a group of countries led by the United States decided to help Kuwait. They worked together and stopped the fighting, making sure Kuwait could be its own country again. This event shows how countries can come together to help when things go wrong.
August 2, 1934: Adolf Hitler Becomes Fuhrer of Germany
In a pivotal moment, Adolf Hitler, previously Germany's chancellor, took on the role of Fuhrer, effectively combining the positions of president and chancellor. This transition occurred upon the demise of German President Paul Von Hindenburg, marking a significant juncture in history.
Germany's World War I Anniversary Celebration & Propaganda Influence
On August 2, 1939, in Germany under Adolf Hitler, they had a big celebration for 25 years of World War I. A person named Goebbels, known as Hitler's Propaganda Minister, used newspapers to say that Germany's army had become stronger since that war. They made it seem like the old war was brave and strong. They even made a special day like a holiday and talked about the soldiers who fought in the old war.
1943-John F. Kennedy's Heroic Leadership: PT-109 Incident & Crew Rescue
On August 2, 1943, Lieutenant John F. Kennedy who later became the president of the United States, was in charge of a boat called PT-109 near the Solomon Islands. Another big boat from Japan, called Amagiri, made PT-109 sink. But Lieutenant Kennedy was very brave and made sure his crew was safe
1964 The Gulf of Tonkin Incidents: A Controversial Event Led to the Vietnam War
The Gulf of Tonkin Incidents were naval clashes between the U.S. and North Vietnam in 1964. The first happened on August 2, when North Vietnamese boats attacked the USS Maddox. The second, on August 4, involved the USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy, though it's debated if it really occurred. both incidents led to the passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution by the United States Congress on August 7, 1964. President Lyndon B. Johnson gained wide power to use force against North Vietnam. The resolution, disputed then and now, influenced the Vietnam War's escalation until 1970.
Potsdam Conference: Post-War Destiny of Germany, Japan, & Cold War Era:
The Potsdam Conference was a big deal during World War II. It happened in Potsdam, Germany, from July 17 to August 2, 1945. Important leaders were there: President Harry S. Truman from the United States, Prime Minister Winston Churchill from the United Kingdom (who later changed to Clement Attlee on July 26), and Premier Joseph Stalin from the Soviet Union. The Potsdam Conference, a crucial event in World War II's history, aimed to decide Germany and Japan's fate after the war. They discussed Germany's surrender terms, planned Japan's occupation, and addressed war crimes. The Potsdam Declaration outlined strict rules for Germany: no weapons, fair government, and war criminals' trials. It also held Japan accountable, setting the stage for a post-war world and the Cold War's beginnings
The Arab Federation Dissolution: A Brief Yet Bold Experiment in Pan-Arabism
The Arab Federation, a short-lived political union between Jordan and Iraq, came to life on February 14, 1958. King Faisal II of Iraq and his cousin, King Hussein of Jordan, aimed to respond to the United Arab Republic's emergence in Egypt and Syria. Unfortunately, this ambitious union dissolved within six months, triggered by Faisal II's ousting due to a military coup on August 2, 1958.
1998 Second Congo War: A Devastating Conflict Unfolds
The Second Congo War, the deadliest conflict in Africa's history, left a trail of unimaginable sorrow. With devastating aftermath, this war is estimated to have claimed around 5.4 million lives. It all began with a mutiny in the Democratic Republic of the Congo but swiftly escalated, embroiling nine African nations in its relentless grip. The heart-wrenching ordeal persisted for five long years, leaving scars that still resonate today."
Today’s Highlight in History:
- In 1776, members of the Second Continental Congress began attaching their signatures to the Declaration of Independence.
- In 1873, inventor Andrew S. Hallidie (HAH’-lih-day) successfully tested a cable car he had designed for the city of San Francisco.
- In 1876, frontiersman “Wild Bill” Hickok was shot and killed while playing poker at a saloon in Deadwood, Dakota Territory, by Jack McCall, who was later hanged.
- In 1921, a Chicago jury acquitted several former Chicago White Sox baseball team members and two others of conspiring to defraud the public in the notorious “Black Sox” scandal. Opera singer Enrico Caruso, 48, died in Naples, Italy.
- In 1923, the 29th president of the United States, Warren G. Harding, died in San Francisco; Vice President Calvin Coolidge became president.
- In 1922, Alexander Graham Bell, generally regarded as the inventor of the telephone, died in Nova Scotia, Canada, at age 75.
- In 1934, German President Paul von Hindenburg died, paving the way for Adolf Hitler’s complete takeover.
- In 1939, Albert Einstein signed a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt urging the creation of an atomic weapons research program.
- In 1945, President Harry S. Truman, Soviet leader Josef Stalin and Britain’s new prime minister, Clement Attlee, concluded the Potsdam conference.
- In 1974, former White House counsel John W. Dean III was sentenced to one to four years in prison for obstruction of justice in the Watergate cover-up. (Dean ended up serving four months.)
- In 1980, 85 people were killed when a bomb exploded at the train station in Bologna, Italy.
- In 1985, 137 people were killed when Delta Air Lines Flight 191, a Lockheed L-1011 Tristar, crashed while attempting to land at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
- 0 Annan resigned as peace envoy to Syria, blaming the Syrian government’s intransigence, the growing militancy of Syrian rebels, and a divided U.N. Security Council that he said failed to forcefully back his effort. Gabby Douglas became the third American in a row to win gymnastics’ biggest prize when she claimed the all-around Olympic title; Michael Phelps added to his medal collection with his first individual gold medal of the London Games in the 200-meter individual medley.
Also on this day: Famous People's Birthday on August 2
18761 - Prafulla Chandra Rai-'father of Indian chemistry'
Known as the “Father of Indian Chemistry”, Prafulla Chandra Ray was a well-known Indian scientist and teacher and one of the first “modern” Indian chemical researchers. He discovered the stable compound Mercurous Nitrite in 1895. The British Government first honored him with the imperial title of CIE (Companion of the Indian Empire), and then with the Knighthood in 1919.
1876 - Pingali Venkaiah, who designed the Indian flag
Pingali Venkayya is the man behind the design of the Tricolour, India's national flag. Venkayya, who was born on August 2, 1878, was not just the creator of the historic flag, but in his life, he also worked as a teacher, author, agriculturist, and linguist. However, he never had an easy life.
Top world headlines news today, August 2, 2023:
1. Typhoon Khanun pounds Japan's Okinawa, injuring over 30 people as it moves toward China.
2. Russian drone strikes on the Odesa region cause fires at a port near Romania.
3. Local employee wounded in gun attack on Swedish Consulate in Turkey.
4. Beijing records the heaviest rainfall in 140 years; China says 20 dead, several missing.
5. Trump charged in US special counsel probe in efforts to overturn 2020 polls.
