August 05

Tuesday 05, 2003:

A car bom explodes in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta.

Thursday 05, 1999:

Mark McGwire becomes the 16th member of the 500 home run club with a home run at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri.

Saturday 05, 1995:

The city of Knin, a significant Serb stronghold, is liberated by Croatian forces during Operation Storm. The date is celebrated as the day of victory ("Homeland Thanksgiving Day") in Croatia.

Wednesday 05, 1981:

Ronald Reagan fires 11,359 striking air-traffic controllers who ignored his order for them to return to work.

Monday 05, 1974:

Vietnam War: The U.S. Congress places a $1 billion dollar limit on military aid to South Vietnam.

Tuesday 05, 1969:

Mariner program: Mariner 7 makes its closest fly-by of Mars (3,524 kilometers).

Wednesday 05, 1964:

American aircraft from carriers USS Ticonderoga and USS Constellation bomb North Vietnam in retaliation for strikes attacked US destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Monday 05, 1963:

United States, United Kingdom, and Soviet Union sign a nuclear test ban treaty.

Sunday 05, 1962:

Film actress and sex icon, Marilyn Monroe is found dead in her Los Angeles, California home after apparently overdosing on sleeping pills.

Friday 05, 1960:

Burkina Faso, then known as "Upper Volta", became independent from France

Friday 05, 1949:

In Ecuador an earthquake destroys 50 towns and kills more than 6000.

Saturday 05, 1944:

Holocaust: Polish insurgents liberate a German labor camp in Warsaw, freeing 348 Jewish prisoners.

Wednesday 05, 1914:

In Cleveland, Ohio, the first electric traffic light is installed.

Monday 05, 1912:

Japan's first taxicab service begins in Ginza, Tokyo.

Tuesday 05, 1884:

The cornerstone for the Statue of Liberty is laid on Bedloe's Island in New York Harbor.

Saturday 05, 1882:

Martial law is enacted in Japan.

Wednesday 05, 1874:

Japan launches its postal savings system, modeled after a similar system in England.

Friday 05, 1864:

At Mobile Bay near Mobile, Alabama, Admiral David Farragut leads a Union flotilla through Confederate defenses and seals one of the last major Southern ports.

Tuesday 05, 1862:

Along the Mississippi River near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Confederate troops drive Union forces back into the city.

Monday 05, 1861:

American Civil War: In order to help pay for the war effort, the United States government issues the first income tax as part of the Revenue Act of 1861 (3% of all incomes over US $800; rescinded in 1872).

Sunday 05, 1860:

Carl IV of Sweden-Norway is crowned king of Norway, in Trondheim.

Thursday 05, 1858:

Cyrus West Field and others complete the first transatlantic telegraph cable after several unsuccessful attempts. It operated for less than a month.

Wednesday 05, 1812:

War of 1812: Tecumseh's Indian force ambushes Thomas Van Horne's 200 Americans at Brownstone Creek, causing them to flee and retreat.

Wednesday 05, 1772:

First Partition of Poland begins.

Friday 05, 1763:

British forces led by Henry Bouquet defeat Chief Pontiac's Indians at Bushy Run.

Friday 05, 1689:

1,500 Iroquois attack village of Lachine, in New France.

Friday 05, 1583:

Sir Humphrey Gilbert establishes first English colony in North America, at what is now St John's, Newfoundland.

Wednesday 05, 1305:

William Wallace, who led Scottish resistance to England, was captured by the English near Glasgow and transported to London for trial and execution.

Sunday 05, 1100:

Henry I crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey

Friday 05, 642:

Penda of Mercia defeats and kills Oswald of Bernicia

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