August 3rd
Today in America's Present Past
1492 | Christopher Columbus set sail.
1678 | Explorer Robert LaSalle builds the first ship in America: A brig christened the Griffon.
1729 | Revolutionary War hero Richard Caswell was born.
1777 | War of Independence: The American Flag is first flown in battle during the Siege of Fort Stanwix.
1806 | Physician and philanthropist Wilson Cary Swann was born.
1811 | Entrepreneur and inventor Elisha Otis was born.
1877 | Entrepreneur William Butler Ogden died.
1880 | The American Canoe Association was founded at Lake George, New York.
1881 | Entrepreneur William Fargo died.
1882 | Congress: Passes the first law restricting immigration.
1894 | Painter George Inness died.
1900 | Educator John T. Scopes was born.
1900 | Entrepreneur Harvey Firestone founded his tire and rubber company.
1905 | Activist Maggie Kuhn was born.
1913 | The Wheatland “hop riot” in California broke out.
1917 | The “Green Corn Rebellion.”
1921 | The first aerial crop dusting occurs in Akron, Ohio.
1921 | Poet Hayden Carruth died.
1922 | Cleric and author Robert Sumner was born.
1924 | Writer Leon Uris was born.
1925 | The last US troops leave Nicaragua.
1926 | Entertainer Tony Bennett was born.
1923 | POTUS: Republican President Calvin Coolidge was sworn in.
1931 | Civil Rights: Chicago, Illinois Housing Project riots start.
1936 | Sprinter Jesse Owens wins the 100m (10.3 seconds) in front of Adolf Hitler during the Olympic Games.
1937 | Poet Diane Wakoski was born.
1940 | Actor Martin Sheen was born.
1941 | Entrepreneur Martha Stewart was born.
1943 | WWII: General George S. Patton slaps a US GI in a hospital, accusing him of cowardice.
1943 | Musician Edward "Corky" Cornelius died.
1944 | WWII: U.S. forces liberate Myitkyina, Burma.
1948 | Roosevelt advisor Alger Hiss was accused of being a "communist.”
1952 | Author Frank Schaeffer was born.
1963 | Entertainer James Hetfield was born.
1964 | Novelist Mary Flannery O’Connor died.
1966 | Comedian Lenny Bruce died.
1977 | Football Pro Tom Brady was born.
1977 | Radio Shack introduces the TRS-80 personal computer.
1981 | 13,000 Air Traffic Controllers (PATCO) begin a strike.
1992 | Film: “Unforgiven” debuted.
1994 | SCOTUS: Justice Stephen Breyer was sworn in.
2020 | Writer Shirley Ann Grau died.
2022 | Inventor Raymond Damadian died.