1400s / 15th century history on the 3rd of August

1492 : Christopher Columbus departed from Palos de la Frontera, in Spain, with 3 ships, on his 1st voyage. He sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, via the Canary Islands, to Cuba and Hispaniola.

1500s / 16th century history on the 3rd of August

1527 : The first known letter sent from North America, was sent from St. John’s, Newfoundland, by John Rut, an English mariner, chosen by  Henry VIII to command an expedition to North America. John Rut wrote the letter to King Henry about his findings and his planned voyage southward…

Pleasing your Honourable Grace to heare of your servant John Rut with all his company here in good health thanks be to God. The third day of August we entered into a good harbour called St. John and there we found Eleuen Saile of Normans and one Brittaine and two Portugal barks all a fishing and so we are ready to depart towards Cap de Bras that is 25 leagues as shortly as we have fished and so along the Coast until we may meete with our fellowe and so with all diligence that lyes in me toward parts to that Ilands that we are command at our departing and thus Jesu save and keepe you Honourable Grace and all your Honourable Reuer. In the Haven of St. John the third day of August written in hast 1527, by your servant John Rut to his uttermost of his power.

1600s / 17th century history on the 3rd of August

1601 : Austria captured Transylvania in the Battle of Goroszló, during the Long War.

1678 : Robert LaSalle built the Le Griffon, which was the 1st known ship built on the Great Lakes.

1800s / 19th century history on the 3rd of August

1811 : The 1st ascent of JUNGFRAU, the 3rd highest summit in the Bernese Alps, was achieved by Johann Rudolf and Hieronymus Meyer.

1852 : Harvard University won the 1st Boat Race between Yale University and Harvard. The race was also the 1st American intercollegiate athletic event.

1856 : Alfred Deakin, the 2nd Prime Minister of Australia, was born in Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia (died in 1919 aged 63).

1859 : The American Dental Association was founded in Niagara Falls, in New York, USA. It now has over 161,000 members. Official website : ADA.org

1900s / 20th century history on the 3rd of August

1900 : The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company was founded by Harvey Firestone, a humble farmer from Columbiana, Ohio. Firestone is credited with developing the first all-rubber traction tires for tractors and farm implements. The official Firestone website : Firestone.com

1914 : Germany declared war against France, during World War I.

1926 : TONY BENNETT, the American singer was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto in Queens, New York City, USA. He has won 20 Grammy Awards, 2 Primetime Emmy Awards, and sold over 50 million records worldwide. Tony Bennett is also a successful painter, creating artworks which are on permanent public display in various institutions, under his birth name, Anthony Benedetto. He is the founder of the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria, Queens, in New York. Official websites : TonyBennett.com | FrankSinatraSchoolofTheArts.org

1936 : Jesse Owens won the 100 meter dash, at the Berlin Olympics.

1936 : Kursha-2 firestorm in the Meshchera Lowlands, Ryazan Oblast, in Russia. The community was destroyed by a firestorm, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, and only 20 survivors. It was one of the world’s deadliest wildfires.

1938 : Sir Michael Terence Wogan (KBE) aka Terry Wogan, the Irish radio and television host, was born in Limerick, Ireland (died in 2016 aged 77).

1940 : Martin Sheen, the American actor, was born Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez, in Dayton, Ohio, USA.

1941 : Martha Stewart, the American businesswoman, writer and television personality, was born Martha Helen Kostyra in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. She is the founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. Official website : MarthaStewart.com

1946 : SANTA CLAUS LAND opened in Santa Claus, Indiana, United States. It was the world’s 1st themed amusement park. Santa Claus Land operated for 37 years, from 1946 to 1983, and became known as Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari from 1984. Official website : HolidayWorld.com

1958 : USS Nautilus, the world’s 1st nuclear submarine, travelled beneath the Arctic ice cap.

1960 : Niger, in West Africa, gained independence from France.

1963 : Tasmin Archer, the English pop singer, was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, England. She is best known for her number 1 hit song “Sleeping Satellite” released in 1992. Official website : TasminArcher.com

1970 : Gina G, the Australian singer, was born Gina Mary Gardiner in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

1975 : A Boeing 707 private charter crashed into a mountain peak in Atlas Mountains, near Agadir, Morocco. The crash resulted in the deaths of all 188 people on board, which were all Moroccan workers with their families, flying from France, back home to Morocco for the holidays.

1977 : The TRS-80 COMPUTER : TANDY RADiO SHACK was announced by Tandy Corporation. It was one of the world’s 1st mass-produced personal computers. The original TRS-80 notable features were its full-stroke QWERTY keyboard, small size, floating point BASIC programming language, included monitor, and a starting price of US$600 (or equivalent to US$2300 in 2013). The TRS-80 computer was built and serviced by Radio Shack a Tandy company.

1979 : Evangeline Lilly, the Canadian actress and writer, was born Nicole Evangeline Lilly in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada. She first became best known for playing Kate Austen in the series Lost television series from 2004 to 2010.

1997 : Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand, the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere, opened for the first time, after 2.5 years of construction. Official website : SkyCityAuckland.co.nz / webpage : SkyTower

2000s / 21st century history on the 3rd of August

2004 : The Statue of Liberty pedestal reopened, after being closed for almost 4 years, due to the September 11 attacks.

2005 : Mahmoud Ahmadinejad became the President of Iran.

2014 : Ludian earthquake in Yunnan, China, resulted in the deaths of 617 people, injuries to 3,143 people, 112 missing people. The total damage was $6 billion, which included the collapse of 12,000 houses, with another 30,000 houses damaged.

2019 : El Paso shooting in Texas, USA, at a Walmart store, resulted in the deaths of 23 people, and injuries to another 23 people. A gunman walked into the Walmart store at 7101 Gateway West Blvd, with a semi-automatic civilian version of the AK-47 assault rifle, and opened fire at approximately 10:40 am.

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This page was last updated on the 3rd August 2022

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