Iraq invaded Kuwait, triggering the Gulf War
MajorSaddam Hussein's forces crossed the border at 2 AM local time with 100,000 troops and 700 tanks. The invasion was completed within 12 hours. This act...
August 2 in History
Significant events that happened on this day.
Historical Events
1990
1971
Apollo 15 astronaut David Scott dropped a hammer and a falcon feather on the Moon simultaneously
In the absence of air resistance, both objects hit the lunar surface at exactly the same time, proving Galileo's theory in the most dramatic setting p...
1964
The Gulf of Tonkin incident occurred, leading to massive U.S. escalation in Vietnam
MajorNorth Vietnamese torpedo boats allegedly attacked the USS Maddox in international waters. A second reported attack two days later probably never happe...
1939
Albert Einstein signed a letter to President Roosevelt warning about atomic weapons
MajorThis famous letter, actually written by physicist Leo Szilard, warned that Germany might develop atomic bombs. Einstein later called signing it his "o...
1932
Carl David Anderson discovered the positron, the first known particle of antimatter
Using a cloud chamber and cosmic rays, Anderson photographed the first evidence of antimatter, proving Paul Dirac's theoretical prediction. This disco...
1923
Warren G. Harding became the first U.S. president to die in office from natural causes
MajorPresident Harding died suddenly in a San Francisco hotel room, likely from a heart attack, though the exact cause remains debated. His wife refused an...
1909
The first Lincoln penny was issued, replacing the Indian Head cent
This was the first U.S. coin to feature a real person's portrait, breaking a 116-year tradition. The design caused controversy—some thought putting a...
1873
A San Francisco cable car became the first successfully tested in the city
Andrew Hallidie's invention conquered the city's steep hills after he witnessed a horrible accident where a horse-drawn streetcar rolled backward, kil...
1858
The first street mailboxes appeared in Boston, revolutionizing how Americans send letters
Before this date, people had to go to the post office to mail letters. The new red cast-iron boxes were controversial—some thought they'd be vandalize...
1830
Charles X of France abdicated after the July Revolution, ending the Bourbon Restoration
The last Bourbon king fled to England after trying to restore absolute monarchy. His attempt to suspend freedom of the press and dissolve parliament s...
1820
A Danish inventor sold tickets to witness a demonstration that failed spectacularly
John Ericsson tried to demonstrate his new "caloric engine" but it refused to work during the public showing. The embarrassed inventor had to refund a...
1802
Napoleon Bonaparte was declared First Consul for Life in France
A plebiscite showed 3.6 million votes in favor and only 8,374 against, though historians suspect massive vote manipulation. This made Napoleon dictato...
1776
Members of the Continental Congress began signing the Declaration of Independence
MajorWhile the Declaration was adopted on July 4, the actual signing ceremony took place nearly a month later. Most of the 56 signatures were added on Augu...