August 5 in History

Significant events that happened on this day.

Today

Historical Events

2016

Ryan Lochte and three other U.S. Olympic swimmers fabricated a story about being robbed at gunpoint in Rio

The swimmers claimed they were victims of an armed robbery, but surveillance footage revealed they'd actually vandalized a gas station bathroom while...

2011

Standard & Poor's downgraded the United States' credit rating for the first time in history

In an unprecedented move, S&P lowered the U.S. credit rating from AAA to AA+ following the debt ceiling crisis. Markets plunged worldwide as investors...

2010

The San José mine in Chile collapsed, trapping 33 miners underground for 69 days

Major

A cave-in at the Copiapó mining accident trapped 33 miners 2,300 feet underground in sweltering conditions. The world watched breathlessly as rescuers...

2000

Actress Alicia Silverstone married musician Christopher Jarecki in a barefoot beach ceremony on Lake Tahoe

The 'Clueless' star and her rocker boyfriend wed in an eco-friendly ceremony where guests arrived in biodiesel-powered cars. True to Silverstone's veg...

1981

President Reagan fired 11,345 striking air traffic controllers who refused to return to work

After the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization went on strike for better pay and conditions, Reagan gave them 48 hours to return. When th...

1973

The Soviet Union launched Mars 6, which became the first spacecraft to send data during descent through Mars' atmosphere

The probe successfully transmitted information while descending to the Martian surface, providing valuable atmospheric data. Unfortunately, contact wa...

1962

Nelson Mandela was arrested in South Africa, beginning his 27-year imprisonment

Major

South African police captured Nelson Mandela near Howick, setting in motion one of history's most famous imprisonments. He wouldn't walk free again un...

1930

Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the Moon, was born in Ohio

Major

The future astronaut arrived in Wapakoneta, Ohio, destined to become one of the most famous humans in history. On July 20, 1969, he'd step onto the lu...

1926

Harry Houdini remained sealed in an airtight coffin underwater for 91 minutes, setting a record

The famous escape artist challenged the claim that people die quickly in sealed containers due to lack of oxygen. He proved that with controlled breat...

1888

Bertha Benz completed the first long-distance automobile journey, driving 66 miles without telling her husband Karl

She took her husband's Patent-Motorwagen on an unauthorized road trip to visit her mother, solving mechanical problems along the way with hat pins and...

1864

During the U.S. Civil War, Union forces won the Battle of Mobile Bay as Admiral Farragut allegedly shouted 'Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!'

Admiral David Farragut led his fleet past Confederate naval mines (then called torpedoes) to capture Mobile Bay, Alabama. The famous quote, though pos...

1858

The first transatlantic telegraph cable was completed, allowing instant communication between Europe and North America

Major

After years of failed attempts, Cyrus West Field successfully connected Ireland to Newfoundland with an underwater cable. Queen Victoria and President...