AUGUST 1 | Birthdays and Events
Famous Birthdays
People born on August 1
William Clark
Died: September 1, 1838
Explorer who co-led the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804.
Francis Scott Key
Died: January 11, 1873
Lawyer and amateur who wrote the British tune Defence of Fort M'Henry. The song became the American national anthem the Star-Spangled Banner.
Herman Melville
Died: September 28, 1891
Novelist who wrote Moby Dick.
John Friend Mahoney
Died: February 23, 1957
Physician who pioneered the treatment of syphilis with penicillin.
Jackie Ormes
Died: December 26, 1985
The first Black woman cartoonist and who created the Torchy Brown and Patty-Jo 'n' Ginger comic strips.
Robert James Waller
Died: March 10, 2017
Author of The Bridges of Madison County.
Jerry Garcia
Died: August 9, 1995
Musician and founder of the rock band Grateful Dead.
Jason Momoa
Actor with credits in Game of Thrones, Aquaman, and the recent A Minecraft Movie.
Historical Events on August 1
Events that occurred on August 1 throughout history
Colorado is admitted as the 38th state to join the Union.
President Ulysses S. Grant signs the proclamation to admit Colorado as the 38th state to join the Union.
Angel Island becomes U.S. Quarantine Station.
Angel Island at San Francisco Bay, California becomes the U.S. Quarantine Station to prevent the spread of contagious diseases.
Henry Perky receives the patent for shredded wheat.
Henry Perky receives the patent for shredded wheat.
The first woman in the U.S. to earns an Aero Club of America Aviator Certificate.
Harriet Quimby becomes the first woman in the U.S. to earn an Aero Club of America Aviator Certificate.
The first Jeep is produced.
The first military Jeep (the Willys MB) officially mass-produced, following a contract awarded to Willys-Overland by the U.S. War Department.
President Harry S. Truman signs the Atomic Energy Act.
President Harry S. Truman signs the Atomic Energy Act, establishing the Atomic Energy Commission. The shifted control of atomic energy from military to civilian hands.
North American Aerospace Defense Command is formed.
The U.S. and Canada form the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). The organization carries out aerospace warnings, aerospace controls, and maritime warnings for North America.
Robert McNamara officially orders the creation of DIA.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara officially ordered the creation of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). The Agency was intended to centralize military intelligence, eliminate waste, and stop the different military branches from duplicating work.
Frank Herbert's novel Dune is published for the first time.
Frank Herbert's novel, Dune was published for the first time. It is considered one of the world's best-selling science fiction novels in history.
MTV begins broadcasting and airs its first video.
MTV begins broadcasting and airs its first video, Video Killed the Radio Star by the The Buggles. The program was initially available only to households in parts of New Jersey and parts of the New York area.