On This Day — August 11

🕰️ Notable Events on August 11

• 2017 — At least 41 people are killed and another 179 injured after two passenger trains collide in Alexandria, Egypt. Wikipedia ↗
• 2012 — At least 306 people are killed and 3,000 others injured in a pair of earthquakes near Tabriz, Iran. Wikipedia ↗
• 2006 — The oil tanker M/T Solar 1 sinks off the coast of Guimaras and Negros Islands in the Philippines, causing the country's worst oil spill. Wikipedia ↗
• 2003 — NATO takes over command of the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan, marking its first major operation outside Europe in its 54-year-history. Wikipedia ↗
• 2003 — Jemaah Islamiyah leader Riduan Isamuddin, better known as Hambali, is arrested in Bangkok, Thailand. Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — "We begin bombing in five minutes": United States President Ronald Reagan, while running for re-election, jokes while preparing to make his weekly Saturday address on National Public Radio. Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — A bomb explodes on Pan Am Flight 830, en route from Tokyo, Japan to Honolulu, Hawaii, killing one passenger and injuring 15 others. Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Two Aeroflot Tupolev Tu-134s collide over the Ukrainian city of Dniprodzerzhynsk and crash, killing all 178 aboard both airliners. Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — East Timor: Governor Mário Lemos Pires of Portuguese Timor abandons the capital Dili, following a coup by the Timorese Democratic Union (UDT) and the outbreak of civil war between UDT and Fretilin. Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Vietnam War: The last United States ground combat unit leaves South Vietnam. Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — The Apollo 11 astronauts are released from a three-week quarantine following their liftoff from the moon.[1] Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Race riots (the Watts Riots) begin in the Watts area of Los Angeles, California. Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Vostok 3 launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome and cosmonaut Andrian Nikolayev becomes the first person to float in microgravity. Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — The former Portuguese territories in India of Dadra and Nagar Haveli are merged to create the Union Territory Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Chad declares independence. Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Sheremetyevo International Airport, the second-largest airport in Russia, opens. Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Hussein bin Talal is proclaimed King of Jordan. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Poles in Kraków engage in a pogrom against Jews in the city, killing one and wounding five. Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Actress Hedy Lamarr and composer George Antheil receive a patent for a Frequency-hopping spread spectrum communication system that later became the basis for modern technologies in wireless telephones and Wi-Fi. Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — The first civilian prisoners arrive at the Federal prison on Alcatraz Island. Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Babe Ruth becomes the first baseball player to hit 500 home runs in his career with a home run at League Park in Cleveland, Ohio. Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — The Latvian-Soviet Peace Treaty, which relinquished Russia's authority and pretenses to Latvia, is signed, ending the Latvian War of Independence. Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — World War I: The Battle of Amiens ends. Wikipedia ↗
• 1898 — Spanish-American War: American troops enter the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. Wikipedia ↗
• 1858 — The Eiger in the Bernese Alps is ascended for the first time by Charles Barrington accompanied by Christian Almer and Peter Bohren. Wikipedia ↗
• 1813 — In Colombia, Juan del Corral declares the independence of Antioquia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1812 — Peninsular War: French troops engage British-Portuguese forces in the Battle of Majadahonda. Wikipedia ↗
• 1804 — Francis II assumes the title of first Emperor of Austria. Wikipedia ↗
• 1786 — Captain Francis Light establishes the British colony of Penang in Malaysia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1675 — Franco-Dutch War: Forces of the Holy Roman Empire defeat the French in the Battle of Konzer Brücke. Wikipedia ↗
• 1473 — The Battle of Otlukbeli: Mehmed the Conqueror of the Ottoman Empire decisively defeats Uzun Hassan of Aq Qoyunlu. Wikipedia ↗
• 1332 — Wars of Scottish Independence: Battle of Dupplin Moor: Scots under Domhnall II, Earl of Mar are routed by Edward Balliol. Wikipedia ↗
• 490 — Battle of Adda: The Goths under Theodoric the Great and his ally Alaric II defeat the forces of Odoacer on the Adda River, near Milan. Wikipedia ↗
• 355 — Claudius Silvanus, accused of treason, proclaims himself Roman Emperor against Constantius II. Wikipedia ↗
• 106 — The south-western part of Dacia (modern Romania) becomes a Roman province: Roman Dacia. Wikipedia ↗
• The Mesoamerican Long Count calendar, used by several pre-Columbian Mesoamerican civilizations, notably the Maya, begins. Wikipedia ↗
• Traditional date of the defeat of Bel by Hayk, progenitor and founder of the Armenian nation. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on August 11

• 1994 — Storm Sanders, Australian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — Anton Cooper, New Zealand cross-country cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — Joseph Barbato, French footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Cristian Tello, Spanish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Lenka Juríková, Slovak tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Junior Heffernan, Irish cyclist and triathlete (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Sebastian Huke, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Filipino basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Patty Mills, Australian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Mustafa Pektemek, Turkish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Dany N'Guessan, French footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Drew Storen, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Mokhtar Benmoussa, Algerian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Pablo Sandoval, Venezuelan baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Melky Cabrera, Dominican baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Lucas di Grassi, Brazilian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Chris Hemsworth, Australian actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Luke Lewis, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Pavel 183, Russian painter (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Daniel Poohl, Swedish journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Daniel Lloyd, English cyclist and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Lee Suggs, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Walter Ayoví, Ecuadorian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Spyros Gogolos, Greek footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Gemma Hayes, Irish singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Dênio Martins, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Iván Córdoba, Colombian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Bubba Crosby, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Will Friedle, American actor and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Ben Gibbard, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Ľubomír Višňovský, Slovak ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Chris Cummings, Canadian singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Marie-France Dubreuil, Canadian figure skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Audrey Mestre, French biologist and diver (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Kristin Armstrong, American cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Alejandra Barros, Mexican actress and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Tommy Mooney, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Dirk Hannemann, German footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Sophie Okonedo, British actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Charlie Sexton, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Massimiliano Allegri, Italian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Enrique Bunbury, Spanish singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Joe Rogan, American actor, comedian, and television host Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Petter Wettre, Norwegian saxophonist and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Nigel Martyn, English footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Juan María Solare, Argentinian pianist and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Marc Bergevin, Canadian ice hockey player and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Embeth Davidtz, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Viola Davis, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Jim Lee, South Korean-American author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Grant Waite, New Zealand golfer Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Hiromi Makihara, Japanese baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Brian Azzarello, American author Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Charles Cecil, English video game designer and co-founded Revolution Software Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — John Micklethwait, English journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Rob Minkoff, American director and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — David Brooks, American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Craig Ehlo, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Gustavo Cerati, Argentinian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Yoshiaki Murakami, Japanese businessman Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Taraki Sivaram, Sri Lankan journalist and author (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Richard Scudamore, English businessman Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — László Szlávics, Jr., Hungarian sculptor Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Steven Pokere, New Zealand rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Jah Wobble, English singer-songwriter and bass player Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Ian Stuart Donaldson, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Pierre-Louis Lions, French mathematician and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Marc Bureau, Canadian politician, 16th Mayor of Gatineau Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Sylvia Hermon, Northern Irish academic and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Bryan Bassett, American guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Vance Heafner, American golfer and coach (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Joe Jackson, English singer-songwriter and musician Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Tarmo Rüütli, Estonian footballer, coach, and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Yashpal Sharma, Indian cricketer and umpire Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Hulk Hogan, American wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Wijda Mazereeuw, Dutch swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Reid Blackburn, American photographer (d. 1980) Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Bob Mothersbaugh, American singer, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Erik Brann, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Gennadiy Nikonov, Russian engineer, designed the AN-94 rifle (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Steve Wozniak, American computer scientist and programmer, co-founded Apple Inc. Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Eric Carmen, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Tim Hutchinson, American lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Ian Charleson, Scottish-English actor and singer (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Don Boyd, Scottish director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Theo de Jong, Dutch footballer, coach, and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Georgios Karatzaferis, Greek journalist and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — John Conlee, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Marilyn vos Savant, American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Martin Linton, Swedish-English journalist and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Frederick W. Smith, American businessman, founded FedEx Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Ian McDiarmid, Scottish actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Jim Kale, Canadian bass player Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Pervez Musharraf, Pakistani general and politician, 10th President of Pakistan Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Denis Payton, English saxophonist (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Mike Hugg, English drummer and keyboard player Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — John Ellison, American-Canadian musician and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Glenys Page, New Zealand cricketer (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Ronnie Dawson, American singer and guitarist (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Anna Massey, English actress (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Patrick Joseph McGovern, American businessman, founded International Data Group (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Andre Dubus, American short story writer, essayist, and memoirist (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Bill Monbouquette, American baseball player and coach (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Jonathan Spence, English-American historian and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Bob Hepple, South African lawyer and academic (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Jerry Falwell, American minister and television host (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Jerzy Grotowski, Polish director and producer (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Tamás Vásáry, Hungarian pianist and conductor Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Fernando Arrabal, Spanish actor, director, and playwright Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Izzy Asper, Canadian lawyer, businessman, and politician, founded Canwest (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Geoffrey Cass, English businessman Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Peter Eisenman, American architect, designed the City of Culture of Galicia Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — John Gorrie, English director and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Raymond Leppard, English harpsichord player and conductor Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Stuart Rosenberg, American director and producer (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Aaron Klug, Lithuanian-English chemist and biophysicist, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Floyd Curry, Canadian ice hockey player and manager (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Arlene Dahl, American actress, businesswoman and writer Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Stan Chambers, American journalist and actor (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — John "Mule" Miles, American baseball player (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Alex Haley, American historian and author (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Chuck Rayner, Canadian ice hockey player (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Mike Douglas, American singer and talk show host (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Luis Olmo, Puerto Rican-American baseball player and manager (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Johnny Claes, English-Belgian race car driver and trumpet player (d. 1956) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Morris Weiss, American author and illustrator (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Paul Dupuis, Canadian actor (d. 1976) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Bob Scheffing, American baseball player and manager (d. 1985) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Angus Wilson, English author and academic (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Eva Ahnert-Rohlfs, German astronomer and academic (d. 1954) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Raphael Blau, American screenwriter and producer (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — Thanom Kittikachorn, Thai field marshal and politician, 10th Prime Minister of Thailand (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1909 — Yūji Koseki, Japanese composer (d. 1989) Wikipedia ↗
• 1909 — Uku Masing, Estonian philosopher and theologian (d. 1985) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Don Freeman, American author and illustrator (d. 1978) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Torgny T:son Segerstedt, Swedish sociologist and philosopher (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — Ted a'Beckett, Australian cricketer and lawyer (d. 1989) Wikipedia ↗
• 1905 — Erwin Chargaff, Austrian-American biochemist and academic (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1905 — Ernst Jaakson, Estonian diplomat (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
• 1902 — Alfredo Binda, Italian cyclist (d. 1986) Wikipedia ↗
• 1902 — Lloyd Nolan, American actor (d. 1985) Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — Philip Phillips, American archaeologist and scholar (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
• 1898 — Peter Mohr Dam, Faroese educator and politician, 3rd Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands (d. 1968) Wikipedia ↗
• 1897 — Enid Blyton, English author, poet, and educator (d. 1968) Wikipedia ↗
• 1897 — Louise Bogan, American poet and critic (d. 1970) Wikipedia ↗
• 1892 — Hugh MacDiarmid, Scottish poet and linguist (d. 1978) Wikipedia ↗
• 1892 — Eiji Yoshikawa, Japanese author (d. 1962) Wikipedia ↗
• 1891 — Stancho Belkovski, Bulgarian architect and educator (d. 1962) Wikipedia ↗
• 1891 — Edgar Zilsel, Austrian historian and philosopher of science, linked to the Vienna Circle (d. 1944) Wikipedia ↗
• 1885 — Stephen Butterworth, English physicist and engineer (d. 1958) Wikipedia ↗
• 1884 — Hermann Wlach, Austrian-Swiss actor (d. 1962) Wikipedia ↗
• 1881 — Aleksander Aberg, Estonian wrestler (d. 1920) Wikipedia ↗
• 1878 — Oliver W. F. Lodge, English poet and author (d. 1955) Wikipedia ↗
• 1877 — Adolph M. Christianson, American lawyer and judge (d. 1954) Wikipedia ↗
• 1874 — Princess Louise Charlotte of Saxe-Altenburg (d. 1953) Wikipedia ↗
• 1870 — Tom Richardson, English cricketer (d. 1912) Wikipedia ↗
• 1860 — Ottó Bláthy, Hungarian engineer and chess player (d. 1939) Wikipedia ↗
• 1858 — Christiaan Eijkman, Dutch physician and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1930) Wikipedia ↗
• 1855 — John Hodges, Australian cricketer (d. 1933) Wikipedia ↗
• 1837 — Marie François Sadi Carnot, French engineer and politician, 4th President of the French Republic (d. 1894) Wikipedia ↗
• 1836 — Warren Brown, American historian and politician (d. 1919) Wikipedia ↗
• 1833 — Robert G. Ingersoll, American soldier, lawyer, and politician (d. 1899) Wikipedia ↗
• 1833 — Kido Takayoshi, Japanese samurai and politician (d. 1877) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on August 11 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on August 11

🏛️ Public Holidays

Also in: Mountain Day (JP) · 山の日 (JP)

✡️ Religious Observances

• Islamic: Martyrdom of Sayyidina al-Hassan al-Mujtaba (ر)