2nd Battle of Bull of Run
On August 28, 1862, Union and Confederate forces met a second time at Bull Run (also known as Manassas Junction) in a bloody three-day battle.
This Day in History
First Major Commercial Oil Well in the U.S.
On August 27, 1859, Edwin Drake struck oil near Titusville, Pennsylvania, establishing America’s first commercially viable oil well.
Birth of Albert Sabin
Albert Saperstein was born on August 26, 1906, in Białystok, Russian Empire (present-day Poland). Sabin developed one of the vaccines that helped to nearly eradicate polio worldwide.
Happy Birthday, Leonard Bernstein
Leonard (Louis) Bernstein was born on August 25, 1918, in Lawrence, Massachusetts. One of the most famous conductors of his time, he was the first American conductor to earn international praise.
Start of the Distinguished Americans Series
On August 24, 2000, the USPS issued the first stamp in the Distinguished Americans Series. Over the course of more than two decades, the series has honored 20 Americans from all walks of life.
The Salad Bowl Strike
On August 23, 1970, the largest farm worker strike in US history began. The strike lasted for nearly seven months, with growers losing about $500,000 a day.
The First Geneva Convention
On August 22, 1864, twelve nations signed the first Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field. This convention and subsequent treaties and protocols established the legal standard for humanitarian treatment in times of war.
The American Bar Association Founded
On August 21, 1878, the American Bar Association (ABA) was formed in Saratoga Springs, New York. Its mission is to serve as a national representative of the legal profession, promote justice, professional excellence, and respect for the law.
Birth of Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was born in North Bend, Ohio, on August 20, 1833. America’s 23rd president, he was also a Civil War veteran and lawyer.