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On this day in history - August 1

What Happened On This Day – August 1

  • 1981 Music Television is launched

    The channel, popularly known as MTV was mostly known for showing music videos and for being hosted by Video Jockeys.

  • 1980 Vigdís Finnbogadóttir takes office in Iceland

    The Icelandic politician was the fourth president of Iceland and the world's first democratically elected female head of state. Her 16 years of Presidency also makes her the longest serving female head of state in the world.

  • 1951 Japan Airlines (JAL) is founded

    The flagship airlines of Japan, JAL started operating on October 25, 1951

  • 1936 The XI Summer Olympics are opened in Berlin by Adolf Hitler

    Initially, Jews and people of African descent were to be barred from the games, however, a boycott was threatened by several countries and the German organizers relented. 18 African-American athletes, including James "Jesse" Owens and Matthew "Mack" Robinson, placed well in the track and field events, winning several medals.

  • 1834 Slavery abolished in British Empire

    The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 came into force a year after it was passed by the British Parliament. The act was repealed in 1998.

Illustration of stork, signifying birth

Births On This Day,
August 1

  • 1942 Jerry Garcia

    American singer-songwriter, guitarist

  • 1932 Meena Kumari

    Indian actress

  • 1930 Pierre Bourdieu

    French sociologist

  • 1929 Hafizullah Amin

    Afghan politician

  • 1819 Herman Melville

    American writer

Illustration of tombstone, signifying death

Deaths On This Day,
August 1

  • 2009 Corazon Aquino

    Filipino politician, 11th President of the Philippines

  • 1970 Frances Farmer

    American actress

  • 1944 Manuel L. Quezon

    Filipino politician, 2nd President of the Philippines

  • 1920 Bal Gangadhar Tilak

    Indian lawyer, social reformer

  • 1714 Anne, Queen of Great Britain