What Happened on August 1

Rock & Relief Desk

1971 — Bangladesh Benefit Rocks Garden, Raises Funds

40,000 people filled Madison Square Garden for the Concert for Bangladesh, raising close to $250,000 for refugees.

In an era when popular music often turned inward, a Sunday afternoon and evening at Madison Square Garden turned it outward, as 40,000 people filled the hall for the Concert for Bangladesh, the first benefit of such magnitude ever staged. George Harrison and Ravi Shankar organized the two shows, at 2:30 and 8:00 pm, for refugees of the Bangladesh genocide. The supergroup included Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Leon Russell, and Badfinger. The concerts raised close to $250,000 for UNICEF relief. Shankar said, "In one day, the whole world knew the name of Bangladesh." By 1985, an estimated $12 million had been sent to Bangladesh from revenue raised by the live album and film. The event set a precedent for rock's charity concerts, and its music carried the cause far beyond the Garden's walls.

• The concerts were held at 2:30 and 8:00 pm on Sunday, 1 August 1971.
• The event featured a supergroup including George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Leon Russell, and Badfinger.
• The concerts were attended by 40,000 people, raising close to $250,000 for Bangladesh relief via UNICEF.
• By 1985, an estimated $12 million had been sent to Bangladesh from revenue raised by the live album and film.
• Ravi Shankar said of the event: 'In one day, the whole world knew the name of Bangladesh.'

Admiralty Intelligence

1798 — Nelson Smashes French Fleet at Aboukir Bay

British admiral destroys French squadron off Egypt, cutting off Napoleon's 300-ship invasion force and 38,000 men.

Horatio Nelson, the British admiral, has fallen upon the French fleet at Aboukir Bay and destroyed it, cutting off reinforcements and supplies from Napoleon's army in Egypt. The French flagship L'Orient, which sailed from Toulon on 19 May under Napoleon's command, lies shattered. The invasion fleet comprised around 300 ships and 38,000 troops, civilians, and researchers. Earlier, off Malta on 9 June, Grand Master von Hompesch limited port access to two ships at a time, slowing the French advance. Nelson's victory isolates Napoleon's force, stranding it without hope of succor.

• The French fleet was destroyed at Aboukir Bay by Horatio Nelson, cutting off French reinforcements and supplies.
• Napoleon's invasion fleet comprised around 300 ships and 38,000 troops, civilians, and researchers.
• The French flagship L'Orient set sail from Toulon on 19 May 1798 under Napoleon's command.
• The French fleet arrived off Malta on 9 June 1798, where Grand Master von Hompesch limited port access to two ships at a time.

Philosophical Transactions

1774 — Priestley Isolates New Air, Publishes First

British chemist produces 'dephlogisticated air' by heating mercuric oxide, beating Scheele to print.

Joseph Priestley has isolated a new gas, which he calls 'dephlogisticated air,' by heating mercuric oxide in 1774. The British scientist's work corroborates the earlier but unpublished discovery of Carl Wilhelm Scheele, who obtained the same air around 1771 by heating mercuric oxide, silver carbonate, and other nitrate salts. Priestley, however, has published first, securing his claim.

• Priestley isolated oxygen in 1774 by thermal decomposition of mercuric oxide.
• Priestley dubbed the gas he discovered 'dephlogisticated air'.
• Carl Wilhelm Scheele also discovered oxygen, but Priestley published his findings first.
• Scheele obtained oxygen by heating mercuric oxide, silver carbonate, and other nitrate salts.
• Scheele's discovery of oxygen occurred around 1771, but he did not publish until 1777.

Metro & Infrastructure

2007 — I-35W Bridge Collapses Into Mississippi; 13 Dead

Minneapolis span gives way at 6:05 p.m., killing 13, injuring 145, and involving 111 vehicles.

The Interstate 35W bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis collapsed at 6:05 p.m. today, killing 13 people and injuring 145 others. The central span gave way and toppled 81 feet eastward, involving 111 vehicles, including 18 construction workers. The NTSB has cited a design flaw, an excessively thin gusset plate, and the bridge's weight as the likely cause.

• The I-35W bridge collapsed at 6:05 p.m. on August 1, 2007, with the central span giving way and toppling 81 feet eastward.
• The collapse killed 13 people, injured 145, and involved 111 vehicles including 18 construction workers.
• The NTSB cited a design flaw—an excessively thin gusset plate—and the bridge's weight as the likely cause.
• President George W. Bush signed $250 million in emergency funding for Minnesota on August 6, 2007.
• More than 500 Red Cross volunteers counseled 2,000 people and served 7,000 meals to first responders after the collapse.

Naval Affairs

1801 — Enterprise Captures Tripolitan Corsair Tripoli

Lieutenant Sterret's schooner takes the 14-gun Tripoli in the first action of the Barbary campaign.

The American schooner Enterprise, commanded by Lieutenant Andrew Sterret, this day captured the Tripolitan polacca Tripoli in a single-ship action off the coast of Libya. The 14-gun corsair struck after a sharp engagement. This victory marks the first action of the United States' campaign in the Barbary War. The captured vessel and her crew are now in American hands, a signal triumph for the young navy.

• Lieutenant Andrew Sterret commanded the USS Enterprise when it defeated the 14-gun Tripolitan corsair Tripoli on August 1, 1801.
• The Tripoli was a 14-gun Tripolitan corsair defeated by the armed schooner Enterprise.
• The battle on August 1, 1801, was the first action of the U.S. campaign in the First Barbary War.

Aviation

1911 — Quimby First Woman Licensed Pilot in America

Harriet Quimby's certificate No. 37 places her at the forefront of a new era for women in aviation.

The barrier of sex in aviation fell this week, for Harriet Quimby, a New York writer, is the first woman in the United States to earn a pilot's license. Her certificate, No. 37 from the Aero Club of America, comes after 33 lessons and two test flights. The press has dubbed her the 'Dresden China Aviatrix' for her slight build and fair complexion.

• Harriet Quimby passed her pilot's test on August 2, 1911, becoming the first North American woman to earn a pilot's license.
• She received Fédération Aéronautique Internationale certificate No. 37 from the Aero Club of America.
• Quimby completed her pilot requirements after 33 flight lessons and two test flights.
• The press nicknamed Quimby the 'Dresden China Aviatrix' due to her petite stature and fair skin.
• Quimby earned $1,500 for a professional debut night flight over Staten Island before nearly 20,000 spectators.

Television

1981 — MTV Airs First Video: 'Radio Star' Kicks Off Cable Era

The Buggles' 'Video Killed the Radio Star' opened MTV's debut at 12:01 a.m., with 116 videos and 209 spins on day one.

The music video arrived as a cultural force on August 1, 1981, when a new cable channel called MTV went on the air. At 12:01 a.m., the Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star" became the first music video broadcast, directed by Russell Mulcahy.

MTV's first day offered 116 unique videos over 209 spins, with Rod Stewart appearing 16 times. The debut hour suffered dead air and videos that would not play.

• The Buggles' 'Video Killed the Radio Star' aired at 12:01 a.m. on August 1, 1981, as MTV's first music video.
• The music video was written, directed, and edited by Russell Mulcahy.
• MTV's first day featured 116 unique videos over 209 spins, with Rod Stewart appearing 16 times.
• The first hour of MTV included errors such as dead air and videos that would not play correctly.
• The Buggles' version of the song topped 16 international record charts, including the UK, Australia, and Japan.

World Desk

2004 — Paraguay Inferno Kills 424 as Locked Doors Trap Shoppers

Fire at the Ycuá Bolaños supermarket in Asunción killed 424 people and injured over 300, with exits locked to stop theft.

Asunción, Aug. 1 — The president of the Ycuá Bolaños supermarket and several employees now face prison sentences after a fire killed 424 people and injured over 300 on August 1, 2004. The blaze, sparked by a faulty barbecue chimney leaking hot flammable gases, burned for seven hours. The building lacked adequate fire protection, and exits were locked to prevent stealing.

• The fire at the Ycuá Bolaños supermarket in Asunción killed 424 people and injured over 300.
• Exits were locked to prevent stealing, and the building lacked adequate fire protection systems.
• The blaze burned for seven hours before firefighters extinguished it.
• The cause was a faulty barbecue chimney that leaked hot flammable gases into the ceiling.
• Two explosions on the first floor occurred when the supermarket was packed with customers.

Imperial Court

527 — Justinian Sole Emperor After Death of Justin

Nephew and adopted son assumes throne at Constantinople following uncle's passing on August 1.

On the first day of August, the Emperor Justin died, and his nephew Justinian, already named co-emperor and successor on the first of April, became sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire. Justinian, adopted son of the late emperor, had been elevated to the rank of caesar in 525, preparing him for the purple. His reign, begun in the consulship of 518 with Justin's accession, now passes to a new hand. The court at Constantinople looks to Justinian for the governance of the empire, as he takes up the full burden of the throne.

• Justinian I succeeded his uncle Justin I as Byzantine emperor on 1 August 527.
• Justin I formally named Justinian as co-emperor and successor on 1 April 527.
• Justin I elevated Justinian to the rank of caesar in 525.
• Justin I died on 1 August 527, ending his reign that began in 518.

Archaeology Desk

1984 — Peat Cutters Unearth Preserved Ancient Body in Cheshire Bog

The body, found face down on August 1, 1984, dates between 2 BC and 119 AD.

Commercial peat cutters discovered a preserved ancient body, now known as Lindow Man, at Lindow Moss in Cheshire, England, on August 1, 1984. The body was found face down and is thought to date between 2 BC and 119 AD, from the Iron Age or Romano-British period.

• Lindow Man was discovered on 1 August 1984 by commercial peat cutters at Lindow Moss near Wilmslow, Cheshire.
• The body was found face down and is thought to date between 2 BC and 119 AD, from the Iron Age or Romano-British period.
• Lindow Man is the best-preserved bog body found in Britain and caused a domestic media sensation with global coverage.
• The find was hailed as one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 1980s and helped invigorate the study of British bog bodies.
• Lindow Man's body has been preserved by freeze-drying and is on permanent display at the British Museum.

Sicilian Affairs

902 — Taormina Falls to Aghlabids, Completing Muslim Conquest of Sicily

Forces under Ibrahim II of Ifriqiya take Byzantine stronghold in 902, ending Arab-Byzantine wars on island.

On the heights of Taormina, the Byzantine standard has been lowered. Aghlabid forces, led by Ibrahim II of Ifriqiya, captured the fortress in 902, concluding the Muslim conquest of Sicily. The island now rests under Arab control, a dominion that will hold until the Norman invasion in 1071.

• The fortress of Taormina fell to Arab forces in 902.
• The fall of Taormina completed the Arab conquest of Sicily.
• Sicily remained under Arab control until the Norman invasion in 1071.

Union News

1876 — Colorado Admitted as 38th State

President Grant signs proclamation admitting Colorado to Union on August 1, 1876.

The Union gains a new member as Colorado becomes the 38th state, admitted by President Ulysses S. Grant's signing of Proclamation 230 on August 1, 1876. The state, known as the 'Centennial State', joined just four weeks after the nation's Centennial.

• President Ulysses S. Grant signed Proclamation 230 admitting Colorado to the Union as the 38th state on August 1, 1876.
• Colorado earned the moniker 'Centennial State' because its admission came four weeks after the Centennial of the United States.
• The United States Congress passed an enabling act on March 3, 1875, specifying requirements for the Territory of Colorado to become a state.
• The Territory of Colorado was created on February 28, 1861, when President James Buchanan signed an act of Congress.

Rome Desk

-30 — Antony Dead at Alexandria; Octavian Triumphs

Mark Antony falls on his sword as Octavian's siege of Alexandria forces the end for him and Cleopatra.

The long struggle for Rome's soul ended this day as Antony, defeated at Alexandria, fell on his sword in the old honor of Roman generals.

• Antony, on August 1, 30 BC, fell on his sword in honorable Roman tradition.
• Antony was not entirely successful in his suicide and was taken to Cleopatra's mausoleum with an open belly wound.
• Antony succumbed to his wound and died in Cleopatra's arms, leaving her alone to face Octavian.
• Octavian besieged Alexandria, forcing both Antony and Cleopatra to commit suicide.