What Happened on August 22

Perelman Refuses Fields Medal

Russian mathematician Grigori Perelman turns down the Fields Medal for his proof of the Poincaré conjecture — a century-old riddle — saying he wants no part of money or fame.

Grigori Perelman, the Russian mathematician who proved the Poincaré conjecture, has refused the Fields Medal, the highest honor in mathematics, announced in August 2006. Perelman, who resigned from the Steklov Institute of Mathematics in Saint Petersburg in 2005, said he was not interested in money or fame. "I don't want to be on display like an animal in a zoo," he said when declining the award. The Fields Medal, often called the Nobel Prize of mathematics, was granted for his proof of the Poincaré conjecture, a problem that had stumped mathematicians for over a century. Science journal recognized the proof as its 2006 "Breakthrough of the Year."

Henry Tudor Wins at Bosworth; Richard III Slain

The field at Bosworth runs red as Sir William Stanley's men turn the tide, killing Richard III and ending the Plantagenet line.

On the meadow called Redmore Plain, the crown of England changed hands this day. Richard III, last of the Plantagenets, lies dead, cut down by the men of Sir William Stanley, who threw their weight behind Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, in the final hour of battle. Henry, now the first Welsh monarch of England, leads the House of Tudor.

Manchester Airport Fire Kills 55; Safety Rules to Be Overhauled

Smoke inhalation killed most of the 55 victims on British Airtours Flight 28M; 131 passengers and 6 crew were aboard.

The Manchester Airport fire that killed 55 people on British Airtours Flight 28M is called a defining moment in civil aviation safety. Most victims died of smoke inhalation, not burns, as the Boeing 737-200, named River Orrin, sat on the runway. An incorrectly repaired engine part punctured the fuel tank, sparking the blaze. The disaster prompted industry-wide changes, including fire-resistant seats and floor lighting.

Twelve Nations Sign Geneva Convention

In the Alabama room of Geneva's Hôtel de Ville, twelve European states agree to protect the wounded and those who tend them in war.

In an age when the cannon's roar still drowns the cry of the wounded, twelve European states have signed the First Geneva Convention, an accord that binds its signatories to shield the sick and injured soldier, the field surgeon, and the humanitarian institution from the ravages of war.

King Raises Standard at Nottingham, Summons Realm to War

King Charles I raised his standard at Nottingham on the 22nd of August, and the first great battle at Edgehill on the 23rd of October ended inconclusively.

His Majesty King Charles I raised the royal standard at Nottingham on the 22nd day of August, proclaiming the commencement of the First English Civil War. By this act, the King summons all loyal subjects to his cause, his forces already commanding the Midlands, Wales, the West Country, and the North. His court is established at Oxford, while the Parliament holds London, the South-East, East Anglia, and the English navy. The first great battle at Edgehill, on the 23rd of October, ended inconclusively as daylight faded.

British Troops Clash With Germans Near Mons

Dragoon Guards surprise enemy cavalry at Casteau, and a drummer is credited with the first shots fired.

Squadrons of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards have made the first British engagement on the Western Front, attacking a German scout party at Casteau, near Mons. Two full troops of British cavalry surprised four patrolling German cavalrymen of the 2nd Kuirassiers. Captain Charles Hornby is reputed to have become the first British soldier to kill a German soldier, using his sword. Drummer Edward Thomas is likewise reputed to have fired the first British shots of the war. The encounter, sharp and brief, marks the opening of hostilities for the British Expeditionary Force. Further actions are expected as the armies draw together.

Gaullist Convoy Fired On; President Unhurt

Gunmen with automatic weapons and explosives attack the presidential motorcade at 7:45 pm; one person is injured.

An assassination attempt against President Charles de Gaulle was made tonight at 7:45 pm as his convoy left the Élysée Palace. A squad of 12 members, using automatic weapons and explosives, fired on the presidential vehicle, which was hit 14 times out of 187 rounds fired. The President was uninjured; one person was hurt, and no one was killed in the crossfire. The attack was organized by Lieutenant-Colonel Jean Bastien-Thiry with the OAS, and code-named Operation Charlotte Corday. The would-be assassins used four vehicles in the ambush. Bastien-Thiry was later executed by firing squad in spring.

Arnold's Stratagem Lifts Siege of Fort Stanwix

A clever ruse convinces the British that a larger force is coming, and St. Leger withdraws to Quebec.

A rumor of dust on the road was enough. General Benedict Arnold, by a ruse, persuaded the British that a much larger American force was approaching Fort Stanwix, and the enemy raised the siege this day, the 22nd of August, 1777. St. Leger, who had invested the fort since early in the month and defeated an American relief column at Oriskany on the 6th, found his Indian allies melting away after that battle. He withdrew to Quebec, ending the siege. The fort, its walls battered, remains under the Continental flag.

Statesman Defies Censor, Shows Bengal Famine to World

Editor Ian Stephens publishes graphic photographs of Calcutta's dead, breaking the silence that cost millions of lives.

The world now knows the truth of the Bengal famine, thanks to a newspaper editor who refused to bow to British censorship. Ian Stephens, editor of The Statesman in Calcutta, published graphic photographs of death and misery on the city's streets on August 22, 1943, informing the world of the catastrophe that has claimed between 1.5 and 3 million lives.

Stephens' bold act of defiance was possible because the Emergency Rules banned calling it a famine, but did not cover photographs. He sent his photographers out to capture the evidence, and his editorials and images have helped persuade the British government to supply adequate relief to the victims.

Historian Janam Mukherjee has called the publication "a singular act of journalistic courage and conscientiousness."