August 15: Day of the Week
August 15, 2023 was the 227th day of the year 2023 in the Gregorian calendar. There were 138 days remaining until the end of the year. The day of the week was Tuesday.
If you are trying to learn Spanish then this day of the week in Spanish is martes.
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Here’s the August calendar. You can also browse the full year monthly calendar.
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Zodiac & Birthstone
Leo is the zodiac sign of a person born on this day. Peridot is the modern birthstone for this month. Diamond is the mystical birthstone from Tibetan origin that dates back over a thousand years.
August 15 Historical Event(s)
- 778The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed.
- 1040King Duncan I is killed in battle against his first cousin and rival Macbeth. The latter succeeds him as King of Scotland.
- 1248The foundation stone of Cologne Cathedral, built to house the relics of the Three Wise Men, is laid. (Construction is eventually completed in 1880.)
- 1309The city of Rhodes surrenders to the forces of the Knights of St. John, completing their conquest of Rhodes. The knights establish their headquarters on the island and rename themselves the Knights of Rhodes.
- 1517Seven Portuguese armed vessels led by Fernão Pires de Andrade meet Chinese officials at the Pearl River estuary.
- 1534Saint Ignatius of Loyola and six classmates take initial vows, leading to the creation of the Society of Jesus in September 1540.
- 1940An Italian submarine torpedoes and sinks the Greek cruiser Elli at Tinos harbour during peacetime, marking the most serious Italian provocation prior to the outbreak of the Greco-Italian War in October.
- 1941Corporal Josef Jakobs is executed by firing squad at the Tower of London at 7:12 am, making him the last person to be executed at the Tower for treason.
- 1963Execution of Henry John Burnett, the last man to be hanged in Scotland.
- 1984The PKK in Turkey starts a campaign of armed attacks upon the Turkish military
Who were born on August 15?
- 1844Thomas-Alfred Bernier, Canadian journalist and politician (d. 1908)
- 1860Florence Harding, American First Lady (d. 1924)
- 1875Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, English composer (d. 1912)
- 1879Ethel Barrymore, American actress (d. 1959)
- 1929Georgios Roubanis, Greek athlete
- 1934Nino Ferrer, French-Italian singer (d. 1998)
- 1944Dimitris Sioufas, Greek lawyer and politician
- 1958Victor Shenderovich, Russian satirist
- 1969Cris Judd, American actor/choreographer
- 1977Martin Biron, Canadian ice hockey goaltender
Now try another date like anniversaries, birthdays of someone you know or any other date that is special to you. Don’t forget to share the info to your friends, loved ones or social media followers. Who knows, they might appreciate and thank you for it.