# On this day: August 13

August 13 is the 225th day of the year (226th in leap years), with 140 days left until the end of the year.

## August 13 in one line

Headline entries for August 13, from Wikipedia: in 1961, Cold War: East Germany closes the border between the eastern and western sectors of Berlin to thwart its inhabitants' attempts to escape to the West, and construction of the Berlin Wall is started. The day is known as Barbed Wire Sunday; born 1926: Fidel Castro, Cuban lawyer and politician, ex-President of Cuba (died 2016); died 1946: H. G. Wells, English novelist, historian, and critic (born 1866). In 2026 it is a Thursday, in 2027 a Friday.

## Events on August 13

- 523 John I becomes the new Pope after the death of Pope Hormisdas. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Hormisdas)
- 582 Maurice was crowned as Byzantine emperor, succeeding Tiberius II Constantine. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_(emperor))
- 1099 Election of Pope Paschal II following the death of pope Urban II in the previous month. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Paschal_II)
- 1521 After an extended siege, forces led by Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés capture Tlatoani Cuauhtémoc and conquer the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_of_Tenochtitlan)
- 1624 The French king Louis XIII appoints Cardinal Richelieu as prime minister. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardinal_Richelieu)
- 1645 Sweden and Denmark sign the Peace of Brömsebro. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Br%C3%B6msebro_(1645))
- 1650 General George Monck founded Monck's Regiment of Foot, the predecessor to the Coldstream Guards, the oldest regular regiment of the British Army in continuous active service. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coldstream_Guards)
- 1704 War of the Spanish Succession: The Duke of Marlborough led Allied forces to a crucial victory at the Battle of Blenheim. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Blenheim)
- 1724 Bach led the Thomanerchor in Leipzig in the first performance of the chorale cantata, Nimm von uns, Herr, du treuer Gott, BWV 101. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimm_von_uns%2C_Herr%2C_du_treuer_Gott%2C_BWV_101)
- 1762 Anglo-Spanish War: The United Kingdom captured Havana after a five-week siege, holding it until the Treaty of Paris the following year. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Havana)
- 1814 The Convention of London, a treaty between the United Kingdom and the United Netherlands, is signed in London, England. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Dutch_Treaty_of_1814)
- 1868 A major earthquake near Arica, Peru (now in Chile), caused an estimated 25,000 casualties; the subsequent tsunami caused considerable damage as far away as Hawaii and New Zealand. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1868_Arica_earthquake)
- 1876 A performance of Das Rheingold opened the first performance of Richard Wagner's Ring cycle at the inaugural Bayreuth Festival, attended by emperors and other composers. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Das_Rheingold)
- 1906 Members of the U.S. Army's all-black 25th Infantry Regiment were accused of killing a white bartender and wounding a white police officer in Brownsville, Texas, despite exculpatory evidence. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownsville_affair)
- 1918 Opha May Johnson became the first woman to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opha_May_Johnson)
- 1920 Polish–Soviet War: The Battle of Warsaw begins and will last till August 25. The Red Army is defeated. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Warsaw_(1920))
- 1937 Second Sino-Japanese War: The Battle of Shanghai begins. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Shanghai)
- 1940 World War II: The German Luftwaffe launched an air operation, codenamed Adlertag, to destroy the British Royal Air Force; its failure indefinitely postponed the German invasion of the United Kingdom. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adlertag)
- 1942 Major General Eugene Reybold of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authorizes the construction of facilities that would house the "Development of Substitute Materials" project, better known as the Manhattan Project. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan_Project)
- 1954 Radio Pakistan broadcasts the "Qaumī Tarāna", the national anthem of Pakistan for the first time. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qaumi_Taranah)
- 1961 Cold War: East Germany closes the border between the eastern and western sectors of Berlin to thwart its inhabitants' attempts to escape to the West, and construction of the Berlin Wall is started. The day is known as Barbed Wire Sunday. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Wall)
- 1969 The Apollo 11 astronauts enjoy a ticker-tape parade in New York City. That evening, at a state dinner in Los Angeles, they are awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President Richard Nixon. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_11)
- 1977 Members of the British National Front (NF) clash with anti-NF demonstrators in Lewisham, London, resulting in 214 arrests and at least 111 injuries. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lewisham)
- 1997 The animated TV comedy South Park airs its very first episode. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Park)
- 1999 The Act on National Flag and Anthem was adopted, formally establishing the Hinomaru and "Kimigayo" as the Japanese national flag and anthem, respectively. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Act_on_National_Flag_and_Anthem)
- 2004 Merely 22 hours after Tropical Storm Bonnie struck the U.S. state of Florida, Hurricane Charley inflicted further damage to the region. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_Storm_Bonnie_(2004))
- 2010 After being boarded by Canadian authorities, MV Sun Sea docked in British Columbia and the 492 Sri Lankan Tamil refugee claimants on board were placed in detention. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Sun_Sea_incident)

## Born on August 13

- 985 Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, Fatimid caliph (died 1021) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Hakim_bi-Amr_Allah)
- 1311 Alfonso XI, king of Castile and León (died 1350) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfonso_XI_of_Castile)
- 1567 Samuel de Champlain, French explorer (died 1635) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_de_Champlain)
- 1814 Anders Jonas Ångström, Swedish physicist and astronomer (died 1874) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anders_Jonas_%C3%85ngstr%C3%B6m)
- 1819 Sir George Stokes, 1st Baronet, Anglo-Irish mathematician and physicist (died 1903) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_George_Stokes%2C_1st_Baronet)
- 1871 Karl Liebknecht, German politician, co-founded Communist Party of Germany (died 1919) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Liebknecht)
- 1872 Richard Willstätter, German-Swiss chemist and academic, Nobel Prize Laureate (died 1942) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Willst%C3%A4tter)
- 1888 John Logie Baird, Scottish engineer, invented the television (died 1946) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Logie_Baird)
- 1899 Alfred Hitchcock, English-American director and producer (died 1980) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Hitchcock)
- 1912 Salvador Luria, Italian-American microbiologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1991) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvador_Luria)
- 1913 Makarios III, Greek archbishop and politician, 1st President of Cyprus (died 1977) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makarios_III)
- 1918 Frederick Sanger, English biochemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 2013) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Sanger)
- 1926 Fidel Castro, Cuban lawyer and politician, ex-President of Cuba (died 2016) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidel_Castro)
- 1942 Hissène Habré, Chadian politician and war criminal, 5th president of Chad (died 2021) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiss%C3%A8ne_Habr%C3%A9)
- 1946 Janet Yellen, American economist, 78th United States secretary of the treasury [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Yellen)
- 1955 Paul Greengrass, English director and screenwriter [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Greengrass)
- 1962 John Slattery, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Slattery)
- 1963 Sridevi, Indian actress (died 2018) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sridevi)
- 1970 Alan Shearer, English footballer and manager [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Shearer)
- 1982 Sebastian Stan, Romanian-American actor [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebastian_Stan)
- 1984 Niko Kranjčar, Croatian footballer [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niko_Kranj%C4%8Dar)
- 1992 Lucas Moura, Brazilian footballer [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucas_Moura)

## Died on August 13

- 662 Maximus the Confessor, Byzantine theologian [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximus_the_Confessor)
- 1608 Giambologna, Italian sculptor (born 1529) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giambologna)
- 1826 René Laennec, French physician, invented the stethoscope (born 1781) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Laennec)
- 1863 Eugène Delacroix, French painter and lithographer (born 1798) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eug%C3%A8ne_Delacroix)
- 1865 Ignaz Semmelweis, Hungarian physician and obstetrician (born 1818) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignaz_Semmelweis)
- 1910 Florence Nightingale, Italian-English nurse and theologian (born 1820) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Nightingale)
- 1912 Jules Massenet, French composer (born 1842) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jules_Massenet)
- 1917 Eduard Buchner, German chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1860) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eduard_Buchner)
- 1946 H. G. Wells, English novelist, historian, and critic (born 1866) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._G._Wells)
- 1965 Hayato Ikeda, Japanese lawyer and politician, 58th Prime Minister of Japan (born 1899) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayato_Ikeda)
- 1984 Tigran Petrosian, Georgian-Armenian chess player (born 1929) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigran_Petrosian)
- 1998 Julien Green, American author (born 1900) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julien_Green)
- 2004 Julia Child, American chef, author, and television host (born 1912) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Child)
- 2008 Henri Cartan, French mathematician and academic (born 1904) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Cartan)

## Holidays and observances

- Christian feast day: Benedetto Sinigardi [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedetto_Sinigardi)
- Christian feast day: Benildus Romançon [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benildus_Roman%C3%A7on)
- Christian feast day: Cassian of Imola [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassian_of_Imola)
- Christian feast day: Clara Maass (Lutheran Church) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clara_Maass)
- Christian feast day: Florence Nightingale, Octavia Hill (Lutheran Church) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Nightingale)
- Christian feast day: Blessed Gertrude of Aldenberg [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gertrude_of_Aldenberg)
- Christian feast day: Hippolytus of Rome [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippolytus_of_Rome)
- Christian feast day: Blessed Jakob Gapp [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakob_Gapp)
- Christian feast day: Jeremy Taylor (Anglican Communion) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Taylor)
- Christian feast day: John Berchmans [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Berchmans)
- Christian feast day: Junian of Mairé [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junian_of_Mair%C3%A9)
- Christian feast day: Blessed Marco d'Aviano [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_d'Aviano)
- Christian feast day: Maximus the Confessor [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximus_the_Confessor)
- Christian feast day: Nerses Glaietsi (Catholic Church) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerses_IV_the_Gracious)
- Christian feast day: Pope Pontian [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Pontian)
- Christian feast day: Radegunde [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radegund)
- Christian feast day: Wigbert [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wihtberht)
- Christian feast day: August 13 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_13_(Eastern_Orthodox_liturgics))
- Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Central African Republic from France in 1960. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_the_Central_African_Republic)
- International Lefthanders Day (International) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Lefthanders_Day)
- Women's Day, commemorates the enaction of Tunisian Code of Personal Status in 1956. (Tunisia) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_Tunisia)
- World Organ Donation Day [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organ_donation)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia — “August 13”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_13) — events, births, deaths and observances (text under CC BY-SA 4.0) (checked 2026-10-15)
- [Wikipedia — “Selected anniversaries/August 13”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Selected_anniversaries/August_13) — the anniversaries editors chose for the date and the article each one is about (checked 2026-10-15)
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/) — in how many language editions each entry's own article exists, used to fill the lists (CC0) (checked 2026-10-15)
- [vacanza/holidays (open-source holiday rules, MIT licence)](https://github.com/vacanza/holidays) — holiday rules used to build the lists (checked 2026-10-15)

The events, births, deaths and observances above are from the English Wikipedia article [“August 13”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_13) and the articles it links to ([authors and history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_13?action=history)), retrieved 2026-10-15 through the Wikimedia “On this day” feed. They are licensed under [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/); this selection is shared under the same licence. Every anniversary that Wikipedia's editors selected for August 13 stays on the list; the remaining places, up to 27 events, 22 births and 14 deaths, go to the entries whose own article — about the event itself, or else the person or thing it is about — appears in the most language editions (counted from Wikidata); an article about a person or thing, which covers far more than one day, counts half. An entry with no article of its own counts, also at half, by the least covered article it links, and one that links only places counts for nothing. The 1961 entry stays as well, and comes first in the one-line summary: we keep a short list, checked by hand, of widely known events that Wikipedia's editors leave out of their selection, usually because the article carries a maintenance notice. Each list runs by year, and the wording is unchanged apart from removing references to pictures, audio and video.

## August 13 in the calendar

| Year | Weekday | ISO week | Moon (UTC) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026 | Thursday | 2026-W33 | 🌒 Waxing Crescent |
| 2027 | Friday | 2027-W32 | 🌔 Waxing Gibbous |
| 2028 | Sunday | 2028-W32 | 🌗 Last Quarter |
| 2029 | Monday | 2029-W33 | 🌒 Waxing Crescent |
| 2030 | Tuesday | 2030-W33 | 🌕 Full Moon |

Moon phases are for the day in UTC; at the edges of a phase your local date can differ.

## Public holidays on August 13

None of the 28 countries we track has a public holiday on August 13 in 2026 or 2027.

[Today's holidays in 28 countries →](https://whathappen.today/holidays/)

## Nearby dates

[← August 12](https://whathappen.today/on-this-day/august-12/) · [August 14 →](https://whathappen.today/on-this-day/august-14/)

[All 366 days](https://whathappen.today/on-this-day/)

Last updated: 15 October 2026

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Web page: https://whathappen.today/on-this-day/august-13/