On This Day: August 22

Welcome to the Planet Earth News Network (PENN) daily history report. Today, August 22, marks a series of turning points ranging from the end of English civil wars to breakthroughs in human evolution and space exploration. These events have shaped international law, national borders, and our understanding of the human story.

1485 — The Battle of Bosworth Field Ends the Wars of the Roses

In the last major battle of the Wars of the Roses, Henry Tudor defeated King Richard III at Bosworth Field in England. King Richard III was killed during the fighting, making him the last English king to die in battle. Following his victory, Henry Tudor was crowned King Henry VII, beginning the Tudor dynasty and ending a 30-year struggle for the English throne between the House of Lancaster and the House of York.

1639 — The Founding of Madras

The British East India Company, represented by Francis Day and Andrew Cogan, purchased a small strip of land on the Coromandel Coast from local Nayak rulers. This settlement, originally called Madraspatnam, served as a strategic trading post and led to the construction of Fort St. George. Over time, this area grew into the major metropolitan city of Chennai, which remains a vital cultural and economic hub in modern India.

1791 — The Haitian Revolution Begins

A massive slave revolt broke out in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, led by a man named Dutty Boukman. This uprising began during a religious ceremony at Bois Caïman and quickly spread across the northern province. This event marked the start of the Haitian Revolution, a long and complex conflict that eventually led to the end of slavery in the colony and the establishment of Haiti as the first independent black-led republic in the world.

1851 — The First America’s Cup Race

The schooner America, representing the New York Yacht Club, outpaced 15 British yachts in a race around the Isle of Wight. The prize was a silver trophy originally called the Hundred Guinea Cup. Following the victory, the trophy was renamed the America’s Cup in honor of the winning ship. It is now recognized as the oldest international sporting trophy still awarded today.

1862 — President Lincoln’s Letter to Horace Greeley

United States President Abraham Lincoln wrote a famous public letter to Horace Greeley, the editor of the New York Tribune. In the letter, President Lincoln responded to Horace Greeley’s criticisms regarding slavery and the Civil War. President Lincoln stated that his primary goal was to save the Union, whether that meant freeing all, some, or none of the enslaved people, though he later issued the Emancipation Proclamation to further that goal.

1864 — The First Geneva Convention is Adopted

Representatives from 12 nations met in Switzerland to sign the first Geneva Convention. The agreement was heavily advocated by Swiss humanitarian Jean-Henri Dunant, who had witnessed the suffering of soldiers at the Battle of Solferino. The treaty established international rules for the nonpartisan care of wounded and sick soldiers during wartime and led to the creation of the International Red Cross.

1910 — Japan Formally Annexes Korea

The Japan-Korea Treaty of 1910 was signed, officially beginning a period of Japanese colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula. The treaty followed years of increasing Japanese influence in the region. Under the terms of the agreement, the Emperor of Korea ceded all rights of sovereignty to the Emperor of Japan. This period of annexation lasted until the end of World War II in 1945.

1922 — Assassination of Michael Collins

Irish revolutionary leader Michael Collins was killed in an ambush at Béal na Bláth during the Irish Civil War. Michael Collins was a key figure in the struggle for Irish independence and served as the Commander-in-Chief of the National Army of the Irish Free State. His death occurred just months after he helped negotiate the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which established the Irish Free State but also led to internal conflict.

1962 — Assassination Attempt on Charles de Gaulle

French President Charles de Gaulle survived an assassination attempt in Petit-Clamart, a suburb of Paris. A group known as the OAS, led by Jean-Marie Bastien-Thiry, opened fire on the president’s car because they were angry about his decision to grant independence to Algeria. Despite the vehicle being struck by numerous bullets, President Charles de Gaulle and his wife, Yvonne de Gaulle, were not injured.

1963 — First Person to Enter Space Twice

American pilot Joseph Walker flew the X-15 rocket plane to an altitude of 67 miles (107.8 kilometers). This flight marked the second time Joseph Walker had surpassed the 100-kilometer mark, which is the internationally recognized boundary of outer space. This achievement made him the first human to complete two separate spaceflights, demonstrating the potential for reusable aerospace vehicles.

1986 — The Lake Nyos Disaster in Cameroon

A rare natural disaster occurred at Lake Nyos, a volcanic crater lake in Cameroon, when a large cloud of carbon dioxide suddenly erupted from the water. The heavy gas stayed close to the ground and suffocated more than 1,700 people and thousands of livestock in nearby villages. Scientists believe the gas had built up at the bottom of the lake over a long period before being released by a landslide or small volcanic tremor.

2004 — Theft of The Scream and Madonna

Masked gunmen entered the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway, during the day and stole two famous paintings by Edvard Munch: The Scream and Madonna. The thieves escaped in a getaway car while museum visitors looked on. Both masterpieces were recovered by Norwegian police two years later with some minor damage, which was later repaired by conservators.

2018 — Discovery of a Hybrid Human Ancestor

Scientists published a study in the journal Nature announcing the discovery of a 90,000-year-old bone fragment from a cave in Siberia. DNA testing revealed that the bone belonged to a female teenager who had a Neanderthal mother and a Denisovan father. This individual, nicknamed Denny, provided the first direct evidence of interbreeding between different groups of ancient human relatives.

2024 — Largest Diamond in a Century Found in Botswana

The Lucara Diamond Corp announced the discovery of a 2,492-carat diamond at the Karowe Mine in Botswana. The massive stone was presented to the public by President Mokgweetsi Masisi. It is the largest diamond found since the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond was discovered in South Africa in 1905, highlighting Botswana’s role as a leading producer of high-quality gemstones.