On This Day: 15 August

15 August in Indian history

• 1985Signing of the Assam Accord, an agreement between representatives of the Government of India and the leaders of the Assam Movement to end the movement.India
• 1950Measuring Mw 8.6, the largest earthquake on land occurs in the Assam-Tibet-Myanmar border, killing 4,800.India
• 1947Jawaharlal Nehru took office as the first prime minister of India, a post he held for 16 years.India

15 August in world history

• 2013At least 27 people are killed and 226 injured in an explosion in southern Beirut near a complex used by Lebanon's militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. A previously unknown Syrian Sunni group claims responsibility in an online video.
• 2005Israel's unilateral disengagement plan to evict all Israelis from the Gaza Strip and from four settlements in the northern West Bank begins.
• 1998The Troubles: A car bomb attack carried out by the Real Irish Republican Army killed 29 people and injured approximately 220 others in Omagh, Northern Ireland.
• 1995In South Carolina, Shannon Faulkner becomes the first female cadet matriculated at The Citadel (she drops out less than a week later).
• 1977Big Ear, a radio telescope at Ohio State University, received a strong, apparently extraterrestrial radio signal that became known as the Wow! signal.
• 1945Emperor Hirohito broadcasts his declaration of surrender following the effective surrender of Japan in World War II; Korea gains independence from the Empire of Japan.
• 1944World War II: Allied forces began Operation Dragoon, their invasion of southern France.
• 1942World War II: The tanker SS Ohio reached Malta as part of an operation to deliver much-needed supplies during the siege of Malta.
• 1914The Panama Canal opens to traffic with the transit of the cargo ship SS Ancon.
• 1893Ibadan area becomes a British Protectorate after a treaty was signed by Fijabi, the Baale of Ibadan, with the British acting Governor of Lagos, George C. Denton.
• 1812War of 1812: Potawatomi warriors ambushed a United States Army convoy after it had evacuated Fort Dearborn, in present-day Chicago, and razed the fort.
• 1760Seven Years' War: Battle of Liegnitz: Frederick the Great's victory over the Austrians under Ernst Gideon von Laudon.
• 1549Jesuit priest Francis Xavier comes ashore at Kagoshima (Traditional Japanese date: 22 July 1549).
• 1261Michael VIII Palaiologos was crowned Byzantine emperor in Constantinople.
• 1038Upon the death of his uncle Stephen I, Peter (depicted) became the second king of Hungary.

Born on 15 August

• 1971Adnan Sami, Indian singer, musician, music composer, pianist and actorIndia
• 1939Hardial Bains, Canadian politician, founded CPC(M-L) (died 1997)
• 1883Ivan Meštrović, Croatian sculptor and architect (died 1962)
• 1873Ramaprasad Chanda, Indian archaeologist and historian (died 1942)India
• 1798Sangolli Rayanna, Indian warrior (died 1831)India
• 1787Eliza Lee Cabot Follen, American writer, editor, abolitionist (died 1860)

Died on 15 August

• 2013Marich Man Singh Shrestha, Nepali politician, 28th Prime Minister of Nepal (born 1942)
• 2004Amarsinh Chaudhary, Indian politician, 8th Chief Minister of Gujarat (born 1941)India
• 1962Lei Feng, Chinese soldier (born 1940)
• 1942Mahadev Desai, Indian activist and author (born 1892)India

Frequently asked questions

What happened on 15 August in history?

2013: At least 27 people are killed and 226 injured in an explosion in southern Beirut near a complex used by Lebanon's militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. A previously unknown Syrian Sunni group claims responsibility in an online video. 2005: Israel's unilateral disengagement plan to evict all Israelis from the Gaza Strip and from four settlements in the northern West Bank begins. 1998: The Troubles: A car bomb attack carried out by the Real Irish Republican Army killed 29 people and injured approximately 220 others in Omagh, Northern Ireland. 1995: In South Carolina, Shannon Faulkner becomes the first female cadet matriculated at The Citadel (she drops out less than a week later).

What happened on 15 August in Indian history?

1985: Signing of the Assam Accord, an agreement between representatives of the Government of India and the leaders of the Assam Movement to end the movement. 1950: Measuring Mw 8.6, the largest earthquake on land occurs in the Assam-Tibet-Myanmar border, killing 4,800. 1947: Jawaharlal Nehru took office as the first prime minister of India, a post he held for 16 years.

Which famous people were born on 15 August?

Adnan Sami, Indian singer, musician, music composer, pianist and actor (1971); Hardial Bains, Canadian politician, founded CPC(M-L) (died 1997) (1939); Ivan Meštrović, Croatian sculptor and architect (died 1962) (1883); Ramaprasad Chanda, Indian archaeologist and historian (died 1942) (1873).

Which day is observed on 15 August?

Independence Day; Armed Forces Day (Poland); Constitution Day (Equatorial Guinea); Founding of Asunción (Paraguay); Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Korea from Japan in 1945: Gwangbokjeol, "Independence Day" (South Korea).