Today in History graphic for August 2 featuring the signing of the Declaration of Independence, President Calvin Coolidge, Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, Michigan's first Lake Michigan car ferry, and PT-109.

August 2 in History: The Declaration of Independence Is Signed, Calvin Coolidge Becomes President, and Iraq Invades Kuwait

Scott Winters August 2, 2026 1 Comment

Discover what happened on August 2 in history as remarkable achievements, historic milestones, technological advances, and unforgettable moments helped shape the world we know today.

What Happened on August 2 in History?

Important events on this day include the formal signing of the Declaration of Independence, Calvin Coolidge becoming president after Warren G. Harding’s death, the beginning of the Persian Gulf War with Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, Michigan’s first Lake Michigan car ferry service, and John F. Kennedy’s heroic rescue of his PT-109 crew during World War II.

AUGUST 2 – TODAY IN HISTORY:

1776 – Although July 4 marks the Declaration’s adoption, most delegates signed the official engrossed copy on August 2, 1776.

1790 – Federal marshals began conducting the first U.S. Census.

1791 – Samuel Briggs and his son, Samuel Briggs, Jr., received a patent for a nail-making machine. They were the first father/son pair to receive a patent.

1858 – The first mailboxes were installed along the street in Boston, MA and New York, NY.

1861 – The first Income Tax was passed by the United States Congress. The revenues were intended for the war effort against the South. The tax was never enacted.

1870 – The world’s first underground tube railway opened in London, England.

1873 – The Clay Street Hill Railroad began operating the first cable car in San Francisco, CA’s famous cable car system.

1887 – Rowell Hodge received a patent for barbed wire.

1892 – Charles A. Wheeler received a patent for the first escalator.

1921 – Eight White Sox players were acquitted of throwing the 1919 World Series.

1923 – Vice President Calvin Coolidge became the 30th President of the United States, after the death of Warren G. Harding.

1926 – John Barrymore and Mary Astor starred in the first showing of the Vitaphone System. The system combined the pictures and sound for the movies.

1937 – The Marihuana Tax Act imposed strict federal taxes and regulations that effectively outlawed marijuana nationwide.

1938 – In an experiment, bright yellow baseballs were used in a major league baseball game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals. The hope was the balls would be easier to see.

1939 – Albert Einstein signed a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt warning that Nazi Germany might develop atomic weapons and urging the United States to accelerate nuclear research.

1939 – President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Hatch Act. The act prohibited civil service employees from taking an active part in political campaigns.

1943 – After PT-109 was rammed and sunk by a Japanese destroyer, Lt. John F. Kennedy led surviving crew members to safety, an act of heroism that later became a defining part of his public image.

1964 – The Pentagon reported the first of two North Vietnamese attacks on U.S. destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin.

1965 – American’s first “Trimline” telephones were made available in Detroit, MI.

1982 – The Post Office issued a stamp honoring baseball great Jackie Robinson

1983 – U.S. House of Representatives approved a law that designated the third Monday of January be a federal holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The law was signed by President Ronald Reagan on November 2.

1984 – The Charles Schultz’ comic strip “Peanuts” was added to the Portsmouth Daily Times, making it the first comic strip to appear in 2,000 newspapers.

1985 – 137 people are killed when a Delta jumbo jet crashed at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

1987 – “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” was re-released for it’s 50th anniversary.

1989 – The movie “Parenthood”, directed by Ron Howard and starring Steve Martin, premiered in theaters.

1990 – Iraqi troops invaded Kuwait and seized petroleum reserves. That aggression began the Persian Gulf War.

1995 – China ordered the expulsion of two U.S. Air Force officers. The two were said to have been caught spying on military sights.

2014 – The Detroit Tigers scored in every inning for the first time since 1912.

2021 – 70 percent of Americans had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose.

2022 – The nearly complete film “Batgirl” — with a budget of more than $90 million — was shelved. The official reason was that it was not testing well enough with audiences to instill confidence at Warner Bros.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON AUGUST 2:

John W. Snow – 87 years old (1939) – Businessman and politician, 73rd United States Secretary of the Treasury

Isabel Allende – 84 years old (1942) – Chilean-American novelist, essayist, essayist

Nell Irvin Painter – 84 years old (1942) – Author and historian

Tom Burgmeier – 83 years old (1943) – Baseball player and coach

Joanna Cassidy – 81 years old (1945) – Actress

James Howe – 80 years old (1946) – Journalist and author

Lawrence Wright – 79 years old (1947) – Journalist, author, and screenwriter

Dennis Prager – 78 years old (1948) – Radio host and author

James Fallows – 77 years old (1949) – Journalist and author

Burgess Owens – 75 years old (1951) – Football player and politician

Joe Lynn Turner – 75 years old (1951) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Butch Patrick – 73 years old (1953) – Actor

Butch Vig – 71 years old (1955) – Drummer, songwriter, and record producer

Fulvio Melia – 70 years old (1956) – Italian-American physicist, astrophysicist, and author

Jim Doughan – 67 years old (1959) – Actor

Victoria Jackson – 67 years old (1959) – Actress and singer

Apollonia Kotero – 67 years old (1959) – Singer and actress

Linda Fratianne – 66 years old (1960) – Figure skater

Neal Morse – 66 years old (1960) – Singer and keyboard player

David Yow – 66 years old (1960) – Singer-songwriter

Cynthia Stevenson – 64 years old (1962) – Actress

Laura Bennett – 63 years old (1963) – Architect and fashion designer

Mary-Louise Parker – 62 years old (1964) – Actress

Aaron Krickstein – 59 years old (1967) – Tennis player

Aline Brosh McKenna – 59 years old (1967) – Screenwriter and producer

Cedric Ceballos – 57 years old (1969) – Basketball player

Tony Amonte – 56 years old (1970) – Ice hockey player and coach

Kevin Smith – 56 years old (1970) – Actor, director, producer, and screenwriter

Muriel Bowser – 54 years old (1972) – Politician, Mayor of Washington, D.C

Jay Heaps – 50 years old (1976) – Soccer player and coach

Michael Weiss – 50 years old (1976) – Figure skater

Edward Furlong – 49 years old (1977) – Actor

Matt Guerrier – 48 years old (1978) – Baseball player

Kerry Rhodes – 44 years old (1982) – Football player

Grady Sizemore – 44 years old (1982) – Baseball player

Huston Street – 43 years old (1983) – Baseball player

JD Vance – 42 years old (1984) – Politician, 50th vice president of the United States

Lily Gladstone – 40 years old (1986) – Actress

Golden Tate – 38 years old (1988) – Football player

Skylar Diggins – 36 years old (1990) – Basketball player

Joey Florez – 33 years old (1993) – Scholar and cultural critic

Cr1TiKaL – 32 years old (1994) – YouTuber and streamer

Laremy Tunsil – 32 years old (1994) – Football player

Keston Hiura – 30 years old (1996) – Baseball player

Simone Manuel – 30 years old (1996) – Swimmer

Austin Theory – 29 years old (1997) – Wrestler

DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR AUGUST 2:

National Sisters Day: There's nothing like having someone who knows you inside out and has been by your side through thick and thin - sisters are the best!
National Ice Cream Sandwich Day: A sweet union of two delicate layers, with frosty bliss in between, offering delightful respite on a warm day.
National Friendship Day: Friendship is a treasure trove of laughter, memories, and support. It's the sunshine on a cloudy day, and the bond that lasts a lifetime.
Friendship Day in India: Friendship Day in India is a celebration of the bonds that bring joy and support to our lives. This day is dedicated to honoring the friends who stand by us through thick and thin. People express their affection by exchanging friendship bands, gifts, and heartfelt messages. It’s a time to...
Psychic Day: See if you have any dormant psychic or clairvoyant abilities by guessing coin flips, card colors, or even who’s calling when the phone rings.
National CAD Day: National CAD Day is a day of celebration that honors the immense contributions of computer-aided design (CAD) to modern technology and innovation. CAD technology has been a cornerstone in various industries, helping professionals from engineering to fashion by turning complex visions into manageable and manipulable digital realities. The significance of this...
National Coloring Book Day: Long gone are the days when coloring is just for kids. Get out a coloring book and colored pencils, and get lost in the creative, meditative exercise of coloring.
National Eisteddfod of Wales: The National Eisteddfod of Wales is a vibrant celebration of Welsh culture, bringing together the best of the nation's music, literature, and performance arts. Each year, the festival moves to a different location within Wales, alternating between the north and south. This week-long event attracts thousands of visitors who immerse...
Harriet Quimby Day: Harriet Quimby Day is all about celebrating a woman who dared to take flight—literally. She wasn’t just the first American woman to earn a pilot’s license; she was someone who saw the sky and thought, Why not me? Her story lifts this day into something more than a date. It’s a...
American Family Day: The ones who support us through thick and thin, make us laugh and wipe our tears, and never give up on us: our tribe, our home, our heart.
Crayfish Party: Crayfish Party is a lively and festive occasion celebrated with friends and family. This event marks the end of summer, bringing people together for a joyful feast. Tables are often set with bright decorations, and the air is filled with laughter. The menu features cooked and seasoned crayfish. The atmosphere...
World Breastfeeding Week: Nurturing a bond like no other, this natural act of love fosters the health and well-being of both mother and child.
Farmers Market Week: Farmers Market Week is a vibrant celebration of local markets across the country. It's a time when communities come together to appreciate the fresh, locally grown produce and unique handmade goods that these markets offer. The energy at these markets during this special week is contagious as people of all...
Stop on Red Week: Crossing at a red light has caused countless fatalities, many of them completely avoidable. These aren’t rare, freak accidents—they happen in everyday traffic, on ordinary roads, during normal routines. Someone rushes to beat the light, doesn’t see the pedestrian, or assumes they’ll make it in time. In a split second...
International Clown Week: Exploring playful characters, spreading joy with colorful costumes, and delighting audiences with whimsical performances and antics.
National Exercise With Your Child Week: Encouraging outdoor play, fostering healthy habits, and instilling a love for movement in children for lifelong well-being.
International Assistance Dog Week: International Assistance Dog Week is a special time dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the hardworking dogs that change lives. These dogs provide essential support to individuals with disabilities, helping them navigate daily challenges. Their incredible skills, combined with their loyal companionship, make them invaluable to those who rely on them...