This Day In History : August 22

1989 United States

1st complete ring around Neptune discovered

The first complete ring around Neptune was discovered on August 22, 1989, by the Voyager 2 spacecraft. This discovery was part of the spacecraft's historic flyby of Neptune, which provided the first close-up images and data of the planet and its moons, significantly enhancing our understanding of the outer solar system.

Also on This Day in History August 22

Discover what happened on August 22 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, August 22
  • 1914 Connie B. Gay

    American businessman who co-founded the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and was the founding President of the Country Music Association

  • 1920 Denton A. Cooley

    American heart surgeon (1st artificial heart transplant)

  • 1915 James Hillier

    Canadian-American inventor (co-created the electron microscope)

  • 1867 Charles Francis Jenkins

    American Inventor (altimeter, automobile self-starter, and early television pioneer)

  • 1834 Samuel Pierpont Langley

    American astronomer and pioneer aviator

Deaths on This Day, August 22
  • 1980 James S. McDonnell

    American aircraft manufacturer of aircraft

  • 1945 Ida Henrietta Hyde

    American physiologist who invented the micro-electrode and the first woman allowed to do research at Harvard Medical School and to be elected to the American Physiology Society

  • 1828 Franz Joseph Gall

    German-French physician (phrenology)

  • 1918 Korbinian Brodmann

    German neurologist

  • 1967 Gregory Pincus

    American biologist and inventor (birth control pill)

1864

First Geneva Convention adopted in Geneva

The First Geneva Convention was adopted in Geneva, Switzerland, on August 22, 1864. This landmark international treaty established the principles for the humane treatment of the wounded and sick in armed forces in the field, and laid the groundwork for modern international humanitarian law.
1865

William Sheppard is issued the first US patent for liquid soap

William Sheppard was issued the first U.S. patent for liquid soap on August 22, 1865. The patent number for his invention is 49,561.
1894

Mahatma Gandhi forms the Natal Indian Congress (NIC)

Mahatma Gandhi formed the Natal Indian Congress (NIC) in 1894 in the region now known as KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The organization was established to fight against discrimination and promote the rights of the Indian community in South Africa.
1963

NASA civilian test pilot Joe Walker in the X-15 rocket plane achieves a world record altitude of 354,200 feet (107,960 m, 67 miles)

NASA civilian test pilot Joe Walker achieved a world record altitude of 354,200 feet (107,960 meters or 67 miles) in the X-15 rocket plane on August 22, 1963. This flight was one of the highest altitude flights in the X-15 program, contributing to significant advancements in aeronautics and space exploration.
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