This Day In History : August 3

1960 Niger

Niger gains independence from France

Niger, a landlocked country in West Africa, achieved independence from France on August 3, 1960. Prior to gaining independence, Niger was part of French West Africa. The country's independence marked a significant milestone in its history, paving the way for self-governance and national development.

Also on This Day in History August 3

Discover what happened on August 3 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, August 3

1941 Martha Stewart

American businesswoman, publisher, author, TV personality and founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia
1811 Elisha Graves Otis

American founder of the Otis Elevator Company and inventor of a safety device that prevents elevators from falling if the hoisting cable fails
1803 Sir Joseph Paxton

English landscape architect (Crystal Palace)
1860 William Kennedy Dickson

Scottish inventor (devised an early motion picture camera)
1943 Masato Sagawa

Japanese engineer (invented world's strongest magnet - Nd-Fe-B)

Deaths on This Day, August 3

1929 Emile Berliner

German-American inventor and businessman who invented the phonograph
1888 Benjamin F. Goodrich

American industrialist who founded the B.F. Goodrich Rubber Co. in Akron, Ohio
1806 Michel Adanson

French botanist who established natural classification as a fundamental aim of biology
1792 Sir Richard Arkwright

English industrialist and inventor (created the spinning frame, built Cromford Mill)
2022 Raymond Damadian

American physician and inventor of the MRI scanning machine

1900

The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company is founded

The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company was founded by Harvey S. Firestone in Akron, Ohio, on August 3, 1900. Initially, the company focused on manufacturing pneumatic tires for automobiles, which were in high demand due to the growing popularity of automobiles at the turn of the century.

1527

First known letter sent from North America by John Rut while at St. John's, Newfoundland

The first known letter sent from North America was written by John Rut while he was at St. John's, Newfoundland. The exact date of this letter is uncertain, but it is believed to have been written around August 3, 1527. In the letter, Rut describes his experiences in Newfoundland and his interactions with the indigenous people he encountered there.

1678

Robert LaSalle builds 1st ship in America - a brig the Griffon

Robert LaSalle built the first ship in America, a brigantine named the Griffon, in 1678. This ship played a significant role in the exploration and fur trade of the Great Lakes region. LaSalle used the Griffon to navigate the Great Lakes, making it the first European-style vessel to sail on these waters.

1926

In 1926, the first traffic lights in Britain were installed at Piccadilly Circus

In 1926, the first traffic lights in Britain were indeed installed at Piccadilly Circus. These traffic lights were installed to manage the increasing flow of vehicles and pedestrians in one of London's busiest intersections.