August is the eighth month of the year (between July and September) in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and one of seven months with a length of 31 days. In the Southern Hemisphere, August is the seasonal equivalent of February in the Northern Hemisphere.
August symbols: The birthstones of August are the peridot and sardonyx. Its birth flower is the gladiolus or poppy, meaning beauty, strength of character, love, marriage and family. The zodiac signs for the month of August are Leo (until August 22) and Virgo (from August 23 onwards).
Historical Events for August, 1960
Day of Week 1st » Dahomey (later renamed Benin) declares independence from France.
1st » Islamabad is declared the federal capital of the Government of Pakistan.
Day of Week 13th » The Central African Republic declares independence from France.
Day of Week 15th » Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville) becomes independent from French Fourth Republic known as France.
Day of Week 16th » Cyprus gains its independence from the United Kingdom.
16th » Joseph Kittinger parachutes from a balloon over New Mexico at convert 102800 ft m, setting three records that held until 2012: High-altitude jump, free fall, and highest speed by a human without an aircraft.
Day of Week 17th » Decolonization: Gabon gains independence from France.
Day of Week 19th » Cold War: In Moscow, Russia, Soviet Union, downed American Lockheed U-2 known as U-2 aviator e.g pilot Francis Gary Powers is sentenced to ten years imprisonment by the Soviet Union for espionage.
19th » List of spacecraft called Sputnik Sputnik program: 'Korabl-Sputnik 2': The Soviet Union launches the satellite with the dogs Soviet space dogs Belka and Strelka Belka and Strelka, 40 mouse mice, two rats and a variety of plants.
Day of Week 20th » Senegal breaks from the Mali Federation, declaring its independence.
Famous Birthdays on August in 1960
1st » Chuck D, American rapper and producer (Public Enemy (group) or Public Enemy, The Bomb Squad, and Confrontation Camp)
1st » Suzi Gardner, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (L7 (band) named L7)
1st » Professor Griff, American rapper (Public Enemy (group) called Public Enemy and Confrontation Camp)
13th » Phil Taylor (darts player) known as Phil Taylor, English darts player
14th » Sarah Brightman, English singer-songwriter and actress
14th » Sharon Bryant, American singer (Atlantic Starr)
14th » Cecilia Gasdia, Italian soprano and actress
14th » Stet Howland, American drummer and songwriter (Killing Machine (band) called Killing Machine, W.A.S.P., Blackfoot (band) or Blackfoot, and Impellitteri)
14th » Fred Roberts, American basketball player
16th » Timothy Hutton, American actor and director
16th » Franz Welser-Möst, Austrian-American conductor
17th » Stephan Eicher, Swiss singer-songwriter (Grauzone)
29th » Tony MacAlpine, American guitarist, songwriter, and producer (Planet X (band) Planet X, CAB (band) CAB, Ring of Fire (band) Ring of Fire, and Seven the Hardway)