Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
August 3 Monday, August 3, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on August 3 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
5
Holidays
1678
US history 348 years ago
Robert LaSalle builds the Le Griffon, the first known ship built on the Great Lakes.
French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, begins construction of Le Griffon, the first full-sized sailing ship built above Niagara Falls.
History
What happened on August 3
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 8World history
Roman Empire general Tiberius defeats the Dalmatae on the river Bosna.
Tiberius defeats the Dalmatae in battle along the river Bosna.
- 435Religion
Deposed Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Nestorius, considered the originator of Nestorianism, is exiled by Roman Emperor Theodosius II to a monastery in Egypt.
Nestorius, deposed Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and founder of Nestorianism, is exiled by Roman Emperor Theodosius II to a monastery in Egypt.
- 881European history
Battle of Saucourt-en-Vimeu: Louis III of France defeats the Vikings, an event celebrated in the poem Ludwigslied.
Louis III of France defeats the Viking forces at Saucourt-en-Vimeu, an event commemorated in the poem Ludwigslied.
- 908European history
Battle of Eisenach: An invading Hungarian force defeats an East Frankish army under Duke Burchard of Thuringia.
A Hungarian force led by King Saint Stephen defeats the East Frankish army commanded by Duke Burchard of Thuringia in Eisenach.
- 1031Religion
Olaf II of Norway is canonized as Saint Olaf by Grimketel, the English Bishop of Selsey.
Olaf II of Norway is canonized as Saint Olaf by Grimketel, the English Bishop of Selsey.
- 1057Religion
Frederick of Lorraine elected as Pope Stephen IX.
Frederick of Lorraine is elected Pope and takes the name Stephen IX.
- 1342War
The Siege of Algeciras commences during the Spanish Reconquista.
Christian forces under Alfonso XI of Castile begin the siege of Algeciras, a strategic Muslim-held port controlling access to the Strait of Gibraltar.
- 1492World history
Christopher Columbus sets sail from Palos de la Frontera, Spain.
Christopher Columbus embarks on his voyage to find a new route to Asia, setting sail from Palos de la Frontera.
- 1527US history
The first known letter from North America is sent by John Rut while at St. John's, Newfoundland.
John Rut sends the first known letter from North America while in St. John's, Newfoundland.
- 1645War
Thirty Years' War: The Second Battle of Nördlingen sees French forces defeating those of the Holy Roman Empire.
French forces defeat those of the Holy Roman Empire in the Second Battle of Nördlingen.
- 1678US history
Robert LaSalle builds the Le Griffon, the first known ship built on the Great Lakes.
French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, begins construction of Le Griffon, the first full-sized sailing ship built above Niagara Falls.
- 1795US history
Treaty of Greenville is signed, ending the Northwest Indian War in the Ohio Country.
The Treaty of Greenville ends the Northwest Indian War, ceding much of present-day Ohio to the United States.
Born today
Famous birthdays on August 3
7 this date All birthdays
Hamilton Fish
American lawyer and politician, 26th United States Secretary of State
Hamilton Fish, the American statesman who served as governor of New York, U.S. senator, and Secretary of State under President Ulysses S. Grant from 1869 to 1877, was born in 1808.
Born
1808
Died
1893
Vernon Louis Parrington
American historian and scholar
1871 – 1929
Ernie Pyle
American soldier and journalist
1900 – 1945
Jo Marie Payton
American actress and singer
b. 1950 · 76
Marcel Dionne
Canadian ice hockey player
b. 1951 · 75
Nate McMillan
American basketball player and coach
b. 1964 · 62
Eric Esch
American wrestler, boxer, and mixed martial artist
b. 1966 · 60
Music
The number one songs on August 3
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on August 3, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport August 3, 1936
Jesse Owens wins the 100 metre dash, defeating Ralph Metcalfe, at the Berlin Olympics.
Jesse Owens wins the 100-metre dash, outpacing Ralph Metcalfe and stunning Adolf Hitler's Germany.
Read the story
🔬 Science August 3, 1995
Java 1.0 is unveiled
Sun Microsystems releases a programming language that will become the backbone of enterprise computing and Android.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
5 celebrated today
Anniversary of the Killing of Pidjiguiti (Guinea-Bissau)
International
The Pidjiguiti massacre was an incident that took place on 3 August 1959 at the Port of Bissau's Pijiguiti docks in Bissau, Portuguese Guinea
Armed Forces Day (Equatorial Guinea)
International
This is a list of holidays in Equatorial Guinea
Flag Day (Venezuela)
International
The table below shows a list of the most notable holidays in Venezuela
Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Niger from France in 1960. Arbor Day (Niger)
International
Arbor Day is a secular day of observance in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant trees
National Guard Day (Venezuela)
International
An Armed Forces Day, alongside its branch-specific variants often referred to as Army or Soldier's Day, Navy or Sailor's Day, and Air Force or Aviator's Day, is a holiday dedicated to honoring the arm