August 13: Holidays, Historical Events, Famous Birthdays & Zodiac Sign
Left-handers worldwide finally get their due on August 13, a date that also saw the Central African Republic break free from French colonial rule in 1960.
About August 13
August 13 is a day for celebrating the unconventional. International Lefthanders Day spotlights the roughly ten percent of humanity that navigates a right-handed world, while also marking the 1960 independence of the Central African Republic from France. Meanwhile, Tunisians observe Women's Day, commemorating the 1956 enactment of the Code of Personal Status—a landmark legal reform that advanced women's rights in North Africa.
History has repeatedly tested human resolve on this date. The Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan fell to Hernán Cortés in 1521, reshaping the Americas forever. In 1704, the Battle of Blenheim saw English and Imperial forces crush the French and Bavarians, shifting the balance of European power. And in 1961, East Germany began sealing off Berlin with barbed wire on what became known as Barbed Wire Sunday.
August 13 also marks moments of breakthrough. Harry Brearley produced the first stainless steel in Sheffield in 1913, revolutionizing manufacturing. Wagner's Das Rheingold inaugurated the first Bayreuth Festival in 1876. And Opha May Johnson became the first woman to enlist in the United States Marine Corps in 1918.
Holidays & Observances on August 13
- Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Central African Republic from France in 1960.
- International Lefthanders Day (International)
- Women's Day, commemorates the enaction of Tunisian Code of Personal Status in 1956. (Tunisia)
- World Organ Donation Day
Fun & National Days on August 13
- National Filet Mignon Day — Fire up the grill or treat yourself to a steakhouse dinner in honor of this premium cut of beef.
- National Prosecco Day — Pop open a bubbly bottle of Italian sparkling wine and toast the lazy days of summer.
On This Day in History
- 1521 — After a prolonged siege, Hernán Cortés captured Cuauhtémoc and brought the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan under Spanish control, ending an empire.
- 1624 — King Louis XIII of France appointed Cardinal Richelieu as prime minister, beginning an era of centralized royal power that would transform France.
- 1704 — At the Battle of Blenheim during the War of the Spanish Succession, English and Imperial forces dealt a crushing defeat to French and Bavarian troops.
- 1876 — A performance of Wagner's Das Rheingold opened the first complete Ring cycle at the inaugural Bayreuth Festival, a milestone in opera history.
- 1889 — William Gray of Hartford, Connecticut, received a U.S. patent for coin-operated telephone apparatus, paving the way for public pay phones.
- 1898 — German astronomer Carl Gustav Witt discovered 433 Eros, the first near-Earth asteroid ever identified, opening a new chapter in planetary science.
- 1913 — Harry Brearley achieved the first production of stainless steel in the United Kingdom, introducing a corrosion-resistant alloy that would reshape industry.
- 1918 — Opha May Johnson became the first woman to enlist in the United States Marine Corps, breaking a centuries-old gender barrier in the armed forces.
- 1918 — Bayerische Motoren Werke AG was established as a public company in Germany, laying the foundation for the global automotive and engineering giant BMW.
- 1960 — The Central African Republic formally declared independence from France, joining the wave of African nations gaining sovereignty that year.
- 1961 — East Germany closed the border across Berlin and began constructing what became the Berlin Wall—known to many as Barbed Wire Sunday.
- 2020 — Israel and the United Arab Emirates formally established diplomatic relations in a landmark agreement reshaping politics in the Middle East.
Famous Birthdays on August 13
- 1567 — Samuel de Champlain, French explorer and cartographer who founded Quebec and is remembered as the Father of New France.
- 1818 — Lucy Stone, American abolitionist and suffragist who kept her maiden name after marriage and helped organize the women's rights movement.
- 1860 — Annie Oakley, Legendary American sharpshooter whose feats in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show made her an international sensation.
- 1899 — Alfred Hitchcock, English-American filmmaker whose suspenseful thrillers like Psycho and Vertigo redefined the language of cinema.
- 1926 — Fidel Castro, Cuban revolutionary and president who led his country for nearly five decades and defied the United States throughout the Cold War.
- 1946 — Janet Yellen, American economist who made history as the first woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.
- 1982 — Sebastian Stan, Romanian-American actor recognized globally for portraying Bucky Barnes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
- 1990 — DeMarcus Cousins, Dominant American basketball center who earned multiple NBA All-Star selections with his powerful inside play.