August 6 in History

43 events 686 – 2015

August 6 spans 43 recorded events across recorded history — from 686 – 2015. Below is a curated digest of the most significant moments tied to this date.

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NASA's Curiosity rover lands on the surface of Mars.

2012 — NASA's Curiosity rover lands on the surface of Mars

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Curiosity is a car-sized rover that weighs approximately 900 kilograms.

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The Mars Science Laboratory mission was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on November 26, 2011.

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Gale crater, where Curiosity landed, is approximately 154 kilometers in diameter and holds a mountain named Mount Sharp.

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NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, is responsible for managing the Curiosity rover's operations.

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The rover's original two-year mission was extended indefinitely due to its significant discoveries and continued operational capacity.


The Ummayad forces suffer a decisive defeat against the pro-Alid forces under Ibrahim ibn al-Ashtar in the battle of Khazir.
Second Islamic caliphate (661–750)
The Umayyad Caliphate or the Umayyad Empire was the second caliphate established after the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and was ruled by the Umayyad dynasty from 661 to 750. It succeeded the Rashidun Caliphate, of which the third caliph, Uthman ibn Affan, was also a member of the Umayyad clan. The Umayyad family established hereditary rule under Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan, the long-time governor of Greater Syria, who became caliph after emerging victorious in the First Fitna following the assassination of Ali in 661. Syria remained the Umayyads' core power base thereafter, with Damascus as their capital. After Mu'awiya's death in 680, Umayyad authority was challenged in the Second Fitna, during which the Sufyanid line was replaced in 684 by Marwan ibn al-Hakam, who founded the Marwanid line that restored Umayyad rule over the Caliphate.
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686
The Republic of Pisa is defeated in the Battle of Meloria by the Republic of Genoa, thus losing its naval dominance in the Mediterranean.
Italian maritime republic (c. 1000–1406)
The Republic of Pisa was an independent state existing from the 11th to the 15th century, centered on the Tuscan city of Pisa. It rose to become an economic powerhouse, a commercial center whose merchants dominated Mediterranean and Italian trade for a century, before being surpassed and superseded by the Republic of Genoa.
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1284
Bogotá, Colombia, is founded by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada.
Capital and largest city of Colombia
Bogotá is the capital and largest city of Colombia. The city is administered as the Capital District, as well as the capital of, though not politically part of, the surrounding department of Cundinamarca. Bogotá is a territorial entity of the first order, with the same administrative status as the departments of Colombia. It is the main political, economic, administrative, industrial, cultural, aeronautical, technological, scientific, medical, educational and airport center of the country and northern South America.
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1538
Toyotomi Hideyoshi is officially appointed kampaku (Imperial Regent).
Military ruler of Japan from 1585 to 1598
Toyotomi Hideyoshi , otherwise known as Kinoshita Tōkichirō and Hashiba Hideyoshi , was a Japanese samurai and daimyō of the late Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods and regarded as the second "Great Unifier" of Japan. Although he came from a peasant background, he rose to become the most powerful man in Japan, earning the rank and title of Kampaku and Daijō-daijin , the highest official position and title in the nobility class. He was the first person in history to become a Kampaku who was not born a noble. He then passed the position and title of Kampaku to his nephew, Toyotomi Hidetsugu. He remained in power as Taikō (太閤), the title of a retired Kampaku, until his death.
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1585
The Treaty of The Hague is signed by Portugal and the Dutch Republic.
Treaty between the Netherlands and Portugal
The Treaty of The Hague was signed on 6 August 1661 between representatives of the Dutch Republic and Portugal. Based on the terms of the treaty, the Dutch Republic recognized Portuguese sovereignty over New Holland in exchange for an indemnity of 4 million reis, conversion from 2 million caroli guilders, over the span of 16 years.
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1661
American Revolutionary War: The bloody Battle of Oriskany prevents American relief of the Siege of Fort Stanwix.
1775–1783 conflict in North America
The American Revolutionary War, also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which American Patriot forces organized as the Continental Army and commanded by George Washington defeated the British Army. The conflict was fought in North America, the Caribbean, and the Atlantic Ocean. The war's outcome seemed uncertain for most of the war, but Washington and the Continental Army's decisive victory in the Siege of Yorktown in 1781 led King George III and the Kingdom of Great Britain to negotiate an end to the war. In 1783, in the Treaty of Paris, the British monarchy acknowledged the independence of the Thirteen Colonies, leading to the establishment of the United States as an independent and sovereign nation.
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1777
Sixty proof sheets of the Constitution of the United States are delivered to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Supreme law of the United States
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. Originally including seven articles, the Constitution defined the foundational structure of the federal government.
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1787
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor, declares the moribund empire to be dissolved, although he retains power in the Austrian Empire.
Habsburg monarch from 1792 to 1835
Francis II and I was the last Holy Roman Emperor as Francis II from 1792 to 1806, and the first Emperor of Austria as Francis I from 1804 to 1835. He was also King of Germany, Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia, and served as the first president of the German Confederation following its establishment in 1815.
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1806
Norwich University is founded in Vermont as the first private military school in the United States.
Military college in Northfield, Vermont, US
Norwich University is a private university in Northfield, Vermont, United States. The university was founded in 1819 as the "American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy". It is the oldest of six senior military colleges and is recognized by the United States Department of Defense as the "Birthplace of ROTC".
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1819
Peruvian War of Independence: Patriot forces led by Simón Bolívar defeat the Spanish Royalist army in the Battle of Junín.
1809–1826 war against Spanish rule
The Peruvian War of Independence was a series of military conflicts in Peru from 1809 to 1826 that resulted in the country's independence from the Spanish Empire. Part of the broader Spanish American wars of independence, it led to the dissolution of the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru.
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1824
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Born on August 6

20 people 1979 – 2004
Takhmina Ikromova
Takhmina Ikromova
Uzbekistani rhythmic gymnast
Takhmina Ikromova is an Uzbekistani rhythmic gymnast. She is the 2022 Asian Games all-around and team gold medalist, a three-time Asian all-around champion and the 2025 World University Games all-around silver medalist.
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2004
Nessa Barrett
Nessa Barrett
American singer-songwriter
Janesa Jaida "Nessa" Barrett is an American singer-songwriter and social media personality. She rose to prominence on TikTok and began uploading covers as a teenager, which led her to sign a recording contract with…
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2002
Hunter Greene
Hunter Greene
American baseball player
Christian Hunter Greene is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Reds selected him second overall in the 2017 MLB draft.
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1999
Rebeka Masarova
Rebeka Masarova
Spanish-Swiss tennis player
Rebeka Masarova is a Swiss professional tennis player. She has career-high WTA rankings of No. 62 in singles and No. 125 in doubles, achieved in 2023. Masarova won the juniors' 2016 French Open.
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1999
Rebecca Peterson
Rebecca Peterson
Swedish tennis player
Rebecca Peterson is a Swedish inactive professional tennis player. She has been ranked as high as world No. 43 in singles and No. 87 in doubles by the WTA.
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1995
Wilmer Flores
Wilmer Flores
Venezuelan baseball player
Wilmer Alejandro Flores Garcia, nicknamed "Catire", is a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder for the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York…
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1991
Jiao Liuyang
Chinese swimmer
Jiao Liuyang is a retired Chinese swimmer who won the 200 m butterfly at the 2012 Olympics, and formerly held the world record in the 4×100 m medley relay.
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1991
Leanne Crichton
Leanne Crichton
Scottish footballer
Leanne Crichton is a former Scottish professional football player who currently manages Rangers and works as a media pundit for BBC Scotland.
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1987
Raphael Pyrasch
Raphael Pyrasch
German rugby player
Rafael Pyrasch is a German international rugby union player, playing for the Heidelberger RK in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team.
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1986
Mickaël Delage
Mickaël Delage
French cyclist
Mickaël Delage is a French former professional road and track cyclist, who last rode for UCI WorldTeam Groupama–FDJ.
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1985
Bafétimbi Gomis
Bafétimbi Gomis
French footballer
Bafétimbi Gomis is a French former professional footballer who played as a striker. He's the third fastest hat-trick scorer in UEFA Champions League history, as of December 2025.
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1985
Garrett Weber-Gale
Garrett Weber-Gale
American swimmer
Garrett Weber-Gale is an American competition swimmer, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and world record-holder in two events.
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1985
Vedad Ibišević
Vedad Ibišević
Bosnian footballer
Vedad Ibišević is a Bosnian professional football coach and former player who played as a forward.
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1984
Maja Ognjenović
Maja Ognjenović
Serbian volleyball player
Maja Ognjenović is a Serbian professional volleyball player of the Serbia women's national volleyball team and a two-time Olympic medalist. She is a five-time Olympian at the setter position. Ognjenović won gold with…
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1984
Jesse Ryder
New Zealand cricketer
Jesse Daniel Ryder is a former international New Zealand cricketer, who played all forms of the game. He was primarily a middle-order batsman for Tests and an opening batsman in ODIs. Ryder also bowled useful…
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1984
Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie
Dutch footballer
Robin van Persie is a Dutch football coach and former professional footballer who is the head coach of Eredivisie club Feyenoord. He is regarded as one of the best strikers of his generation and was known for his…
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1983
Leslie Odom Jr.
Leslie Odom Jr.
American actor and singer
Leslie Lloyd Odom Jr. is an American actor, singer and songwriter. He made his acting debut on Broadway in 1998 and first gained recognition for his portrayal of Aaron Burr in the musical Hamilton, which earned him a…
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1981
Diána Póth
Diána Póth
Hungarian figure skater
Diána Póth is a Hungarian former competitive figure skater. She is a two-time Karl Schäfer Memorial silver medalist and a two-time Hungarian national champion. She also competed briefly for Austria.
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1981
Francesco Bellotti
Francesco Bellotti
Italian cyclist
Francesco Bellotti is an Italian former professional road bicycle racer, who last rode for UCI ProTour team Liquigas–Cannondale.
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1979
Jaime Correa
Jaime Correa
Mexican footballer
Jaime Correa Córdova also known as "El Alacran" or "El Motor", is a Mexican former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He made his debut for the Mexico national team in the 2007 Copa América against…
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1979
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Died on August 6

20 people 2012 – 2024
Billy Bean
Billy Bean
American baseball player (born 1964)
William Daro Bean was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder for the Detroit Tigers (1987–1989), Los Angeles Dodgers (1989), and San Diego Padres (1993–1995),…
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2024
Connie Chiume
Connie Chiume
South African actress and filmmaker (born 1952)
Connie Temweka Gabisile Chiume was a South African actress and filmmaker. She was known for her film roles in Black Panther, Black Is King and Blessers. On television, she appeared in S'gudi S'nyasi, Yizo Yizo 2, Zone…
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2024
James Bjorken
James Bjorken
American theoretical physicist (born 1934)
James Daniel "BJ" Bjorken was an American theoretical physicist. He was a Putnam Fellow in 1954, received a BS in physics from MIT in 1956, and obtained his PhD from Stanford University in 1959. Bjorken was a visiting…
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2024
Vern Rumsey
Vern Rumsey
American bass guitarist (born 1973)
Vernon Emmry Aldo Rumsey was an American musician. He is best known for his work as the bassist of the post-hardcore band Unwound, in which he was a co-founding member. He was also in the bands Long Hind Legs, Oslo,…
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2020
Joël Robuchon
Joël Robuchon
French Chef (born 1945)
Joël Robuchon was a French chef and restaurateur. He was named "Chef of the Century" by the guide Gault Millau in 1989, and awarded the Meilleur Ouvrier de France in cuisine in 1976. He published several cookbooks, two…
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2018
Margaret Heckler
Margaret Heckler
American politician (born 1931)
Margaret Mary Heckler was an American politician and diplomat who represented Massachusetts's 10th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1967 until 1983. A member of the Republican…
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2018
Anya Krugovoy Silver
American poet (born 1968)
Anya Krugovoy Silver was an American poet. She won a Guggenheim fellowship, and a Georgia Author of the Year Award.
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2018
Betty Cuthbert
Betty Cuthbert
Australian sprinter (born 1938)
Elizabeth Alyse Cuthbert, was an Australian athlete and a four-time Olympic champion. She was nicknamed Australia's "Golden Girl". During her career, she set world records for 60 metres, 100 yards, 200 metres, 220 yards…
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2017
Darren Daulton
Darren Daulton
American baseball player (born 1962)
Darren Arthur Daulton, nicknamed "Dutch", was an American professional baseball catcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies and Florida Marlins (1997). While with the Phillies,…
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2017
Ray Hill
American football player (born 1975)
Raymond Millous Hill was a college and professional American football player. He was a defensive back at Michigan State, and played four seasons in the National Football League (NFL), splitting three seasons between the…
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2015
Orna Porat
Orna Porat
German-Israeli actress (born 1924)
Orna Porat was a German-born Israeli theater actress.
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2015
Ralph Bryans
Ralph Bryans
Northern Irish motorcycle racer (born 1941)
Ralph Bryans was a Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from Northern Ireland. Bryans was Ireland's only Grand Prix world champion, winning the 50 cc title in 1965.
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2014
Ananda W.P. Guruge
Ananda W.P. Guruge
Sri Lankan scholar and diplomat (born 1928)
Ananda Wahihana Palliya Guruge, known as Ananda W. P. Guruge, was a Sri Lankan diplomat, Buddhist scholar and writer. Guruge was the former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sri Lanka to UNESCO, France,…
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2014
John Woodland Hastings
John Woodland Hastings
American biochemist and academic (born 1927)
John Woodland "Woody" Hastings, was a leader in the field of photobiology, especially bioluminescence, and was one of the founders of the field of circadian biology. He was the Paul C. Mangelsdorf Professor of Natural…
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2014
Stan Lynde
Stan Lynde
American author and illustrator (born 1931)
Myron Stanford Lynde was an American comic strip artist, painter and novelist.
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2013
Mava Lee Thomas
Mava Lee Thomas
American baseball player (born 1929)
Mava Lee Thomas [′′Tommie′′] was an infielder and catcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). She was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed.
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2013
Jerry Wolman
Jerry Wolman
American businessman (born 1927)
Jerry Wolman was an American developer in Washington, D.C. and owned the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League in the 1960s.
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2013
Richard Cragun
Richard Cragun
American-Brazilian ballet dancer and choreographer (born 1944)
Richard Cragun was an American ballet dancer, teacher and ballet director who performed with the Stuttgart Ballet in Germany from 1965 to 1996.
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2012
Marvin Hamlisch
Marvin Hamlisch
American pianist, composer, and conductor (born 1944)
Marvin Frederick Hamlisch was an American composer and conductor. He is one of a handful of people to win Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards, a feat dubbed the "EGOT". He and composer Richard Rodgers are the only…
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2012
Robert Hughes
Robert Hughes
Australian-American author and critic (born 1938)
Robert Studley Forrest Hughes was an Australian-born art critic, writer, and producer of television documentaries. He was described in 1997 by Robert Boynton of The New York Times as "the most famous art critic in the…
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2012
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Related questions

More questions about August 6

What happened on August 6?

A featured event on this date is 2012: NASA's Curiosity rover lands on the surface of Mars. This page also lists 43 events from other years on the same day.

Why is August 6 remembered in history?

August 6 brings together events, births, and deaths across many eras, which makes it useful for seeing how one calendar date connects different historical turning points.

Who was born on August 6?

Notable birthdays on this date include Takhmina Ikromova, Nessa Barrett, Hunter Greene.

See birthdays

Who died on August 6?

Notable deaths on this date include Billy Bean, Connie Chiume, James Bjorken.

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Short answer

What happened on August 6 in history?

On August 6, one notable event in history was 2012: NASA's Curiosity rover lands on the surface of Mars..

This date currently highlights 43 recorded events on thisDay.info, spanning 686 – 2015.

DateAugust 6
Featured year2012
LocationHistorical Location
Events listed43

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