FRIDAY, Aug. 7, 2026
Summary
FRIDAY, Aug. 7, 2026 recalls several historical events, including the 1461 coup by Ming Dynasty general Cao Qin against the Tianshun Emperor and the 1714 Battle of Gangut, Russia’s first major naval victory over Sweden. It also marks George Washington’s 1782 creation of two Honorary Badges of Distinction and a Badge of Military Merit, the 1933 Simele killings of more than 3,000 Assyrians, and the 1990 start of Operation Desert Shield with U.S. troop deployment to Saudi Arabia.
Key Facts
- The 1461 entry says Ming Dynasty Chinese military general Cao Qin staged a coup against the Tianshun Emperor.
- The 1714 entry identifies the Battle of Gangut as the Russian Navy’s first major victory during the Great Northern War against Sweden.
- The 1782 entry says George Washington created two Honorary Badges of Distinction and a Badge of Military Merit, now the Purple Heart.
- The 1933 entry says Iraqi government forces slaughtered over 3,000 Assyrians in the village of Simele in northern Iraq, and the event is commemorated as Assyrian Martyrs Day.
- The 1990 entry says the U.S. deployed troops to Saudi Arabia, beginning Operation Desert Shield.
1461-Ming Dynasty Chinese military general Cao Qin stages a coup against the Tianshun Emperor
1714-Battle of Gangut: Russian Navy wins its first major victory during the Great Northern War against Sweden
1782-Commander of the Continental Army, George Washington, creates two Honorary Badges of Distinction and a Badge of Military Merit (now the Purple Heart). First time military awards are presented to common soldiers.
1933-Iraqi government forces slaughter over 3,000 Assyrians in the village of Simele in northern Iraq, commemorated as Assyrian Martyrs Day
1955-Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering, the precursor to Sony, begins selling its first transistor radios in Japan
1990-U.S. deploys troops to Saudi Arabia, beginning Operation Desert Shield
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