What major historical events are listed for Aug. 11 in this Today in History entry?

The entry lists events from 1121, 1480, 1851, 1908, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1988, and 2004. They include military victories, a patent, a peace treaty, book burnings, a computer launch, medical treatment, and a change of government.

What happened in the 1981 IBM PC milestone mentioned for Aug. 11?

Don Estridge unveiled IBM’s first personal computer at New York’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The machine was priced at $1,565 and had 16 kilobytes of RAM, and the entry says it helped bring computing to the masses.

Who succeeded Goh Chok Tong as prime minister of Singapore in the 2004 entry?

Lee Hsien Loong succeeded Goh Chok Tong as prime minister of Singapore. The entry gives that succession as the historical event for 2004.

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2026

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Summary

Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, includes historical events ranging from the Battle of Didgori in 1121 to the signing of a China-Japan peace treaty in 1978. The list also notes Isaac Singer’s 1851 sewing machine patent, Ford’s first Model T in 1908, and the IBM PC debut in 1981. Other entries mention Nelson Mandela’s tuberculosis treatment in 1988 and Lee Hsien Loong becoming Singapore’s prime minister in 2004.

Key Facts

The Battle of Didgori took place in 1121, when the Georgian army under King David the Builder defeated Seljuk commander Ilghazi.
In 1480, Ottoman troops conquered Otranto in southern Italy after a 15-day siege, according to the entry.
In 1981, Don Estridge unveiled IBM’s first personal computer at New York’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel, where it was priced at $1,565 and came with 16 kilobytes of RAM.
The 1978 entry says China and Japan signed a peace treaty.
The 2004 entry says Lee Hsien Loong succeeded Goh Chok Tong as prime minister of Singapore.

Published Aug 11, 2026 11:10 am KST

1121-Battle of Didgori: Georgian army under King David the Builder wins a decisive victory over the renowned Seljuk commander Ilghazi

1480-Ottoman troops conquer Otranto in southern Italy after a 15-day siege, killing 12,000, enslaving 5,000, and beheading 800 Christians for refusing to convert to Islam

1851-American inventor Isaac Singer patents his famous sewing machine

1908-Ford Motor Company builds its first Model T car, which Henry Ford himself tests on a hunting trip to Wisconsin and northern Michigan

1978-China and Japan sign a peace treaty

1979- Iranian press censors start massive book burnings

1981-Don Estridge unveils the company's first personal computer, the IBM PC, at New York’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel, priced at $1,565 with 16 kilobytes of RAM, helping bring computing to the masses

1988-Nelson Mandela is treated for tuberculosis at a Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa

2004-Lee Hsien Loong succeeds Goh Chok Tong as Prime Minister of Singapore

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