Major Events of August 1959: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from August 1959 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of August 1959: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Aug 1959 Georges Vanier Appointed Governor-General of Canada: Georges Vanier was asked to serve as Governor-General of Canada, making history as the first French Canadian and only the second native Canadian to hold this prestigious viceregal position.
02 Aug 1959 Willie McCovey Hits First Major League Home Run: San Francisco Giants first baseman Willie McCovey launched the first of his legendary 521 career home runs, marking the beginning of what would become an illustrious baseball career.
03 Aug 1959 PIDE Massacre in Portuguese Guinea: Portugal's state police force PIDE violently suppressed a workers' strike in Bissau, Portuguese Guinea, resulting in the tragic deaths of over 50 workers, highlighting the brutal colonial-era repression.
04 Aug 1959 Explorer 6 Satellite Launch: The United States successfully launched Explorer 6, part of the Explorer program, from the Atlantic Missile Range in Cape Canaveral, Florida. This satellite mission was crucial in advancing space exploration and scientific understanding of Earth's environment and space conditions.
05 Aug 1959 U.S. National Security Policy Modification: President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved a significant modification to America's Basic National Security Policy on August 5, 1959. The new policy authorized the potential use of chemical and biological weapons to enhance military effectiveness, with the final decision reserved exclusively for the President. This policy change reflected the complex geopolitical tensions of the Cold War era.
06 Aug 1959 U.S. National Security Policy Update on Chemical and Biological Weapons: President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved a significant modification to the United States' Basic National Security Policy, authorizing the potential use of chemical and biological weapons to enhance military effectiveness. The policy explicitly reserved the final decision on such weapon deployment to the President's discretion, reflecting the strategic military thinking of the Cold War era.
07 Aug 1959 First Earth Television Photo from Space: Explorer 6 made history by transmitting the first television photograph of Earth from space, providing unprecedented visual documentation of our planet from beyond its atmosphere.
08 Aug 1959 Devastating Typhoon Ellen Floods Taiwan: On August 8, 1959, Typhoon Ellen caused catastrophic flooding in Taiwan, resulting in the tragic loss of over 2,000 lives. The natural disaster devastated local communities, causing widespread destruction and significant humanitarian challenges.
09 Aug 1959 SM-65 Atlas ICBM Becomes Operational: The United States officially declared the SM-65 Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) operational, marking a significant milestone in Cold War-era military technology. With an impressive range of 4,350 kilometers (2,700 miles), the Atlas represented a major leap in strategic nuclear deterrence capabilities. This development signaled the United States' growing technological prowess in long-range missile technology and dramatically shifted the global strategic balance during the height of the Cold War.
10 Aug 1959 The Platters Band Members Arrested in Cincinnati: In a significant scandal involving the popular vocal group The Platters, four of the five band members were arrested in Cincinnati on charges of soliciting prostitutes and drug possession. This incident occurred during the height of the group's musical success, just months after their chart-topping hit 'Smoke Gets in Your Eyes' had reached No. 1 on the music charts. The arrest highlighted the personal struggles and legal challenges faced by some prominent musicians during the late 1950s.
11 Aug 1959 Sheremetyevo International Airport Inauguration: Sheremetyevo International Airport, now the second-largest airport in Russia, was officially opened. Located near Moscow, this airport would become a critical transportation hub for the Soviet Union and later the Russian Federation, serving millions of passengers annually and playing a significant role in international and domestic air travel.
12 Aug 1959 First Polaris Missile Ship-Firing Test: On August 12, 1959, the United States Navy successfully conducted the first ship-firing test of a Polaris submarine-launched ballistic missile from the USS Observation Island. This milestone represented a significant advancement in naval nuclear weapons technology during the Cold War era, demonstrating the capability to launch nuclear missiles from submarines, which provided a strategic deterrence capability.
13 Aug 1959 Discoverer 5 Military Satellite Launch: The United States launched the Discoverer 5 military reconnaissance satellite into a polar orbit, marking a significant milestone in early satellite reconnaissance technology. This mission was part of the Corona satellite program, which was a critical Cold War-era intelligence gathering initiative designed to provide aerial imagery of strategic locations.
14 Aug 1959 First Earth Orbital Image: Explorer 6 satellite captures and transmits the first photograph of Earth from space, a groundbreaking moment in space exploration and imaging technology.
15 Aug 1959 Miles Davis Releases 'Kind of Blue': Columbia Records released Miles Davis' seminal jazz album 'Kind of Blue' on August 15, 1959. Widely considered one of the most influential jazz recordings of all time, the album featured groundbreaking modal jazz techniques and included legendary musicians like John Coltrane and Bill Evans.
16 Aug 1959 Notable Deaths and Births: On this day, several notable figures passed away or were commemorated: Blind Willie McTell, an influential blues and folk singer, died. Additionally, remembrances were held for Benny Fields, a singer born in 1894, and William Halsey Jr., a prominent U.S. vice-admiral who played a significant role in the Pacific War during World War II.
17 Aug 1959 Miles Davis Releases 'Kind of Blue': Miles Davis released 'Kind of Blue', widely considered the most acclaimed and best-selling jazz album of all time. This groundbreaking modal jazz recording would profoundly influence jazz music and popular culture for decades to come.
18 Aug 1959 Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Established: The Organization of American States (OAS) signed the 'Declaration of Santiago' during its Fifth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Chile, formally establishing the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. This landmark event represented a significant step towards regional human rights protection and cooperation among 21 member states.
19 Aug 1959 Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) Establishment: The Central Treaty Organization, a Cold War-era collective defense organization, was formally established to contain Soviet expansion in the Middle East region, involving countries like Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom.
20 Aug 1959 Belgium Reduces Military Service Duration: The Belgian government officially reduced mandatory military conscription from its previous length to 12 months, reflecting changing national defense strategies and resource allocation in the post-World War II era.
21 Aug 1959 Hawaii Becomes the 50th U.S. State: On August 21, 1959, United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed an executive order officially proclaiming Hawaii as the 50th state of the union. This historic moment marked the final expansion of the United States to its current configuration of 50 states. Hawaii's admission is commemorated annually on Hawaii Admission Day, celebrating the archipelago's integration into the United States after decades of territorial status.
22 Aug 1959 Founding of the American Football League: Lamar Hunt established the American Football League (AFL), a pivotal moment in professional football history that would eventually challenge and merge with the NFL, transforming the landscape of American sports.
23 Aug 1959 Beverly Hanson Triumphs at LPGA Spokane Golf Open: Professional golfer Beverly Hanson secured victory at the LPGA Spokane Golf Open on August 23, 1959, demonstrating her skill and prowess in women's professional golf during a period of significant growth for the sport. Her win contributed to the increasing visibility and recognition of women athletes in competitive golf during the late 1950s.
24 Aug 1959 Cyprus Joins the United Nations: Cyprus officially becomes a member of the United Nations, marking its international recognition as a sovereign state following its independence from British colonial rule.
25 Aug 1959 First Border Clash Between India and China: On August 25, 1959, a significant geopolitical incident occurred when Indian and Chinese troops engaged in their first direct military confrontation at Longju, located in the disputed Himalayan border region. A squad of Indian troops fired across the border, marking the initial armed interaction in what would become a long-standing territorial dispute between the two nations. This event was an early indicator of the rising tensions between India and China, which would eventually escalate into the Sino-Indian War of 1962.
26 Aug 1959 Launch of the Original Mini by British Motor Corporation: On August 26, 1959, the revolutionary Mini automobile, designed by the brilliant automotive engineer Sir Alec Issigonis, was officially launched. This compact car would go on to become an iconic symbol of British automotive design, featuring a groundbreaking front-wheel-drive layout and transverse engine placement that maximized interior space while maintaining a small external footprint. The Mini quickly became a cultural phenomenon, representing innovation, affordability, and style in the automotive industry.
27 Aug 1959 Birth of Gerhard Berger: Gerhard Berger, a renowned Austrian Formula One race car driver, was born on August 27, 1959, in Austria. He became a notable competitor in international motorsports, driving for teams like Ferrari and McLaren during his successful racing career in the 1980s and 1990s.
28 Aug 1959 Indonesia's Currency Redenomination: Indonesia implemented a major currency reform, replacing 1,000 old Indonesian rupiahs with 100 'new' rupiahs to combat severe hyperinflation. This monetary policy was designed to stabilize the national economy and restore confidence in the Indonesian currency.
29 Aug 1959 Timothy Shriver: Special Olympics Founder and Disability Rights Advocate: Timothy Perry Shriver was born into the prominent Kennedy family and became a pivotal figure in disability rights advocacy. As the chairman of the Special Olympics, he significantly expanded the organization's global reach and worked to promote inclusion and dignity for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Founded by his mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics has grown into an international movement that provides athletic opportunities and challenges societal perceptions about disability.
30 Aug 1959 South Vietnamese Legislative Election Controversy: In a significant political event, opposition figure Phan Quang Dan was elected to the South Vietnamese National Assembly, defying attempts by President Ngo Dinh Diem's regime to manipulate the electoral process. Despite soldiers being bussed in to vote for the government's preferred candidate, Dan's election represented a rare moment of democratic resistance in the politically turbulent landscape of South Vietnam during the late 1950s.
31 Aug 1959 Assassination Attempt on Cambodian King: A parcel bomb sent by Ngô Đình Nhu, younger brother and chief adviser of South Vietnamese President Ngô Đình Diệm, fails to kill King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia. This politically motivated assassination attempt highlights the complex and volatile diplomatic tensions in Southeast Asia during the late 1950s.