22 fun facts for August, 6

Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
Summary
August 6 marks numerous important historical events, including the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, Romania's first National Day celebration, and the birth of renowned scientist Sir Alexander Fleming. This day is also observed as the National Root Beer Float Day in the United States, and the day when the World Wide Web became accessible to the public.
22 Fun facts
  1. On August 6, 1806, the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved by Emperor Francis II, who then became Emperor Francis I of Austria. This marked the end of the Holy Roman Empire, which had lasted for more than a millennium.
  2. In 1813, the Battle of Scheugen Pass occurred on August 6, in which Austrian forces defeated the French army commanded by Napoleon Bonaparte's brother-in-law, Marshal Jean-Baptiste Jules Bernadotte. This helped to halt the French advance into Austria.
  3. On August 6, 1861, the first ever National Day in Romania was celebrated, marking the country's gains of independence and unity under Carol I of Romania. This celebration is now known as Romania's Great Union Day.
  4. Born on August 6, 1881, Scottish scientist Sir Alexander Fleming went on to discover the antibiotic penicillin in 1928, revolutionizing medical science and saving countless lives from bacterial infections.
  5. On August 6, 1914, Serbia and Austria-Hungary declared war on each other in the beginning stages of World War I. These declarations marked the escalation of conflict between the Central Powers and the Entente.
  6. The first traffic lights in the world turned on for the first time on August 6, 1914, at the corner of Euclid Avenue and East 105th Street in Cleveland, Ohio.
  7. On August 6, 1926, Gertrude Ederle of the United States became the first woman to swim across the English Channel, completing the journey in 14 hours and 39 minutes, while breaking the previous men's records.
  8. American tennis legend, Chris Evert was born on August 6, 1954, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She became the first female tennis player to win 1,000 singles matches, and she had won 18 Grand Slam singles titles throughout her career.
  9. Jamaica, located in the Caribbean Sea, gained its independence from the United Kingdom on August 6, 1962, and the day is celebrated as Jamaica's Independence Day.
  10. Bolivian President Evo Morales was born on October 26, 1959, but on August 6, 2006, he officially adopted the Bolivian flag, containing the Wiphala, as the country's second official flag, representing the Indigenous peoples.
  11. On August 6, 1988, the Tompkins Square Park Police Riot occurred in New York City when police and anti-gentrification protesters clashed in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan.
  12. The Japanese Peace Bell was dedicated at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City on August 6, 1954. The bell serves as a symbol of global peace and a reminder of the human cost of wars.
  13. On August 6, 1945, the atomic bomb "Little Boy" was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, effectively starting the Atomic Age.
  14. August 6 is National Root Beer Float Day in the United States, a day to celebrate the popular soda fountain treat made by combining root beer and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
  15. On August 6, 1415, the teacher, philosopher and theologian Jan Hus was executed, initiating the Hussite Revolution a year later.
  16. Scottish scientist Neil Bartlett was born on August 6, 1932. Bartlett is famous for demonstrating the reaction of xenon, a noble gas once believed to be unreactive, with platinum hexafluoride.
  17. Astrodon Johnstoni, a species of dinosaur found in the United States, was designated as the state dinosaur of Maryland on August 6, 1998.
  18. August 6 is also celebrated as National Wiggle Your Toes Day in the United States, a day to take off your shoes and socks to wiggle your toes freely and enjoy the sensation of the air.
  19. In 1965, on August 6, the iconic President of Indonesia, Sukarno, initiated the construction of the Monumen Nasional (also called MONAS), a symbol of independence for the nation.
  20. August 6 is celebrated as National Fresh Breath Day in the United States, a day to remind people of the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene to prevent bad breath.
  21. Born on August 6, 1976, Melissa George is an Australian-American actress who has appeared in several popular TV series, such as Alias, and the Australian soap opera Home and Away.
  22. On August 6, 1991, the World Wide Web became publicly available, revolutionizing how people around the world interact with information and each other.