August 4, 1810 – Abolitionist Robert Purvis born.
August 5, 1962 – Nelson Mandela, South African freedom fighter, imprisoned. He was not released until 1990.
August 6, 1867 – Actor Ira Aldridge dies and is buried in Lodz, Poland.
August 7, 1894 – Joseph Lee patents kneading machine.
August 8, 1865 – Polar explorer Matthew Henson born.
August 9, 1936 – Jesse Owens wins fourth gold medal at Summer Olympics in Berlin.
August 10, 1989 – General Colin Powell is nominated chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, the African American to hold the post.
