August 2, 2026

Name day

Today's name day is:

Julian

Astrological sign: Leo (July 23 - August 22)

Festivals and international days on August 2:

• Republic Day of North Macedonia (Ilinden)

See also: August 1 - August 3 - All days of 2026

August 1-9: Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift

August 2, 1802: Following a plebiscite, Napoleon Bonaparte becomes consul for life, with three million votes in favor against only sixteen hundred opposed.

August 2, 1939: Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard send a letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States of America, urging him to launch the Manhattan Project and subsequently develop the nuclear weapon.

August 2, 1940: The military tribunal of Clermont-Ferrand sentences General de Gaulle to death in absentia, while also demoting him to the rank of colonel, forcing his retirement, stripping him of his French nationality and confiscating all his assets.

August 2, 1990: Iraq invades Kuwait, and the United States immediately freezes Iraqi assets. The same day, the United Nations Security Council demands the withdrawal of Iraqi forces. This marks the beginning of the first Gulf War, which will last until the following February 28.