August 15th is the 227th day of the year (228th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 138 days remaining until the end of the year.

Events

718 – Forces of the Umayyad Caliphate abandoned their year-long siege of Constantinople, causing the caliphate to give up its goal of conquering the Byzantine Empire.

1511 – Afonso de Albuquerque captured the city of Malacca, giving Portugal control over the Strait of Malacca, through which all sea-going trade between China and India was concentrated.

1907 – Raphael Morgan was ordained as what is believed to be the first Black Orthodox clergyman in America.

1948 – The Republic of Korea was established with Syngman Rhee as its first president.

1998 – A car bomb attack carried out by the Real Irish Republican Army killed 29 people and injured approximately 220 others in Omagh, Northern Ireland.

Celebrity Birthdays

Birdman Director Alejandro González Iñárritu turns 55

Will & Grace’s Debra Messing turns 50

Blacklist Star Anthony Anderson turns

Ben Affleck turns 46

Jennifer Lawrence turns 28