On 11 August in poetry and history
Poets born or who died on this date, plus historical events that happened on this day across history.
610 poets with calendar dates · 6,535 events with calendar dates in the catalogue
1 birthday · 2 death anniversaries · 5 world events on 11 August
Birthdays
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Ernst Stadler
11 August 1883 – 30 October 1914 (~31)
Born 11 August 1883 — would have been 143 in 2026
Death anniversaries
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Richard Monckton Milnes
19 June 1809 – 11 August 1885 (~76)
Died 11 August 1885 — 141 years ago on this date
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World events on this day
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Hip Hop Culture Begins in the Bronx (1973)
The emergence of hip hop culture in the Bronx, New York City, in 1973 marked a revolutionary moment in music and social expression. DJ Kool Herc's block parties at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue introduced innovative techniques like breakbeats and MCing, which became foundational elements of hip hop. This cultural movement provided a voice for marginalized communities and influenced art, fashion, and language, shaping contemporary music and youth culture worldwide.
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The Battle of the Vozha River
On August 11, 1378, the Russian forces of the Grand Prince Dmitry of Moscow defeated a Mongol army led by Begich at the Battle of the Vozha River, in what is now Russia. This victory was a major step in the Russian resistance against the Golden Horde and preceded the more famous Battle of Kulikovo in 1380. The battle marked a shift in the power dynamics between the Mongols and the emerging Russian states.
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Death of Richard Monckton Milnes
Richard Monckton Milnes passed away on 11 August 1885 at Fryston Hall, near Pontefract, Yorkshire. His death marked the end of a significant literary and political career that had a lasting impact on Victorian culture.
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The Discovery of the 'Giganotosaurus' Fossil
A team of Argentine paleontologists discovered the fossil remains of Giganotosaurus, a massive theropod dinosaur that lived in what is now South America. Giganotosaurus was larger than Tyrannosaurus Rex, further expanding our understanding of the scale and diversity of carnivorous dinosaurs. This discovery showed that the 'king of the dinosaurs' was not necessarily a North American phenomenon.
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The Ursuline Convent Riot of 1834
On August 11, 1834, a mob of nativist rioters looted and burned the Ursuline Convent of Mount Benedict in Charlestown, Massachusetts, in an act of anti-Catholic violence. The riot was fueled by rumors that the convent was a site of sexual abuse and the forced confinement of young women, reflecting the deep-seated prejudice against Catholic immigrants in the United States. The event highlighted the vulnerability of religious minorities and the power of rumor to incite violence.