Monday, 5th August 1940 in London
Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! Explore 76 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in London. From remarkable moments in local and world history to the people who left their mark — find out what makes today special. Today's weather in London brings sunny with temperatures between 15°C and 26°C. Tonight's moon is in its full moon phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Leo. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Monday, 5th August in London, GB.
On 5th August 1940, London experienced sunny conditions beneath a full moon while the sun occupied the Leo zodiac sign, creating favourable weather during what would prove to be a significant period in the city's history. London, the capital of the United Kingdom, is situated on the River Thames in south-east England and serves as the country's political, economic and cultural centre. The city's strategic importance made it a focal point during the Second World War.
Throughout history, this date has marked notable developments across multiple centuries. In 1888, Bertha Benz completed the first long-distance automobile trip, driving 106 kilometres from Mannheim to Pforzheim in Germany, demonstrating the viability of motorised transport at a time when such journeys were considered extraordinary. The event established a crucial precedent for personal mobility and automotive development. Two centuries earlier, in 1772, Russia, Prussia and Habsburg Austria initiated the First Partition of Poland, a geopolitical event that fundamentally reshaped Eastern European power dynamics and territorial boundaries. These historical moments represent pivotal shifts in both technological advancement and political organisation.
The significance of particular dates extends beyond single events, with DayAtlas providing comprehensive information about historical occurrences, weather conditions, zodiac signs and notable births and deaths for any date and location. The platform enables users to explore the intersection of historical events with astronomical and meteorological data, offering a multifaceted perspective on specific days throughout recorded history.
Find out what's happening today in London.
What the Weather Had in Store for London on 5th August 1940
August teaches: ripeness demands heat and constancy.
Fortune of the Day
5th August in the Stars – Star Sign Pisces
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on August 5 embody Leo's heart-fire with unusual stability and reliability. The Sun floods them with creative self-expression, while numerology's 4 grounds them with practical steadiness. They are charismatic, generous, and magnetically appealing to others.
Strengths & Weaknesses Their greatest strength lies in combining dramatic presence with dependable drive and leadership. They inspire and lead naturally. Their weakness is occasional stubbornness and craving recognition, which can tip into arrogance if unchecked.
Love Those born this day love with passion and full devotion, yet seek partners who truly appreciate their brilliance. They are loyal, generous lovers but grow impatient without admiration. Their emotions run deep and theatrical.
Caree & Finance These people thrive in creative, leadership, and public-facing roles. Their talent for organization paired with artistic flair makes them effective wealth-builders. Financial stability matters deeply, and they're comfortable investing wisely.
Health Their fiery nature demands regular physical balance through sports and exercise. Heart and spinal health deserve attention. Mental rest through meditation helps balance intense energy and prevents burnout effectively.
That night, the moon was in its full moon phase.
Chinese year of the Dragon (Metal).
Fun Facts About 5th August
Name Days in Your Language: Aphra, Areta, Aretha, Naomi, Neomi, Noami, Noemi.
Someone born on this day in 1940 would be 85 years old today — just 31,301 days into life, which is roughly 751,232 hours, 45,073,920 minutes, or 2,704,435,233 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 218. day of the year.
As this is a leap year, there are 148 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 32 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 5th August
- Nelson Briles, American baseball player (died 2005) (1943)
- Sammi Smith, American country music singer-songwriter (died 2005) (1943)
- Joe Boyd, American record producer, founded Hannibal Records (1942)
- Bob Clark, American director, producer, and screenwriter (died 2007) (1941)
- Leonid Kizim, Ukrainian general, pilot, and astronaut (died 2010) (1941)
- Airto Moreira, Brazilian-American drummer and composer (1941)
- Bobby Braddock, American country music songwriter, musician, and producer (1940)
- Roman Gabriel, American football player, coach, and actor (died 2024) (1940)
- Rick Huxley, English bass player (died 2013) (1940)
- Roger Clark, English race car driver (died 1998) (1939)
Lives Remembered on 5th August
- Col Joye, Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1937) (2025)
- Judith Durham, Australian singer-songwriter (born 1943) (2022)
- Cherie Gil, Filipino actress (born 1963) (2022)
- Ali Haydar, Syrian army officer (born 1932) (2022)
- Issey Miyake, Japanese fashion designer (born 1938) (2022)
- Dillon Quirke, Irish hurler (born 1998) (2022)
- Hawa Abdi, Somali human rights activist and physician (born 1947) (2020)
- Toni Morrison, American author, Pulitzer Prize winner, and Nobel laureate (born 1931). (2019)
- Alan Rabinowitz, American zoologist (born 1953) (2018)
- Arthur Walter James, English journalist and politician (born 1912) (2015)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 5th August
- Christian feast day: Abel of Reims
- Christian feast day: Addai
- Christian feast day: Afra
- Christian feast day: Cassian of Autun
- Christian feast day: Dedication of the Basilica of St Mary Major (Catholic Church)
- Christian feast day: Emygdius
- Christian feast day: Margaret the Barefooted
- Christian feast day: Memnius
- Christian feast day: Nonna of Nazianzus
- Christian feast day: Oswald of Northumbria
- Christian feast day: August 5 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Independence Day (Burkina Faso)
- July Mass Uprising Day (Bangladesh)
- Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian defenders (Croatia)
What Happened on 5th August?
- Following the non-cooperation movement against the government of Bangladesh, Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina resigns and flees the country, ending her rule of 15 consecutive years and a total of almost two decades. The date is also known as 36 July. (2024)
- Australia's second most populous state Victoria enters its sixth COVID-19 lockdown, enacting stage four restrictions statewide in reaction to six new COVID-19 cases recorded that morning. (2021)
- The revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir (state) occurred and the state was bifurcated into two union territories (Jammu and Kashmir (union territory) and Ladakh). (2019)
- The Environmental Protection Agency at Gold King Mine waste water spill releases three million gallons of heavy metal toxin tailings and waste water into the Animas River in Colorado. (2015)
- The Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting took place in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, killing six victims; the perpetrator committed suicide after being wounded by police. (2012)
- The Copiapó mining accident occurs, trapping 33 Chilean miners approximately 2,300 ft (700 m) below the ground for 69 days. (2010)
- Ten members of International Assistance Mission Nuristan Eye Camp team are killed by persons unknown in Kuran wa Munjan District of Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan. (2010)
- The New England Revolution win the 2008 North American SuperLiga final against the Houston Dynamo. (2008)
- A car bomb explodes in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta outside the Marriott Hotel killing 12 and injuring 150. (2003)
- Yugoslav Wars: The city of Knin, Croatia, a significant Serb stronghold, is taken by Croatian forces during Operation Storm. The date is celebrated in Croatia as Victory Day. (1995)