A powerful band of thunderstorms struck Philadelphia beginning in the late morning and continuing for almost twelve hours.  Lightning killed one teenage boy working in a brickyard and seriously injured another.  Several buildings were damaged by rain and lightning strike and large areas of city streets were flooded.  One measurement estimated that more rain had fell in eight hours than in all of August 1859.  (By John Osborne)

Brunel's giant British commercial vessel Great Eastern had left New York for Halifax, Nova Scotia and home after a lengthy first visit to the east coast of the United States on August 16, 1860.  The vessel had caused a sensation wherever it went but the trip confirmed the sad fact that the costs of running the massive ship would preclude it ever being economically viable.  She arrived at Milford Haven with only 357 paying passengers aboard.  (By John Osborne)  

Brunel's giant British commercial vessel Great Eastern departed New York for Halifax, Nova Scotia and home after a lengthy first visit to the east coast of the United States.  The vessel had caused a sensation wherever it went but the trip confirmed the sad fact that the costs of running the massive ship would preclude it ever being economically viable.  She arrived in England on August 26, 1860 with only 357 paying passengers aboard.  (By John Osborne)  

A morning fire destroyed the LaGrange Mills in Bustleton, on the north-east boundary of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Around twenty buildings were lost at a value of around $30,000 but no deaths or serious injuries were reported.  (By John Osborne) 

The 1500-ton armed steamer Queen of England had sailed from the English port of Liverpool on August 2, 1860 loaded with armaments purchased with funds Britons had donated for Garibaldi's effort to overthrow Bourbon rule in Italy.  Reported to be carrying 22,000 rifles and other small arms, as well as sixteen rifled cannon, the vessel arrived at Messina less than two weeks later and delivered her cargo.  (By John Osborne)

Prince Danilo had ruled Montenegro since 1852 when he had succeeded his uncle, Petar II.  He had immediately divested himself of the traditional ruler's religious role and declared his right to marry and pass on his throne.  He also won a significant victory over the Turks at Grahova in 1858. He was shot by a disgruntled Montenegrin exile while boarding a ship in the port of Kotor the day before. (By John Osborne)