On This Day for August 15 - Independence for India, Napoleon I is born, and more

This message contains graphics. If you do not see the graphics, [click here to view](. August 15 [The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries, oil on canvas by Jacques-Louis David, 1812; in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.] FEATURED BIOGRAPHY 1769 Napoleon I Born in Corsica this day in 1769, [Napoleon I]( was one of the most-celebrated figures in history, especially known for introducing a number of influential reforms while emperor of the French (1804–1814/15). [SEE ALL BIOS ON THIS DAY]( [India] FEATURED EVENT 1947 Independence for India After three decades, the Indian independence movement, led by [Mohandas Gandhi]( achieved its goal on this day in 1947 as a free and independent [India]( was established, ending nearly 200 years of British rule. [SEE ALL EVENTS ON THIS DAY]( MORE EVENTS ON THIS DAY 2013: Scientists at the [Smithsonian]( announced the discovery of the [olinguito]( “the first carnivore species to be discovered in the American continents in 35 years”; the small arboreal animals live in the [cloud forests]( of [Colombia]( and [Ecuador](. [Omagh] 1998: A [car bomb]( exploded in [Omagh]( Northern Ireland, killing 29 people and leaving more than 200 injured; the Real Irish Republican Army (Real IRA), an [IRA]( splinter group, claimed responsibility for the bombing, which was the deadliest attack in Northern Ireland since the eruption of violence there in the late 1960s. [Bahraini national flag, 1972 to 2002.] 1971: [Bahrain]( proclaimed independence from Great Britain. [Congo (Brazzaville)] 1960: The [Republic of the Congo]( gained independence from France. [Rhee, Syngman] 1948: [Syngman Rhee]( announced the establishment of the Republic of Korea ( [South Korea](. [Will Rogers.] 1935: American entertainer [Will Rogers]( and aviation pioneer [Wiley Post]( were killed in a plane crash near [Point Barrow]( Alaska. [SEE ALL EVENTS ON THIS DAY]( ALSO BORN ON THIS DAY 1990 Jennifer Lawrence American actress 1972 Ben Affleck American actor, writer, and director 1964 Melinda Gates American businesswoman and philanthropist 1963 Alejandro González Iñárritu Mexican director and producer 1950 Anne, the Princess Royal British royal [SEE ALL BIOS ON THIS DAY]( FOLLOW: [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( To unsubscribe from Britannica e-mails, [click here](. Encyclopædia Britannica 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Chicago, Illinois 60654 United States © 2018 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. [Privacy Policy]( • [Help](