August 1
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1774: British scientist Joseph Priestley discovers oxygen gas, corroborating the prior discovery of this element by German-Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele.
1819: Astronomer and academic Maria Mitchell born. She will be the first American woman to work as a professional astronomer.
1977: Francis Gary Powers dies when the news helicopter he is piloting crashes into a field near Encino, Los Angeles killing Powers and the aircraft's only passenger, cameraman George Spears.