1. Famed jazz pianist and composer, Eubie Blake, was born in Baltimore on August 22, 1887. He wrote hits like "I'm Just Wild About Harry" and performed well into his nineties.

2. On August 22, 1776, Maryland Governor Thomas Johnson led the state's delegation in signing the United States Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. This act signaled Maryland's commitment to the revolution and laid the foundation for the state's participation in the war effort.

3. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the first common carrier railroad in the United States, was chartered on August 22, 1827. The B&O's success helped transform Baltimore into an important transportation hub and played a key role in the development of the American railroad industry.

4. The Battle of the Chesapeake, a pivotal naval engagement during the Revolutionary War, took place on August 22, 1781. French Admiral de Grasse defeated a British fleet that was attempting to relieve the siege of Yorktown, Virginia, effectively sealing the fate of the British army and bringing the war closer to its end.

5. On August 22, 1864, Confederate General Jubal Early launched a surprise attack on Union forces in the Battle of Summit Point. The battle, fought in what is now West Virginia, resulted in a stalemate, but the Union forces were able to prevent Early from capturing Washington, D.C., and endangering the Union capital.