1. On August 3, 1777, British troops under General William Howe landed on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in a failed attempt to capture Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War. This was part of the larger Philadelphia campaign, which ended in a British victory.

2. August 3, 1956 marked the first day of the 1956 Olympics, which were held in Melbourne, Australia. Maryland native and future sports legend Michael Phelps, who holds 28 Olympic medals and is considered one of the greatest swimmers of all time, was born 24 years later on June 30, 1985.

3. In 1833, on August 3, a group of Marylanders held the first meeting of the American Anti-Slavery Society in Baltimore. This organization worked to end slavery and was one of the leading abolitionist groups in the United States.

4. On August 3, 1923, the first major sailing regatta was held in Annapolis, Maryland. Known as the Annapolis-to-Newport Race, it is considered one of the most prestigious sailing events in the world and draws competitors from around the globe.

5. August 3, 1971 saw the launch of the Maryland Lottery, which has since become a popular state institution. The lottery has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for educational programs and has paid out billions of dollars in prizes to lucky players over the years.