Naval History and Heritage Command

The Webster-Ashburton Treaty is signed. In the treaty, the United States and Great Britain agree to cooperate in suppressing the slave trade.

One officer and 46 Marines and Seamen from the steamer, USS Wachusett, land at Shanghai, China, to assist in fighting a fire.

A Japanese force runs through the Allied forces guarding Savo Sound, sinking three American heavy cruisers, USS Quincy (CA 39), USS Vincennes (CA 44), and USS Astoria (CA 34), along with other damaged Allied vessels. As a result of the loss, the sound gains the nickname, Iron Bottom Sound.

TBF aircraft from Composite Squadron One (VC 1) based onboard USS Card (CVE 11) sink German submarine U 664, 570 miles west of Fayal, Azores.

Following the Aug. 6 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, a second atom bomb is dropped on Japan at Nagasaki, eventually resulting in Japan's unconditional surrender.

USS Sterett (DDG 104) is commissioned at Baltimore, Md., the birthplace of the ships namesake: Master Commandant Andrew Sterett, who fought in the Quasi-War and Barbary Wars for the Navy.