Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757 – July 12, 1804)

On August 4, 1790, the first U.S. Congress authorized
the construction of 10 vessels to patrol U.S. ports from
Massachusetts to Georgia.

The United States Coast Guard took form in this small
fleet of “cutters”—fast-moving, speedy sailboats—
tasked with intercepting marine smugglers and the
collecting of tariffs on imported goods.

It’s the brainchild of Alexander Hamilton, the first U.S.
secretary of the treasury under President George
Washington.

Originally called the “Revenue Marine” and then the
“Revenue Cutter Service,” the Coast Guard was one
of Hamilton’s many bold ideas for funding the U.S.
federal government, which was mired in debt after
the costly Revolutionary War.

“Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” an
irreverent comedy based in the outlandish (fictionalized)
world of American stock car racing, premiered in movie
theaters around the United States on August 4, 2006.

Comedian Will Ferrell (who also co-wrote the screenplay
with director Adam McKay and served as an executive
producer) starred as Ricky Bobby, a leading driver on
the National Association for Stock Auto Car Racing
(NASCAR) circuit.

On August 3, 1949, after a damaging three-year battle to win
both players and fans, the rival Basketball Association of
America (BAA) and National Basketball League (NBL) 
merged to form the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Track-and-field star Jesse Owens, one of 18 Black athletes
on the US team at the Berlin Olympics, won his first of four
gold medals—the most of any American at the Games.

Back home, only white Olympians were invited to the White
House.

James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens
(September 12, 1913 – March 31, 1980)

Football player and broadcaster Tom Brady won seven Super
Bowl titles and some consider the best quarterback of all        
time and one of the greatest athletes in sports history.