What happened this day in history May 8

What are the important events that happened on May 8? Here are historical events, facts, and some myths about this day.

May 8: Facts & Myths About This Day

May 8 is the 129th day of the year 2024 in the Gregorian calendar. There are 237 days remaining until the end of this year. The day of the week is Wednesday.

Under the Julian calendar, this day is April 25, 2024 – a Wednesday. Both day of the week are the same but did you notice the difference with the Gregorian calendar?

When this day started, 28,585,440 minutes has elapsed since midnight of January 1, 1970 – the Unix epoch.

Strange as it may, if we name this day after a polygon then it will be called ‘hectaicosaenneagon’ day.

Taurus is the zodiac sign of a person born on this day. Emerald is the modern birthstone for this month. Sapphire is the mystical birthstone from Tibetan origin that dates back over a thousand years.

According to the lunisolar Chinese calendar, there are 266 days remaining before the start of the next Chinese New Year.

The ancient Maya civilization believes that the end of the world will happen on December 21, 2012. There are now 4,156 days since this fabled cataclysmic event.

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May 8 Historical Events

  • 1450
    Jack Cade’s Rebellion: Kentishmen revolt against King Henry VI.
  • 1794
    Branded a traitor during the Reign of Terror by revolutionists, French chemist Antoine Lavoisier, who was also a tax collector with the Ferme Générale, is tried, convicted, and guillotined all on the same day in Paris.
  • 1821
    Greek War of Independence: The Greeks defeat the Turks at the Battle of Gravia.
  • 1861
    American Civil War: Richmond, Virginia is named the capital of the Confederate States of America.
  • 1877
    At Gilmore’s Gardens in New York City, the first Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show opens.
  • 1899
    The Irish Literary Theatre in Dublin opens.
  • 1933
    Mohandas Gandhi begins a 21-day fast in protest against British oppression in India.
  • 1972
    Four Black September terrorists hijack Sabena Flight 571. Israeli Sayeret Matkal commandos recapture the plane the following day.
  • 1973
    A 71-day standoff between federal authorities and the American Indian Movement members occupying the Pine Ridge Reservation at Wounded Knee, South Dakota ends with the surrender of the militants.
  • 1978
    First ascent of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen, by Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler.

Who were born on May 8?

  • 1632
    Heino Heinrich Graf von Flemming, German marshal (d. 1706)
  • 1668
    Alain-René Lesage, French writer (d. 1747)
  • 1842
    Emil Christian Hansen, Danish physiologist (d. 1909)
  • 1913
    Bob Clampett, American animator (d. 1984)
  • 1916
    Swami Chinmayananda, Indian spiritualist (d. 1993)
  • 1948
    Felicity Lott, English singer
  • 1954
    Stephen Furst, American actor
  • 1964
    Dave Rowntree, British musician (Blur)
  • 1974
    Jon Tickle, English entertainer
  • 1980
    Panayiotis Kafkis, Greek basketball player

Who died on May 8?

  • 1781
    Richard Jago, English poet (b. 1715)
  • 1785
    Étienne François, duc de Choiseul, French statesman (b. 1719)
  • 1785
    Pietro Longhi, Venetian painter (b. 1701)
  • 1794
    Antoine Lavoisier, French chemist (executed) (b. 1743)
  • 1948
    U Saw, Burmese politician (b. 1900)
  • 1994
    George Peppard, American actor (b. 1928)
  • 1999
    Sir Dirk Bogarde, British actor (b. 1921)
  • 2000
    Guadalupe “Pita” Amor, Mexican poet (b. 1918)
  • 2000
    Henry Nicols, AIDS activist (b. 1973)
  • 2005
    Nicolás Vuyovich, Argentine racing driver (b. 1981)

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