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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