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On This Day in History — April 8
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Highlights of April 8
- 2008 — On board Soyuz TMA-12, Yi So-yeon became the first Korean astronaut. Read more
- 1973 — The Progress Party was founded in a movie theater in Oslo, Norway. Read more
- 1968 — BOAC Flight 712 experienced an engine fire shortly after take-off from London Heathrow, leading to the deaths of five people on board, including flight attendant Jane Harrison, who was posthumously awarded a George Cross for heroism. Read more
- 1961 — A large explosion on board the MV Dara in the Persian Gulf killed 238 people. Read more
- 1959 — A team of computer scientists and others met to discuss the creation of a common business-oriented programming language, which became COBOL. Read more
- 1943 — Otto and Elise Hampel were executed in Berlin for performing acts of resistance against Nazism. Read more
- 1942 — World War II: The United States Army Air Forces flew its first mission from India over the Hump (the eastern end of the Himalayas) to deliver materiel to China. Read more
- 1933 — The Australian state of Western Australia voted to secede from the federation, but efforts to implement the result proved to be unsuccessful. Read more
- 1917 — World War I: German naval officer Wilhelm Werner murdered 19 captured crew members of the British cargo ship Torrington by submerging U-55 when they were on deck. Read more
- 1911 — American cartoonist Winsor McCay released the silent short film Little Nemo (featured), one of the earliest animated films. Read more
- 1904 — Longacre Square in Midtown Manhattan was renamed Times Square after the New York Times building. Read more
- 1904 — France and the United Kingdom signed the Entente Cordiale, agreeing to a peaceful coexistence after centuries of intermittent conflict. Read more
- 1864 — American Civil War: Late-arriving reinforcements helped Confederate forces rout the Union Army at the Battle of Mansfield. Read more
- 1820 — The Venus de Milo (pictured), an ancient Greek statue of a woman with its arms missing, was discovered on the island of Milos. Read more
- 1630 — Kiliaen van Rensselaer purchased land near present-day Albany, New York, to establish Rensselaerswyck, which became the most successful patroonship under the Dutch West India Company. Read more
- 1271 — Crusades: The Knights Hospitaller surrendered the Krak des Chevaliers, a castle in present-day Syria, to the army of the Mamluk sultan Baybars. Read more
- 876 — Abbasid forces decisively defeated the Saffarid emir Ya'qub ibn Laith, forcing the latter to halt his advance into Iraq. Read more
- 217 — Roman emperor Caracalla (pictured) was assassinated near Harran and succeeded by his Praetorian Guard prefect Macrinus. Read more
Events
- 2026 — Operation Eternal Darkness: Hours after a ceasefire to the Iran war, Israeli attacks on Lebanon kill at least 357 and injures more than 1200 people in the largest airstrikes of the Lebanon war. Read more
- 2024 — Solar eclipse: A total solar eclipse takes place at the Moon's ascending node, visible across North America. Read more
- 2020 — Bernie Sanders ends his presidential campaign, leaving Joe Biden as the Democratic Party's nominee. Read more
- 2014 — Windows XP reaches its standard End Of Life and is no longer supported. Read more
- 2010 — U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sign the New START Treaty. Read more
- 2005 — A solar eclipse occurs, visible over areas of the Pacific Ocean and Latin American countries such as Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Venezuela. Read more
- 2002 — The Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on mission STS-110, carrying the S0 truss to the International Space Station. Astronaut Jerry L. Ross also becomes the first person to fly on seven spaceflights. Read more
- 1993 — The Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on mission STS-56. Read more
- 1990 — The conservative New Democracy party of Constantine Mitsotakis is elected in the Greek parliamentary election. Read more
- 1975 — Voyageurs National Park is established by the U.S. Congress. Read more
- 1974 — Hank Aaron passes Babe Ruth as the all-time leader in career home runs by hitting his 715th home run off of Al Downing at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Read more
- 1970 — Bahr El-Baqar primary school bombing: Israeli bombers strike an Egyptian school. Forty-six children are killed. Read more
- 1968 — BOAC Flight 712 catches fire shortly after takeoff. As a result of her actions in the accident, Barbara Jane Harrison is awarded a posthumous George Cross, the only GC awarded to a woman in peacetime. Read more
- 1960 — The Netherlands and West Germany sign an agreement to negotiate the return of German land annexed by the Dutch in return for 280 million German marks as Wiedergutmachung. Read more
- 1959 — A team of computer manufacturers, users, and university people led by Grace Hopper meets to discuss the creation of a new programming language that would be called COBOL. Read more
- 1959 — The Organization of American States drafts an agreement to create the Inter-American Development Bank. Read more
- 1954 — A Royal Canadian Air Force Canadair Harvard collides with a Trans-Canada Airlines Canadair North Star over Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, killing 37 people. Read more
- 1954 — South African Airways Flight 201: A de Havilland DH.106 Comet 1 crashes into the sea during night killing 21 people. Read more
- 1940 — The Central Committee of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party elects Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal as General Secretary, marking the beginning of his 44-year-long tenure as de facto leader of Mongolia. Read more
- 1933 — The Australian state of Western Australia votes to secede from the federation in a non-binding referendum, although efforts to implement the result prove unsuccessful. Read more
- 1904 — The French Third Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland sign the Entente cordiale. Read more
- 1895 — In Pollock v. Farmers' Loan & Trust Co. the Supreme Court of the United States declares unapportioned income tax to be unconstitutional. Read more
- 1886 — William Ewart Gladstone introduces the first Irish Home Rule Bill into the British House of Commons. Read more
- 1866 — Austro-Prussian War: Italy and Prussia sign a secret alliance against the Austrian Empire. Read more
- 1832 — Black Hawk War: Around 300 United States 6th Infantry troops leave St. Louis, Missouri to fight the Sauk Native Americans. Read more
- 1820 — The Venus de Milo is discovered on the Aegean island of Milos. Read more
- 1812 — Czar Alexander I, the Russian Emperor and the Grand Duke of Finland, officially announces the transfer of the status of the Finnish capital from Turku to Helsinki. Read more
- 1730 — Shearith Israel, the first synagogue in continental North America, is dedicated. Read more
- 1605 — The city of Oulu, Finland, is founded by Charles IX of Sweden. Read more
- 1271 — Fall of Krak des Chevaliers: In Syria, sultan Baibars conquers the Krak des Chevaliers. Read more
- 1250 — Seventh Crusade: Ayyubids of Egypt capture King Louis IX of France in the Battle of Fariskur. Read more
- 1232 — Mongol–Jin War: The Mongols begin their siege on Kaifeng, the capital of the Jin dynasty. Read more
- 1143 — Manuel I Komnenos succeeds his father John II Komnenos as Byzantine Emperor. Read more
- 1139 — Roger II of Sicily is excommunicated by Innocent II for supporting Anacletus II as pope for seven years, even though Roger had already publicly recognized Innocent's claim to the papacy. Read more
- 876 — The Battle of Dayr al-'Aqul saves Baghdad from the Saffarids. Read more
- 217 — Roman emperor Caracalla is assassinated and is succeeded by his Praetorian Guard prefect, Marcus Opellius Macrinus. Read more
Born on April 8
- 2013 — Big Justice, American social media personality Read more
- 2005 — Zaccharie Risacher, French basketball player Read more
- 2002 — Jamie Drysdale, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 2002 — Viktória Forster, Slovak track and field athlete Read more
- 2002 — Skai Jackson, American actress Read more
- 1999 — CeeDee Lamb, American football player Read more
- 1998 — Lavinia Valbonesi, Ecuadorian nutritionist, businesswoman and First Lady of Ecuador Read more
- 1997 — Kim Woo-jin, South Korean singer Read more
- 1997 — Saygrace, Australian singer and songwriter Read more
- 1997 — Roquan Smith, American football player Read more
- 1997 — Arno Verschueren, Belgian footballer Read more
- 1997 — Keira Walsh, English footballer Read more
- 1996 — Anna Korakaki, Greek Olympic shooter Read more
- 1995 — Forrest Frank, American singer-songwriter Read more
- 1995 — Cedi Osman, Turkish professional basketball player Read more
- 1994 — Josh Chudleigh, Australian rugby league player Read more
- 1993 — Viktor Arvidsson, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
- 1993 — TBJZL, English YouTuber Read more
- 1992 — Jeff McNeil, American baseball player Read more
- 1990 — Kim Jong-hyun, South Korean singer (died 2017) Read more
- 1989 — Matty Healy, English singer-songwriter and producer Read more
- 1988 — Jenni Asserholt, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
- 1987 — Royston Drenthe, Dutch footballer Read more
- 1987 — Jeremy Hellickson, American baseball player Read more
- 1987 — Elton John, Trinidadian footballer Read more
- 1987 — Sam Rapira, New Zealand rugby league player Read more
- 1986 — Igor Akinfeev, Russian footballer Read more
- 1986 — Félix Hernández, Venezuelan baseball player Read more
- 1986 — Carlos Santana, Dominican baseball player Read more
- 1985 — Patrick Schliwa, German rugby player Read more
- 1985 — Yemane Tsegay, Ethiopian runner Read more
- 1984 — Michelle Donelan, British politician Read more
- 1984 — Ezra Koenig, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
- 1984 — Pablo Portillo, Mexican singer and actor Read more
- 1984 — Taran Noah Smith, American actor Read more
- 1983 — Tatyana Petrova Arkhipova, Russian runner Read more
- 1982 — Gennady Golovkin, Kazakhstani boxer Read more
- 1982 — Brett White, Australian rugby league player Read more
- 1982 — Allu Arjun, Indian actor Read more
- 1981 — Frédérick Bousquet, French swimmer Read more
Died on April 8
- 2025 — Nelsy Cruz, Dominican politician, governor of Monte Cristi (born 1982) Read more
- 2024 — Keith Barnes, Welsh-Australian rugby league player and coach (born 1934) Read more
- 2024 — Peter Higgs, British physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1929) Read more
- 2024 — Ralph Puckett, American Army officer, Medal of Honor recipient (born 1926) Read more
- 2022 — Mimi Reinhardt, Jewish Austrian secretary (born 1915) Read more
- 2020 — Rick May, American-Canadian voice actor (born 1940) Read more
- 2020 — Abdul Momin Imambari, Bangladeshi Islamic scholar (born 1930) Read more
- 2019 — Josine Ianco-Starrels, Romanian-born American art curator (born 1926) Read more
- 2015 — Jayakanthan, Indian journalist and author (born 1934) Read more
- 2015 — Rayson Huang, Hong Kong chemist and academic (born 1920) Read more
- 2015 — Sergei Lashchenko, Ukrainian kick-boxer (born 1987) Read more
- 2015 — David Laventhol, American journalist and publisher (born 1933) Read more
- 2015 — Jean-Claude Turcotte, Canadian cardinal (born 1936) Read more
- 2014 — Emmanuel III Delly, Iraqi patriarch (born 1927) Read more
- 2014 — Karlheinz Deschner, German author and activist (born 1924) Read more
- 2014 — Ivan Mercep, New Zealand architect, designed the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum (born 1930) Read more
- 2013 — Mikhail Beketov, Russian journalist (born 1958) Read more
- 2013 — Annette Funicello, American actress and singer (born 1942) Read more
- 2013 — Sara Montiel, Spanish-Mexican actress and singer (born 1928) Read more
- 2013 — José Luis Sampedro, Spanish economist and author (born 1917) Read more
- 2013 — Margaret Thatcher, English politician, first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (born 1925) Read more
- 2012 — Blair Kiel, American football player and coach (born 1961) Read more
- 2012 — Jack Tramiel, Polish-American businessman, founded Commodore International (born 1928) Read more
- 2012 — Janusz K. Zawodny, Polish-American soldier, historian, and political scientist (born 1921) Read more
- 2011 — Hedda Sterne, Romanian-American painter and photographer (born 1910) Read more
- 2010 — Antony Flew, English philosopher and academic (born 1923) Read more
- 2010 — Malcolm McLaren, English singer-songwriter (born 1946) Read more
- 2010 — Teddy Scholten, Dutch singer (born 1926) Read more
- 2009 — Richard de Mille, American Scientologist, author, investigative journalist, and psychologist (born 1922) Read more
- 2009 — Piotr Morawski, Polish mountaineer (born 1976) Read more
- 2008 — Kazuo Shiraga, Japanese painter (born 1924) Read more
- 2007 — Sol LeWitt, American painter and sculptor (born 1928) Read more
- 2006 — Gerard Reve, Dutch author and poet (born 1923) Read more
- 2005 — Onna White, Canadian choreographer and dancer (born 1922) Read more
- 2004 — Werner Schumacher, German actor (born 1921) Read more
- 2002 — María Félix, Mexican actress (born 1914) Read more
- 2002 — Harvey Quaytman, American painter (born 1937) Read more
- 2000 — František Šťastný, Czech motorcycle racer (born 1927) Read more
- 2000 — Claire Trevor, American actress (born 1910) Read more
- 1997 — Laura Nyro, American singer-songwriter and pianist (born 1947) Read more
Holidays & observances
Buddha's Birthday, also known as Hana Matsuri, "Flower Festival" (Japan); Christian feast day:
Anne Ayres (Episcopal Church (USA)); Christian feast day:
Blessed August Czartoryski; Christian feast day:
Constantina; Christian feast day:
Pope Dionysius of Alexandria; Christian feast day:
Julie Billiart of Namur; Christian feast day:
Perpetuus; Christian feast day:
Walter of Pontoise; Christian feast day:
William Augustus Muhlenberg (Episcopal Church (USA)); Christian feast day:
April 8 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Earliest day on which Fast and Prayer Day can fall, while April 14 is the latest; celebrated on the second Friday in April (Liberia); International Romani Day
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “April 8”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.