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On This Day in History — July 8
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Highlights of July 8
- 2022 — Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe (pictured) was assassinated with an improvised firearm. Read more
- 2021 — Head of a Bear (pictured) sold at auction in London for a total of £8.8 million, a record for a drawing by Leonardo da Vinci. Read more
- 2014 — German citizen Lars Mittank disappeared from Varna Airport, Bulgaria; his last known movements were widely watched on YouTube. Read more
- 2014 — In the 2014 FIFA World Cup semi-final at the Mineirão, Germany defeated Brazil 7–1 (players pictured), breaking several tournament records. Read more
- 2003 — Sudan Airways Flight 139 crashed near Port Sudan Airport during an emergency landing attempt, killing 116 of the 117 people on board. Read more
- 1990 — West Germany won the FIFA World Cup final against defending champions Argentina, with Andreas Brehme scoring the game's only goal. Read more
- 1980 — Aeroflot Flight 4225 crashed near Almaty International Airport in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (present day Kazakhstan) killing all 166 people on board. Read more
- 1966 — King Mwambutsa IV of Burundi was deposed in a coup d'état by his son, Prince Charles Ndizi. Read more
- 1965 — Canadian Pacific Air Lines Flight 21 was destroyed by a bomb near 100 Mile House, Canada, killing 52. Read more
- 1962 — Following student protests at Rangoon University, Burmese general Ne Win ordered the demolition of the historic students' union building. Read more
- 1950 — Korean War: American troops withdrew from Cheonan, in modern-day South Korea, after suffering heavy casualties from a North Korean attack. Read more
- 1947 — Following reports of the capture of a "flying disc" by U.S. Army Air Forces personnel near Roswell, New Mexico, the military stated that the crashed object was a conventional weather balloon. Read more
- 1927 — The Spanish anarchist group Los Errantes are released from French detention, following a lengthy defense campaign against their extradition. Read more
- 1874 — Members of the North-West Mounted Police at Fort Dufferin began their March West, their first journey to the Canadian Prairies. Read more
- 1776 — The United States Declaration of Independence received its first formal public reading, in Philadelphia. Read more
- 1758 — French and Indian War: French forces defeated the British at Fort Carillon in the British colony of New York. Read more
- 1709 — Great Northern War: Swedish forces under Charles XII were defeated by Russian troops led by Peter the Great at the Battle of Poltava. Read more
- 1663 — Baptist minister John Clarke (pictured) was granted the Rhode Island Royal Charter, described as the "grandest instrument of human liberty ever constructed". Read more
Events
- 2025 — Hurricane Beryl makes landfall in Texas as a Category 1 hurricane, causing 44 deaths, over 2.7 residents without power, and $28 billion to $32 billion dollars worth of damage. Read more
- 2022 — Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe is shot and killed with an improvised firearm due to resentment against the Unification Church. Read more
- 2014 — Israel launches an offensive on Gaza amid rising tensions following the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers. Read more
- 2011 — Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched in the final mission of the U.S. Space Shuttle program. Read more
- 2003 — Sudan Airways Flight 139 crashes near Port Sudan Airport during an emergency landing attempt, killing 116 of the 117 people on board. Read more
- 1994 — Kim Jong Il begins to assume supreme leadership of North Korea upon the death of his father, Kim Il Sung. Read more
- 1994 — Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on an international science mission. Read more
- 1990 — West Germany win the FIFA World Cup final against defending champions Argentina, with Andreas Brehme scoring the game's only goal. Read more
- 1988 — The Island Express train travelling from Bangalore to Kanyakumari derails on the Peruman bridge and falls into Ashtamudi Lake, Kerala in India killing 105 passengers and injuring over 200 more. Read more
- 1982 — A failed assassination attempt against Iraqi president Saddam Hussein results in the Dujail Massacre over the next several months. Read more
- 1980 — The inaugural 1980 State of Origin game is won by Queensland who defeat New South Wales 20–10 at Lang Park. Read more
- 1980 — Aeroflot Flight 4225 crashes near Almaty International Airport in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (present day Kazakhstan), killing all 166 people on board. Read more
- 1972 — Israeli Mossad assassinate Palestinian writer Ghassan Kanafani. Read more
- 1970 — Richard Nixon delivers a special congressional message enunciating Native American self-determination as official US Indian policy, leading to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975. Read more
- 1966 — King Mwambutsa IV Bangiriceng of Burundi is deposed by his son Prince Charles Ndizi. Read more
- 1965 — Canadian Pacific Air Lines Flight 21 is destroyed by a bomb near 100 Mile House, Canada, killing 52. Read more
- 1962 — Ne Win besieges and blows up the Rangoon University Student Union building to crush the Student Movement. Read more
- 1960 — Francis Gary Powers is charged with espionage resulting from his flight over the Soviet Union. Read more
- 1948 — The United States Air Force accepts its first female recruits into a program called the Women's Air Force (WAF). Read more
- 1947 — Reports are broadcast that a UFO crash-landed in Roswell, New Mexico in what became known as the Roswell UFO incident. Read more
- 1937 — Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan sign the Treaty of Saadabad. Read more
- 1932 — The Dow Jones Industrial Average reaches its lowest level of the Great Depression, closing at 41.22. Read more
- 1912 — Henrique Mitchell de Paiva Couceiro leads an unsuccessful royalist attack against the First Portuguese Republic in Chaves. Read more
- 1892 — St. John's, Newfoundland is devastated in the Great Fire of 1892. Read more
- 1889 — The first issue of The Wall Street Journal is published. Read more
- 1879 — Sailing ship USS Jeannette departs San Francisco carrying an ill-fated expedition to the North Pole. Read more
- 1876 — The Hamburg massacre prior to the 1876 United States presidential election results in the deaths of six African-Americans of the Republican Party, along with one white assailant. Read more
- 1874 — The Mounties begin their March West. Read more
- 1864 — Ikedaya Incident: The Choshu Han shishis planned Shinsengumi sabotage on Kyoto, Japan at Ikedaya. Read more
- 1859 — King Charles XV & IV accedes to the throne of Sweden–Norway. Read more
- 1853 — The Perry Expedition arrives in Edo Bay with a treaty requesting trade. Read more
- 1832 — An Egyptian army under Ibrahim Pascha defeats an Ottoman army under Mehmed Pascha in the battle of Hims. Read more
- 1822 — Chippewas turn over a huge tract of land in Ontario to the United Kingdom. Read more
- 1776 — John Nixon delivers the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence of the United States. Read more
- 1775 — The Olive Branch Petition is signed by the Continental Congress of the Thirteen Colonies of North America. Read more
- 1760 — British forces defeat French forces in the last naval battle in New France. Read more
- 1758 — French forces hold Fort Carillon against the British at Ticonderoga, New York. Read more
- 1741 — Reverend Jonathan Edwards preaches to his congregation in Enfield, Connecticut his most famous sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"; an influence for the First Great Awakening. Read more
- 1730 — An estimated magnitude 8.7 earthquake causes a tsunami that damages more than 1,000 km (620 mi) of Chile's coastline. Read more
- 1716 — The Battle of Dynekilen forces Sweden to abandon its invasion of Norway. Read more
- 1709 — Peter I of Russia defeats Charles XII of Sweden at the Battle of Poltava, thus effectively ending Sweden's status as a major power in Europe. Read more
- 1663 — Charles II of England grants John Clarke a Royal charter to Rhode Island. Read more
- 1658 — Abaza Hasan Pasha and his allies declare a revolt against grand vizier Köprülü Mehmed Pasha, demanding his execution and marching on Istanbul. Read more
- 1651 — The Venetian fleet under Alvise Mocenigo engages with an Ottoman fleet under Hosambegzade Ali Pasha south of Naxos, defeating it after three days. Read more
- 1579 — Our Lady of Kazan, a holy icon of the Russian Orthodox Church, is discovered underground in the city of Kazan, Tatarstan. Read more
- 1497 — Vasco da Gama sets sail on the first direct European voyage to India. Read more
- 1283 — Roger of Lauria, commanding the Aragonese fleet, defeats an Angevin fleet sent to put down a rebellion on Malta. Read more
- 1167 — The Byzantines defeat the Hungarian army decisively at Sirmium, forcing the Hungarians to sue for peace. Read more
Born on July 8
- 1999 — İpek Öz, Turkish tennis player Read more
- 1998 — Maya Hawke, American actress Read more
- 1998 — Jaden Smith, American actor and rapper Read more
- 1996 — Marlon Humphrey, American football player Read more
- 1993 — David Corenswet, American actor Read more
- 1992 — Ariel Camacho, Mexican singer-songwriter (died 2015) Read more
- 1992 — Son Heung-min, Korean footballer Read more
- 1991 — Virgil van Dijk, Dutch footballer Read more
- 1990 — Kevin Trapp, German footballer Read more
- 1989 — Yarden Gerbi, Israeli Judo champion Read more
- 1989 — Tor Marius Gromstad, Norwegian footballer (died 2012) Read more
- 1988 — Miki Roqué, Spanish footballer (died 2012) Read more
- 1988 — Jesse Sergent, New Zealand cyclist Read more
- 1987 — Josh Harrison, American baseball player Read more
- 1986 — Renata Costa, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 1983 — Rich Peverley, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1982 — Shonette Azore-Bruce, Barbadian netball player Read more
- 1982 — Sophia Bush, American actress and director Read more
- 1982 — Alicia Vela-Bailey, American stunt performer, stunt double, actress, dancer, and choreographer Read more
- 1982 — Hakim Warrick, American basketball player Read more
- 1981 — Anastasia Myskina, Russian tennis player Read more
- 1980 — Eric Chouinard, American-Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1980 — Robbie Keane, Irish footballer Read more
- 1978 — Urmas Rooba, Estonian footballer Read more
- 1977 — Christian Abbiati, Italian footballer Read more
- 1977 — Paolo Tiralongo, Italian cyclist Read more
- 1977 — Milo Ventimiglia, American actor, director, and producer Read more
- 1977 — Wang Zhizhi, Chinese basketball player Read more
- 1976 — Talal El Karkouri, Moroccan footballer Read more
- 1976 — Ellen MacArthur, English sailor Read more
- 1974 — Hu Liang, Chinese field hockey player Read more
- 1973 — Kathleen Robertson, Canadian actress and writer Read more
- 1972 — Karl Dykhuis, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1972 — Sourav Ganguly, Indian cricketer Read more
- 1972 — Shōsuke Tanihara, Japanese actor Read more
- 1971 — Neil Jenkins, Welsh rugby player and coach Read more
- 1970 — Beck, American singer-songwriter and producer Read more
- 1970 — Mark Butler, Australian politician Read more
- 1970 — Sylvain Gaudreault, Canadian educator and politician Read more
- 1970 — Todd Martin, American tennis player and coach Read more
Died on July 8
- 2026 — Bonnie Tyler, Welsh singer (born 1951) Read more
- 2025 — Edward D. DiPrete, American politician, 70th Governor of Rhode Island Read more
- 2025 — Paulette Jiles, American writer (born 1943) Read more
- 2022 — Shinzo Abe, Japanese politician (born 1954) Read more
- 2022 — Larry Storch, American actor and comedian (born 1923) Read more
- 2022 — Luis Echeverría, Mexican lawyer and politician (born 1922) Read more
- 2022 — Tony Sirico, American actor (born 1942) Read more
- 2020 — Naya Rivera, American actress, model and singer (born 1987) Read more
- 2020 — Alex Pullin, Australian snowboarder (born 1987) Read more
- 2018 — Tab Hunter, American actor, pop singer, film producer and author (born 1931) Read more
- 2016 — Abdul Sattar Edhi, Pakistani philanthropist (born 1928) Read more
- 2014 — Plínio de Arruda Sampaio, Brazilian lawyer and politician (born 1930) Read more
- 2014 — John V. Evans, American soldier and politician, 27th Governor of Idaho (born 1925) Read more
- 2014 — Ben Pangelinan, Guamanian businessman and politician (born 1956) Read more
- 2014 — Howard Siler, American bobsledder and coach (born 1945) Read more
- 2013 — Edmund Morgan, American historian and author (born 1916) Read more
- 2013 — Claudiney Ramos, Brazilian footballer (born 1980) Read more
- 2013 — Sundri Uttamchandani, Indian author (born 1924) Read more
- 2012 — Muhammed bin Saud Al Saud, Saudi Arabian politician (born 1934) Read more
- 2012 — Ernest Borgnine, American actor (born 1917) Read more
- 2012 — Gyang Dalyop Datong, Nigerian physician and politician (born 1959) Read more
- 2011 — Roberts Blossom, American actor and poet (born 1924) Read more
- 2011 — Betty Ford, 38th First Lady of the United States (born 1918) Read more
- 2008 — John Templeton, American-born British businessman and philanthropist (born 1912) Read more
- 2007 — Chandra Shekhar, Indian lawyer and politician, 9th Prime Minister of India (born 1927) Read more
- 2006 — June Allyson, American actress and singer (born 1917) Read more
- 2005 — Maurice Baquet, French actor and cellist (born 1911) Read more
- 2004 — Paula Danziger, American author and educator (born 1944) Read more
- 2002 — Ward Kimball, American animator and trombonist (born 1914) Read more
- 2001 — John O'Shea, New Zealand independent filmmaker (born 1920) Read more
- 1999 — Pete Conrad, American captain, pilot, and astronaut. Third man to walk on the moon. (born 1930) Read more
- 1998 — Lilí Álvarez, Spanish tennis player, author, and feminist (born 1905) Read more
- 1996 — Irene Prador, Austrian-born actress and writer (born 1911) Read more
- 1994 — Christian-Jaque, French director and screenwriter (born 1904) Read more
- 1994 — Kim Il Sung, North Korean commander and politician, President of North Korea (born 1912) Read more
- 1994 — Lars-Eric Lindblad, Swedish-American businessman and explorer (born 1927) Read more
- 1994 — Dick Sargent, American actor (born 1930) Read more
- 1993 — Abul Hasan Jashori, Bangladeshi Islamic scholar and freedom fighter (born 1918) Read more
- 1991 — James Franciscus, American actor (born 1934) Read more
- 1990 — Howard Duff, American actor (born 1913) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian Feast Day:
Abda and Sabas; Christian Feast Day:
Auspicius of Trier; Christian Feast Day:
Grimbald; Christian Feast Day:
Landrada; Christian Feast Day:
Kilian and Totnan; Christian Feast Day:
Saints Peter and Fevronia Day (Russian Orthodox); Christian Feast Day:
Priscilla and Aquila; Christian Feast Day:
Procopius of Scythopolis; Christian Feast Day:
Sunniva and companions; Christian Feast Day:
July 8 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Air Force and Air Defense Forces Day (Ukraine)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “July 8”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.