On This Day in History — May 8

Highlights of May 8

• 2025 — Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as Pope Leo XIV (pictured), making him the first pope born in the United States, the first to hold either U.S. or Peruvian citizenship, the first from the Order of Saint Augustine, and the second from the Americas after his immediate predecessor, Pope Francis. Read more
• 1987 — A British Special Air Service unit ambushed a Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) unit in Loughgall, Northern Ireland, killing eight IRA members and one civilian. Read more
• 1984 — The Soviet Union announced the boycott of the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, citing security concerns. Read more
• 1976 — Great American Revolution opened at Six Flags Magic Mountain, California. Read more
• 1972 — Four members of Black September hijacked Sabena Flight 571 to demand the release of 315 Palestinians convicted on terrorism charges. Read more
• 1970 — Construction workers attacked students and others who were protesting the Vietnam War in New York City. Read more
• 1963 — In Huế, South Vietnam, soldiers opened fire into a crowd of Buddhists protesting against a government ban on the flying of the Buddhist flag on Phật Đản, killing nine and sparking the Buddhist crisis. Read more
• 1957 — South Vietnamese president Ngô Đình Diệm began a state visit to the United States, his regime's main sponsor. Read more
• 1950 — The Tollund Man, a naturally mummified corpse, was discovered in a peat bog near Silkeborg, Denmark. Read more
• 1945 — A parade in Sétif, French Algeria, celebrating the end of World War II in Europe became a riot and was followed by reprisals, carried out by colonial authorities over the following weeks, that killed thousands. Read more
• 1942 — World War II: The Axis launched a major counteroffensive, turning the tide of the Battle of the Kerch Peninsula. Read more
• 1927 — French aviators Charles Nungesser and François Coli aboard the biplane L'Oiseau Blanc took off from Paris, attempting to make the first non-stop flight to New York, only to disappear before arrival. Read more
• 1842 — A train derailed and caught fire near Versailles, France, killing at least 52 people. Read more
• 1821 — Greek War of Independence: At the Battle of Gravia Inn, a 120-man Greek force led by Odysseas Androutsos repulsed an Ottoman army of 8,000 soldiers. Read more
• 1643 — First English Civil War: The first siege of Wardour Castle ended after six days with the surrender of the Royalist garrison under Lady Blanche Arundell Read more
• 1373 — Julian of Norwich experienced religious visions, later recorded in Revelations of Divine Love, the earliest surviving English-language work attributed to a woman. Read more

Events

• 2025 — The 2025 papal conclave elects Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, taking the name Leo XIV as the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church. Read more
• 2021 — A car bomb explodes in front of a school in Kabul, capital city of Afghanistan killing at least 55 people and wounding over 150. Read more
• 2019 — British 17-year-old Isabelle Holdaway is reported to be the first patient ever to receive a genetically modified phage therapy to treat a drug-resistant infection. Read more
• 1997 — China Southern Airlines Flight 3456 crashes on approach into Bao'an International Airport, killing 35 people. Read more
• 1988 — A fire at Illinois Bell's Hinsdale Central Office triggers an extended 1AESS network outage once considered to be the "worst telecommunications disaster in US telephone industry history". Read more
• 1987 — The SAS kills eight Provisional Irish Republican Army volunteers and a civilian during an ambush in Loughgall, Northern Ireland. Read more
• 1984 — Corporal Denis Lortie enters the Quebec National Assembly and opens fire, killing three people and wounding 13. René Jalbert, Sergeant-at-Arms of the Assembly, succeeds in calming him, for which he will later receive the Cross of Valour. Read more
• 1984 — The Soviet Union announces a boycott upon the Summer Olympics at Los Angeles, later joined by 14 other countries. Read more
• 1984 — The Thames Barrier is officially opened, preventing the floodplain of most of Greater London from being flooded except under extreme circumstances. Read more
• 1980 — The World Health Organization confirms the eradication of smallpox. Read more
• 1978 — The first ascent of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen, by Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler. Read more
• 1976 — The rollercoaster The New Revolution, the first steel coaster with a vertical loop, opens at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Read more
• 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. Read more
• 1972 — Vietnam War: U.S. President Richard Nixon announces his order to place naval mines in major North Vietnamese ports in order to stem the flow of weapons and other goods to that nation. Read more
• 1970 — The Beatles release their 12th and final studio album Let It Be. Read more
• 1967 — The Philippine province of Davao is split into three: Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental. Read more
• 1963 — South Vietnamese soldiers under the Roman Catholic President Ngo Dinh Diem open fire on Buddhists defying a ban on the flying of the Buddhist flag on Vesak, killing nine and sparking the Buddhist crisis. Read more
• 1957 — South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem begins a state visit to the United States, his regime's main sponsor. Read more
• 1950 — The Tollund Man is discovered in a peat bog near Silkeborg, Denmark. Read more
• 1946 — Estonian schoolgirls Aili Jõgi and Ageeda Paavel blow up the Soviet memorial which preceded the Bronze Soldier of Tallinn. Read more
• 1945 — World War II: The German Instrument of Surrender signed at Berlin-Karlshorst comes into effect. This is commemorated as Victory in Europe Day. Read more
• 1945 — End of the Prague uprising, celebrated now as a national holiday in the Czech Republic. Read more
• 1945 — Hundreds of Algerian civilians are killed by French Army soldiers in the Sétif massacre. Read more
• 1945 — The Halifax riot starts when thousands of civilians and servicemen rampage through Halifax, Nova Scotia. Read more
• 1942 — World War II: The German 11th Army begins Operation Trappenjagd (Bustard Hunt) and destroys the bridgehead of the three Soviet armies defending the Kerch Peninsula. Read more
• 1942 — World War II: The Battle of the Coral Sea comes to an end with Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier aircraft attacking and sinking the United States Navy aircraft carrier USS Lexington. Read more
• 1942 — World War II: Gunners of the Ceylon Garrison Artillery on Horsburgh Island in the Cocos Islands rebel in the Cocos Islands Mutiny. Their mutiny is crushed and three of them are executed, the only British Commonwealth soldiers to be executed for mutiny during the Second World War. Read more
• 1941 — World War II: The German Luftwaffe launches a bombing raid on Nottingham and Derby. Read more
• 1933 — Mohandas Gandhi begins a 21-day fast of self-purification and launched a one-year campaign to help the Harijan movement. Read more
• 1927 — Attempting to make the first non-stop transatlantic flight from Paris to New York, French war heroes Charles Nungesser and François Coli disappear after taking off aboard The White Bird biplane. Read more
• 1924 — The Klaipėda Convention is signed formally incorporating Klaipėda Region (Memel Territory) into Lithuania. It would come back to Germany in 1939. Read more
• 1921 — The creation of the Communist Party of Romania. Read more
• 1919 — Edward George Honey proposes the idea of a moment of silence to commemorate the Armistice of 11 November 1918 which ended World War I. Read more
• 1902 — In Martinique, Mount Pelée erupts, destroying the town of Saint-Pierre and killing over 30,000 people. Only a handful of residents survive the blast. Read more
• 1898 — The first games of the Italian football league system are played. Read more
• 1886 — Pharmacist John Pemberton first sells a carbonated beverage named "Coca-Cola" as a patent medicine. Read more
• 1877 — At Gilmore's Gardens in New York City, the first Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show opens. Read more
• 1846 — Mexican–American War: American forces led by Zachary Taylor defeat a Mexican force north of the Rio Grande in the first major battle of the war. Read more
• 1842 — A train derails and catches fire in Paris, killing between 52 and 200 people. Read more
• 1821 — Greek War of Independence: The Greeks defeat the Turks at the Battle of Gravia Inn. Read more
• 1794 — Branded a traitor during the Reign of Terror, French chemist Antoine Lavoisier, who was also a tax collector with the Ferme générale, is tried, convicted and guillotined in one day in Paris. Read more
• 1788 — King Louis XVI of France attempts to impose the reforms of Étienne Charles de Loménie de Brienne by abolishing the parlements. Read more
• 1721 — In the Papal States, Cardinal Michelangelo dei Conti is elected Pope, and takes the name Innocent XIII. Read more
• 1639 — William Coddington founds Newport, Rhode Island. Read more
• 1608 — A newly nationalized silver mine in Scotland at Hilderston, West Lothian is re-opened by Bevis Bulmer. Read more
• 1541 — Hernando de Soto stops near present-day Walls, Mississippi, and sees the Mississippi River (then known by the Spanish as Río de Espíritu Santo, the name given to it by Alonso Álvarez de Pineda in 1519). Read more
• 1516 — A group of imperial guards, led by Trịnh Duy Sản, murder Emperor Lê Tương Dực and flee, leaving the capital Thăng Long undefended. Read more
• 1429 — The Hundred Years War: Joan of Arc lifts the Siege of Orléans, turning the tide of the war Read more
• 1373 — Julian of Norwich, a Christian mystic and anchoress, experiences the deathbed visions described in her Revelations of Divine Love. Read more
• 1360 — The Hundred Years War: the Treaty of Brétigny is drafted between King Edward III of England and King John II of France (the Good). Read more
• 589 — Reccared I opens the Third Council of Toledo, marking the entry of Visigothic Spain into the Catholic Church. Read more
• 413 — Emperor Honorius signs an edict providing tax relief for the Italian provinces Tuscia, Campania, Picenum, Samnium, Apulia, Lucania and Calabria, which were plundered by the Visigoths. Read more
• 453 BC — Spring and Autumn period: The house of Zhao defeats the house of Zhi, ending the Battle of Jinyang, a military conflict between the elite families of the State of Jin. Read more

Born on May 8

• 2005 — Oliver Bearman, English racing driver Read more
• 2003 — Moulay Hassan, Crown Prince of Morocco Read more
• 2001 — Jordyn Huitema, Canadian soccer player Read more
• 1996 — 6ix9ine, American rapper Read more
• 1993 — Pat Cummins, Australian cricketer Read more
• 1992 — Olivia Culpo, American model and actress Read more
• 1992 — Kevin Hayes, American ice hockey player Read more
• 1990 — Lane Johnson, American football player Read more
• 1990 — Iyo Sky, Japanese wrestler Read more
• 1990 — Kemba Walker, American basketball player Read more
• 1989 — Lars Eller, Danish ice hockey player Read more
• 1988 — Trisha Paytas, American media personality Read more
• 1987 — Felix Jones, American football player Read more
• 1987 — Mark Noble, English footballer Read more
• 1987 — Kurt Tippett, Australian footballer Read more
• 1986 — Galen Rupp, American runner Read more
• 1985 — Tommaso Ciampa, American wrestler Read more
• 1982 — Buakaw Banchamek, Thai kick-boxer Read more
• 1982 — Adrián González, American baseball player Read more
• 1981 — Stephen Amell, Canadian actor Read more
• 1981 — Andrea Barzagli, Italian footballer Read more
• 1980 — Evgeny Lebedev, Russian-English publisher and philanthropist Read more
• 1980 — Michelle McManus, Scottish singer-songwriter and actress Read more
• 1978 — Lúcio, Brazilian footballer Read more
• 1977 — Joe Bonamassa, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
• 1977 — Bad News Brown, Canadian rapper, harmonica player, and actor (died 2011) Read more
• 1977 — Theodoros Papaloukas, Greek basketball player Read more
• 1976 — Martha Wainwright, Canadian-American singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
• 1975 — Enrique Iglesias, Spanish-American singer-songwriter, producer, and actor Read more
• 1974 — Korey Stringer, American football player (died 2001) Read more
• 1973 — Jesús Arellano, Mexican footballer Read more
• 1973 — Marcus Brigstocke, English comedian, actor, and screenwriter Read more
• 1972 — Darren Hayes, Australian singer-songwriter Read more
• 1972 — Ray Whitney, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1971 — Candice Night, American singer-songwriter Read more
• 1970 — Michael Bevan, Australian cricketer and coach Read more
• 1970 — Naomi Klein, Canadian author and activist Read more
• 1970 — Luis Enrique, Spanish footballer and manager Read more
• 1969 — Akebono Tarō, American-Japanese sumo wrestler, the 64th Yokozuna (died 2024) Read more
• 1969 — John Timu, New Zealand rugby player Read more

Died on May 8

• 2025 — Simon Mann, British military officer and mercenary (born 1952) Read more
• 2024 — Chris Cannon, American politician (born 1950) Read more
• 2024 — Jimmy Johnson, American football player (born 1938) Read more
• 2024 — Pete McCloskey, American politician (born 1927) Read more
• 2024 — Ramón Fonseca Mora, Panamanian novelist and lawyer (born 1952) Read more
• 2023 — Rita Lee, Brazilian musician and author (born 1947) Read more
• 2022 — Robert Gillmor, British wildlife artist and illustrator (born 1936) Read more
• 2022 — Dennis Waterman, English actor and singer (born 1948) Read more
• 2021 — Helmut Jahn, German-American architect (born 1940) Read more
• 2019 — Sprent Dabwido, President of Nauru from 2011 to 2013 (born 1972) Read more
• 2018 — Big Bully Busick, American professional wrestler (born 1954) Read more
• 2018 — Anne V. Coates, British film editor (Lawrence of Arabia, The Elephant Man, Erin Brockovich), Oscar winner (1963) (born 1925) Read more
• 2016 — William Schallert, American actor; president (1979–81) of the Screen Actors Guild (born 1922) Read more
• 2015 — Zeki Alasya, Turkish actor and director (born 1943) Read more
• 2015 — Mwepu Ilunga, Congolese footballer (born 1949) Read more
• 2015 — Juan Schwanner, Hungarian-Chilean footballer and manager (born 1921) Read more
• 2015 — Atanas Semerdzhiev, Bulgarian soldier and politician, 1st Vice President of Bulgaria (born 1924) Read more
• 2014 — Roger L. Easton, American scientist, co-invented the GPS (born 1921) Read more
• 2014 — Nancy Malone, American actress, director, and producer (born 1935) Read more
• 2014 — Jair Rodrigues, Brazilian singer (born 1939) Read more
• 2014 — Joseph P. Teasdale, American lawyer and politician, 48th Governor of Missouri (born 1936) Read more
• 2013 — Jeanne Cooper, American actress (born 1928) Read more
• 2013 — Bryan Forbes, English actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1926) Read more
• 2013 — Juan José Muñoz, Argentinian businessman (born 1950) Read more
• 2013 — Hugh J. Silverman, American philosopher and theorist (born 1945) Read more
• 2012 — Maurice Sendak, American author and illustrator (born 1928) Read more
• 2012 — Ampon Tangnoppakul, Thai criminal (born 1948) Read more
• 2012 — Roman Totenberg, Polish-American violinist and educator (born 1911) Read more
• 2011 — Lionel Rose, Australian boxer (born 1948) Read more
• 2009 — Dom DiMaggio, American baseball player (born 1917) Read more
• 2008 — Eddy Arnold, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor (born 1918) Read more
• 2008 — François Sterchele, Belgian footballer (born 1982) Read more
• 2007 — Philip R. Craig, American author and poet (born 1933) Read more
• 2007 — Carson Whitsett, American keyboard player, songwriter, and producer (born 1945) Read more
• 2006 — Iain Macmillan, Scottish photographer and author (born 1938) Read more
• 2005 — Jean Carrière, French author (born 1928) Read more
• 2005 — Nicolás Vuyovich, Argentinian race car driver (born 1981) Read more
• 2003 — Elvira Pagã, Brazilian vedette, singer, and artist (born 1920) Read more
• 2000 — Pita Amor, Mexican poet and author (born 1918) Read more
• 2000 — Dédé Fortin, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1962) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Amato Ronconi; Christian feast day: Pope Boniface IV; Christian feast day: Apparition of Saint Michael; Christian feast day: Arsenius the Great; Christian feast day: Desideratus; Christian feast day: Blessed Catherine of St. Augustine; Christian feast day: Julian of Norwich (Anglican, Lutheran); Christian feast day: Magdalene of Canossa; Christian feast day: Our Lady of Luján; Christian feast day: Peter II of Tarentaise; Christian feast day: Blessed Teresa Demjanovich (Ruthenian Catholic Church); Christian feast day: Blessed Ulrika Nisch; Christian feast day: 19 Martyrs of Algeria; Christian feast day: May 8 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Emancipation Day (Columbus, Mississippi); Furry Dance (Helston, UK); Liberation Day (Czech Republic); Miguel Hidalgo's birthday (Mexico); Parents' Day (South Korea); Truman Day (Missouri); Veterans Day (Norway); Victory in Europe Day, and its related observances (Europe): Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War, continues to May 9; Victory in Europe Day, and its related observances (Europe): Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945 (Ukraine); White Lotus Day (Theosophy); World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day (International)

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