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On This Day in History — October 8
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Highlights of October 8
- 2019 — Anti-government protests calling for free and fair elections began in Baku, Azerbaijan. Read more
- 2016 — Yemen War: A funeral in Sanaa was hit by two consecutive airstrikes by a Saudi-led coalition, leaving 143–155 civilians dead and more than 525 injured. Read more
- 2001 — At Linate Airport in Milan, Italy, Scandinavian Airlines Flight SK686 collided on take-off with a Cessna Citation II business jet, killing 118 people. Read more
- 1998 — A new airport for Oslo, Norway, opened at Gardermoen, replacing a smaller one at the same location that had served as a backup to the city's previous main airport at Fornebu. Read more
- 1995 — The Croatian Army and Croatian Defence Council launched Operation Southern Move, their last offensive in the Bosnian War. Read more
- 1969 — Demonstrations organized by the Weather Underground known as the Days of Rage began in Chicago, aimed at ending U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. Read more
- 1967 — Marxist revolutionary and guerrilla leader Che Guevara was captured near La Higuera, Bolivia. Read more
- 1956 — Major League Baseball pitcher Don Larsen threw the only perfect game in World Series history. Read more
- 1952 — Three trains collided (aftermath pictured) at Harrow & Wealdstone station in London, killing 112 people and injuring 340 others. Read more
- 1932 — The Indian Air Force was founded as an auxiliary air force of the British Royal Air Force. Read more
- 1918 — World War I: After his platoon suffered heavy casualties during the Meuse–Argonne offensive in France's Forest of Argonne, American Corporal Alvin York led the 7 remaining men on an attack against a German machine gun nest; 25 German soldiers were killed and 132 captured. Read more
- 1871 — The Great Chicago Fire (pictured), began and proceeded to destroy much of the city's central business district, killing 300 people and leaving 90,000 others homeless. Read more
- 1862 — American Civil War: The Battle of Perryville was fought west of Perryville, Kentucky. Read more
- 451 — The Council of Chalcedon, a Christian ecumenical council, opened, and went on to repudiate the Eutychian doctrine of monophysitism and set forth the Chalcedonian Creed. Read more
Events
- 2020 — Second Nagorno-Karabakh War: Azerbaijan twice targets the Church of the Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots of Shusha. Read more
- 2019 — About 200 Extinction Rebellion activists block the gates of Leinster House (parliament) in the Republic of Ireland. Read more
- 2005 — The 7.6 Mw Kashmir earthquake leaves 86,000–87,351 people dead, 69,000–75,266 injured, and 2.8 million homeless. Read more
- 2001 — A twin engine Cessna and a Scandinavian Airlines System jetliner collide in heavy fog during takeoff from Milan, Italy, killing 118 people. Read more
- 2001 — U.S. president George W. Bush announces the establishment of the Office of Homeland Security. Read more
- 1991 — Upon the expiration of the Brioni Agreement, Croatia and Slovenia sever all official relations with Yugoslavia. Read more
- 1990 — First Intifada: Israeli police kill 17 Palestinians and wound over 100 near the Dome of the Rock. Read more
- 1986 — An explosion occurs at the Cipel-Marco fur factory in Kwai Chung, Hong Kong, killing 14 and injuring 10. Read more
- 1982 — Poland bans Solidarity and all other trade unions. Read more
- 1978 — Australia's Ken Warby sets the current world water speed record of 275.97 knots at Blowering Dam, Australia. Read more
- 1974 — Franklin National Bank collapses due to fraud and mismanagement; at the time it is the largest bank failure in the history of the United States. Read more
- 1973 — Yom Kippur War: Israel loses more than 150 tanks in a failed attack on Egyptian-occupied positions. Read more
- 1973 — Spyros Markezinis begins his 48-day term as prime minister in an abortive attempt to lead Greece to parliamentary rule. Read more
- 1970 — Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn wins the Nobel Prize in literature. Read more
- 1969 — The opening rally of the Days of Rage occurs, organized by the Weather Underground in Chicago. Read more
- 1967 — Guerrilla leader Che Guevara and his men are captured in Bolivia. Guevara would be executed the next day. Read more
- 1962 — Der Spiegel publishes an article disclosing the sorry state of the Bundeswehr, leading to accusations of treason. Read more
- 1956 — The New York Yankees's Don Larsen pitches the only perfect game in a World Series. Read more
- 1952 — The Harrow and Wealdstone rail crash in England kills 112 people. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: Captain Bobbie E. Brown earns a Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Crucifix Hill, just outside Aachen. Read more
- 1943 — World War II: Around 30 civilians are executed by Friedrich Schubert's paramilitary group in Kallikratis, Crete. Read more
- 1941 — World War II: During the preliminaries of the Battle of Rostov, German forces reach the Sea of Azov with the capture of Mariupol. Read more
- 1939 — World War II: Germany annexes western Poland. Read more
- 1921 — KDKA in Pittsburgh's Forbes Field conducts the first live broadcast of a football game. Read more
- 1918 — World War I: Corporal Alvin C. York kills 28 German soldiers and captures 132, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Read more
- 1912 — The First Balkan War begins when Montenegro declares war against the Ottoman Empire. Read more
- 1895 — Korean Empress Myeongseong is assassinated by Japanese infiltrators. Read more
- 1879 — War of the Pacific: The Chilean Navy defeats the Peruvian Navy in the Battle of Angamos. Read more
- 1871 — Slash-and-burn land management, months of drought, and the passage of a strong cold front cause the Peshtigo Fire, the Great Chicago Fire and the Great Michigan Fires to break out. Read more
- 1862 — American Civil War: The Confederate invasion of Kentucky is halted at the Battle of Perryville. Read more
- 1856 — The Second Opium War between several western powers and China begins with the Arrow Incident. Read more
- 1829 — Stephenson's Rocket wins the Rainhill Trials. Read more
- 1821 — The Peruvian Navy is established during the War of Independence. Read more
- 1813 — The Treaty of Ried is signed between Bavaria and Austria. Read more
- 1645 — Jeanne Mance opens the first lay hospital of North America in Montreal. Read more
- 1573 — The Spanish siege of Alkmaar ends with the first Dutch victory in the Eighty Years' War. Read more
- 1480 — The Great Stand on the Ugra River puts an end to Tatar rule over Moscow. Read more
- 1322 — Mladen II Šubić of Bribir is deposed as the Croatian Ban after the Battle of Bliska. Read more
- 1200 — Isabella of Angoulême is crowned Queen consort of England. Read more
- 1075 — Dmitar Zvonimir is crowned King of Croatia. Read more
- 876 — Frankish forces led by Louis the Younger prevent a West Frankish invasion and defeat emperor Charles II ("the Bald"). Read more
- 451 — The first session of the Council of Chalcedon begins. Read more
- 316 — Constantine I defeats Licinius, who loses his European territories. Read more
Born on October 8
- 2003 — Ángela Aguilar, Mexican-American singer Read more
- 2002 — Brian Thomas Jr., American football player Read more
- 2002 — Zheng Qinwen, Chinese tennis player Read more
- 1999 — Putthipong Assaratanakul, Thai actor and singer Read more
- 1999 — Camila Rossi, Brazilian rhythmic gymnast Read more
- 1997 — Bella Thorne, American actress Read more
- 1997 — Josh Kerr, Scottish runner Read more
- 1996 — Sara Sorribes Tormo, Spanish tennis player Read more
- 1996 — Sara Takanashi, Japanese ski jumper Read more
- 1996 — Timo Meier, Swiss ice hockey player Read more
- 1995 — Grayson Allen, American basketball player Read more
- 1995 — G Herbo, American rapper Read more
- 1993 — Angus T. Jones, American actor Read more
- 1993 — Garbiñe Muguruza, Spanish tennis player Read more
- 1993 — Molly Quinn, American actress and producer Read more
- 1993 — Bubba Wallace, American race car driver Read more
- 1992 — Chelsea Gray, American basketball player Read more
- 1991 — Jordan McLean, Australian rugby league player Read more
- 1990 — Rachel Klamer, Zimbabwean-Dutch triathlete Read more
- 1987 — Hassan Maatouk, Lebanese footballer Read more
- 1986 — Camilla Herrem, Norwegian handball player Read more
- 1985 — Bruno Mars, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actor Read more
- 1983 — Travis Pastrana, American motorcycle racer Read more
- 1982 — Miloš Pavlović, Serbian racing driver Read more
- 1982 — Annemiek van Vleuten, Dutch cyclist Read more
- 1981 — Raffi Torres, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1980 — Nick Cannon, American actor, rapper, and producer Read more
- 1980 — The Miz, American wrestler, actor, and television personality Read more
- 1980 — J. R. Ramirez, Cuban-American actor Read more
- 1979 — Paul Burchill, English wrestler Read more
- 1979 — Kristanna Loken, American actress Read more
- 1977 — Anne-Caroline Chausson, French cyclist Read more
- 1977 — Jamie Marchi, American voice actress, director, and screenwriter Read more
- 1976 — Karina Bacchi, Brazilian model and actress Read more
- 1976 — Jinnih Beels, Belgian politician Read more
- 1976 — Renate Groenewold, Dutch speed skater and cyclist Read more
- 1974 — Kevyn Adams, American ice hockey player and coach Read more
- 1974 — Fredrik Modin, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
- 1974 — Koji Murofushi, Japanese hammer thrower Read more
- 1973 — Jim Fairchild, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
Died on October 8
- 2025 — Miguel Ángel Russo, Argentine footballer and manager (born 1956) Read more
- 2024 — Pat Fischer, American football player (born 1940) Read more
- 2024 — Tim Johnson, American lawyer and politician (born 1946) Read more
- 2024 — Luis Tiant, Cuban baseball player (born 1940) Read more
- 2020 — Whitey Ford, American professional baseball pitcher (born 1928) Read more
- 2015 — Jim Diamond, Scottish singer-songwriter (born 1951) Read more
- 2014 — Morris Lurie, Australian author and playwright (born 1938) Read more
- 2014 — Zilpha Keatley Snyder, American author (born 1927) Read more
- 2014 — Jeen van den Berg, Dutch speed skater (born 1928) Read more
- 2013 — Paul Desmarais, Canadian businessman and philanthropist (born 1927) Read more
- 2013 — Rod Grams, American journalist and politician (born 1948) Read more
- 2013 — Rodolphe Kasser, Swiss archaeologist and philologist (born 1927) Read more
- 2013 — Akong Rinpoche, Tibetan-Chinese spiritual leader (born 1939) Read more
- 2012 — Varsha Bhosle, Indian singer and journalist (born 1956) Read more
- 2012 — Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Filipino director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1955) Read more
- 2012 — Nawal Kishore Sharma, Indian politician, 20th Governor of Gujarat (born 1925) Read more
- 2011 — Al Davis, American football coach, general manager, and NFL team owner (born 1929) Read more
- 2010 — Frank Bourgholtzer, American journalist (born 1919) Read more
- 2010 — Eileen Crofton, British physician and author (born 1919) Read more
- 2008 — Ângelo Carvalho, Portuguese footballer (born 1925) Read more
- 2008 — Bob Friend, English journalist (born 1938) Read more
- 2008 — Eileen Herlie, Scottish-American actress (born 1918) Read more
- 2008 — George Emil Palade, Romanian-American biologist and physician, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1912) Read more
- 2007 — Constantine Andreou, Greek painter and sculptor (born 1917) Read more
- 2006 — Mark Porter, New Zealand racing driver (born 1974) Read more
- 2002 — Phyllis Calvert, English actress (born 1915) Read more
- 2002 — Jacques Richard, Canadian ice hockey player (born 1952) Read more
- 2001 — Dmitry Polyansky, First Deputy Premier of the Soviet Union (born 1917) Read more
- 2000 — Charlotte Lamb, English author (born 1937) Read more
- 1992 — Willy Brandt, German lawyer and politician, 4th Chancellor of Germany, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1913) Read more
- 1992 — Robert Berdella, American serial killer, torturer, and rapist (born 1949) Read more
- 1987 — Konstantinos Tsatsos, Greek scholar and politician, 2nd President of Greece (born 1899) Read more
- 1985 — Malcolm Ross, American captain, physicist, and balloonist (born 1919) Read more
- 1985 — Gordon Welchman, English-American mathematician and scholar (born 1906) Read more
- 1983 — Joan Hackett, American actress (born 1934) Read more
- 1982 — Fernando Lamas, Argentinian-American actor and director (born 1916) Read more
- 1982 — Philip Noel-Baker, English runner and politician, Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1889) Read more
- 1979 — Brian Edmund Baker, English air marshal (born 1896) Read more
- 1979 — Jayaprakash Narayan, Indian politician (born 1902) Read more
- 1978 — Bertha Parker Pallan, American archaeologist (born 1907) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Evodus (or Yves); Christian feast day:
Blessed John Adams, John Lowe, and Robert Dibdale; Christian feast day:
Palatias and Laurentia; Christian feast day:
Pelagia (Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches); Christian feast day:
Reparata; Christian feast day:
San Ernesto, Che Guevara as a folk saint. (Bolivian campesinos); Christian feast day:
Simeon (Gospel of Luke); Christian feast day:
Thaïs; Christian feast day:
Ugo Canefri; Christian feast day:
William Dwight Porter Bliss and Richard T. Ely (Episcopal Church); Christian feast day:
October 8 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); World Space Week (October 4–10); Air Force Day (India); Children's Day (Iran); Navy Day (Peru); International Lesbian Day; National Fluffernutter Day; World Octopus Day
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “October 8”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.