On This Day in History — September 8

Highlights of September 8

• 2022 — Queen Elizabeth II (pictured) died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland; her eldest son Charles III acceded to the throne as King of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms. Read more
• 1995 — Construction began on the Dhammakaya Cetiya, a giant stupa at the Wat Phra Dhammakaya, a Buddhist temple in Pathum Thani, Thailand. Read more
• 1994 — USAir Flight 427 crashed on approach to Pittsburgh International Airport, resulting in 132 deaths and the longest accident investigation in the history of the National Transportation Safety Board. Read more
• 1991 — At the Tailhook Association symposium in Las Vegas, U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviators were alleged to have sexually assaulted 90 persons. Read more
• 1974 — Watergate scandal: U.S. president Gerald Ford gave his recently resigned predecessor Richard Nixon a controversial full and unconditional pardon for any crimes he committed while in office. Read more
• 1974 — Watergate scandal: U.S. president Gerald Ford gave his recently resigned predecessor Richard Nixon a controversial full and unconditional pardon for any crimes he committed while in office. Read more
• 1966 — Queen Elizabeth II opened the Severn Bridge, suggesting that it marked the dawn of a new economic era for South Wales. Read more
• 1966 — The science fiction show Star Trek made its American premiere with "The Man Trap", launching a media franchise that has since created a cult phenomenon and has influenced the design of many current technologies. Read more
• 1966 — Queen Elizabeth II opened the Severn Bridge (pictured), linking South Gloucestershire in England and Monmouthshire in Wales. Read more
• 1954 — Eight nations signed a collective-defense treaty in Manila to create the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (flag pictured), modelled on NATO. Read more
• 1936 — Opposed to António de Oliveira Salazar's support of the Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War, the crews of the Portuguese Navy ships NRP Afonso de Albuquerque and NRP Dão mutinied while anchored in the harbour of Lisbon. Read more
• 1935 — Huey Long, a U.S. senator, was shot in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, dying two days later. Read more
• 1921 — In Atlantic City, New Jersey, Margaret Gorman (pictured) was crowned the "Golden Mermaid", the forerunner to the Miss America pageant. Read more
• 1907 — Gertrude Stein meets her life partner and muse, Alice B. Toklas in Paris. Read more
• 1900 — The Great Galveston hurricane, the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history, struck Galveston, Texas, with estimated winds of 135 miles per hour (215 km/h) at landfall, killing at least 6,000 people. Read more
• 1860 — The paddle steamer Lady Elgin (pictured) was rammed by a schooner on Lake Michigan and sank, resulting in the loss of about 300 lives. Read more
• 1831 — The Russian Empire suppressed the November Uprising in Poland with the capture of Warsaw after a two-day assault. Read more
• 1831 — William IV and Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen were crowned King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Read more
• 1796 — French Revolutionary Wars: The French defeated Austrian forces in Bassano, Venetia, Italy. Read more
• 1796 — French Revolutionary Wars: Led by Napoleon, French forces defeated the Austrians at the Battle of Bassano in Veneto, Italy. Read more
• 1775 — Maltese priests discontented with the Order of Saint John led an uprising that was quickly suppressed by the Order. Read more
• 1755 — French and Indian War: Despite being ambushed at the start of the Battle of Lake George, British colonial troops and their Mohawk allies were able to defeat French and Canadien troops and their Indian allies. Read more
• 1726 — J. S. Bach led the first performance of Geist und Seele wird verwirret, a solo cantata for alto voice. Read more
• 1566 — Ottoman–Habsburg wars: Ottoman forces led by Suleiman the Magnificent captured the fortress of Szigetvár in Hungary, but were forced to end their campaign to take Vienna. Read more
• 1565 — St. Augustine, Florida, the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European origin in the contiguous United States, was founded by Spanish admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés. Read more
• 1100 — Theodoric was elected by opponents of Pope Paschal II, following the death of Antipope Clement III. Read more
• 617 — Li Yuan defeated a Sui army at the Battle of Huoyi, opening the path to his capture of the Chinese imperial capital Chang'an and the eventual establishment of the Tang dynasty. Read more

Events

• 2025 — Balçova police station shooting: Four people, including the perpetrator are killed an attack on a police station in Turkey. Read more
• 2023 — A magnitude 6.9 earthquake strikes Morocco, killing nearly 3,000 people and damaging historic sites in Marrakesh. Read more
• 2023 — The 2023 Rugby World Cup, the tenth men's Rugby World Cup is held in France. The opening ceremony, directed and written by Jean Dujardin, Olivier Ferracci and Nora Matthey, took place at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, before the opening match between France and New Zealand, which saw the host nation winning 27 to 13. Read more
• 2022 — Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom dies at Balmoral Castle in Scotland after reigning for 70 years. Her son Charles, Prince of Wales, ascends the throne upon her death as Charles III. Read more
• 2017 — Syrian civil war: The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announce the beginning of the Deir ez-Zor campaign, with the stated aim of eliminating the Islamic State (IS) from all areas north and east of the Euphrates. Read more
• 2016 — NASA launches OSIRIS-REx, its first asteroid sample return mission. The probe visited 101955 Bennu and returned with samples in September 2023. Read more
• 2005 — Two Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft from EMERCOM land at a disaster aid staging area at Little Rock Air Force Base; the first time Russia has flown such a mission to North America. Read more
• 2004 — NASA's uncrewed spacecraft Genesis crash-lands when its parachute fails to open. Read more
• 2000 — NASA launches Space Shuttle Atlantis on STS-106 to resupply the International Space Station. Read more
• 1994 — USAir Flight 427, on approach to Pittsburgh International Airport, suddenly crashes in clear weather killing all 132 aboard, resulting in the most extensive aviation investigation in world history and altering manufacturing practices in the industry. Read more
• 1989 — Partnair Flight 394 dives into the North Sea, killing 55 people. The investigation showed that the tail of the plane vibrated loose in flight due to sub-standard connecting bolts that had been fraudulently sold as aircraft-grade. Read more
• 1988 — Yellowstone National Park is closed for the first time in U.S. history due to ongoing fires. Read more
• 1986 — Nicholas Daniloff, a correspondent for U.S. News & World Report, is indicted on charges of espionage by the Soviet Union. Read more
• 1978 — Black Friday, a massacre by soldiers against protesters in Tehran, results in 88 deaths, it marks the beginning of the end of the monarchy in Iran. Read more
• 1975 — Gays in the military: US Air Force Tech Sergeant Leonard Matlovich, a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, appears in his Air Force uniform on the cover of Time magazine with the headline "I Am A Homosexual". He is given a general discharge, later upgraded to honorable. Read more
• 1974 — Watergate scandal: US President Gerald Ford signs the pardon of Richard Nixon for any crimes Nixon may have committed while in office. Read more
• 1973 — World Airways Flight 802 crashes into Mount Dutton in King Cove, Alaska, killing six people. Read more
• 1971 — In Washington, D.C., the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is inaugurated, with the opening feature being the premiere of Leonard Bernstein's Mass. Read more
• 1970 — Trans International Airlines Flight 863 crashes during takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, killing all 11 aboard. Read more
• 1966 — The landmark American science fiction television series Star Trek premieres with its first-aired episode, "The Man Trap". Read more
• 1962 — Last run of the famous Pines Express over the Somerset and Dorset Railway line (UK) fittingly using the last steam locomotive built by British Railways, BR Standard Class 9F 92220 Evening Star. Read more
• 1960 — In Huntsville, Alabama, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower formally dedicates the Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA had already activated the facility on July 1). Read more
• 1954 — The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) is established. Read more
• 1952 — The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation makes its first televised broadcast on the second escape of the Boyd Gang. Read more
• 1948 — The flag of North Korea is adopted with the passing of the country's first constitution by the Supreme People's Assembly. Read more
• 1946 — A referendum abolishes the monarchy in Bulgaria. Read more
• 1945 — The division of Korea begins when United States troops arrive to partition the southern part of Korea in response to Soviet troops occupying the northern part of the peninsula a month earlier. Read more
• 1944 — World War II: London is hit by a V-2 rocket for the first time. Read more
• 1943 — World War II: The Armistice of Cassibile is proclaimed by radio. OB Süd immediately implements plans to disarm the Italian forces. Read more
• 1941 — World War II: German forces begin the Siege of Leningrad. Read more
• 1935 — US Senator from Louisiana Huey Long is fatally shot in the Louisiana State Capitol building. Read more
• 1934 — Off the New Jersey coast, a fire aboard the passenger liner SS Morro Castle kills 137 people. Read more
• 1933 — Ghazi bin Faisal became King of Iraq. Read more
• 1926 — Germany is admitted to the League of Nations. Read more
• 1925 — Rif War: Spanish forces including troops from the Foreign Legion under Colonel Francisco Franco landing at Al Hoceima, Morocco. Read more
• 1923 — Honda Point disaster: Nine US Navy destroyers run aground off the California coast. Seven are lost, and twenty-three sailors killed. Read more
• 1921 — Margaret Gorman, a 16-year-old, wins the Atlantic City Pageant's Golden Mermaid trophy; pageant officials later dubbed her the first Miss America. Read more
• 1916 — In a bid to prove that women were capable of serving as military dispatch riders, Augusta and Adeline Van Buren arrive in Los Angeles, completing a 60-day, 5,500 mile cross-country trip on motorcycles. Read more
• 1914 — World War I: Private Thomas Highgate becomes the first British soldier to be executed for desertion during the war. Read more
• 1905 — The 7.2 Mw Calabria earthquake shakes southern Italy with a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme), killing between 557 and 2,500 people. Read more
• 1900 — Galveston hurricane: A powerful hurricane hits Galveston, Texas killing about 8,000 people. Read more
• 1898 — Seven hundred Greek civilians, 17 British guards and the British Consul of Crete are killed by a Turkish mob. Read more
• 1892 — The Pledge of Allegiance is first recited. Read more
• 1888 — Isaac Peral's submarine is first tested. Read more
• 1888 — The Great Herding (Spanish: El Gran Arreo) begins with thousands of sheep being herded from the Argentine outpost of Fortín Conesa to Santa Cruz near the Strait of Magellan. Read more
• 1888 — In London, the body of Jack the Ripper's second murder victim, Annie Chapman, is found. Read more
• 1888 — In England, the first six Football League matches are played. Read more
• 1883 — The Northern Pacific Railway (reporting mark NP) was completed in a ceremony at Gold Creek, Montana. Former president Ulysses S. Grant drove in the final "golden spike" in an event attended by rail and political luminaries. Read more
• 1863 — American Civil War: In the Second Battle of Sabine Pass, a small Confederate force thwarts a Union invasion of Texas. Read more
• 1862 — Millennium of Russia monument is unveiled in Novgorod. Read more
• 1860 — The steamship PS Lady Elgin sinks on Lake Michigan, with the loss of around 300 lives. Read more
• 1855 — Crimean War: The French assault the tower of Malakoff, leading to the capture of Sevastopol. Read more
• 1831 — William IV and Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen are crowned King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Read more
• 1831 — November uprising: The Battle of Warsaw effectively ends the Polish insurrection. Read more
• 1819 — 1819 Balloon riot occurred at Vauxhall Garden in Philadelphia, PA and resulted in the destruction of the amusement park. Read more
• 1813 — At the final stage of the Peninsular War, British-Portuguese troops capture the town of Donostia (now San Sebastián), resulting in a rampage and eventual destruction of the town. Read more
• 1810 — The Tonquin sets sail from New York Harbor with 33 employees of John Jacob Astor's newly created Pacific Fur Company on board. Read more
• 1808 — The Treaty of Paris is signed ending the French military occupation of Prussia. Read more
• 1796 — French Revolutionary Wars: Battle of Bassano: French forces defeat Austrian troops at Bassano del Grappa. Read more
• 1793 — French Revolutionary Wars: Battle of Hondschoote. Read more

Born on September 8

• 2004 — Lewis Hall, English footballer Read more
• 2003 — Nicolas Cantu, American actor and internet personality Read more
• 2002 — Gaten Matarazzo, American actor and singer Read more
• 2001 — Bill Mamadou, Singaporean footballer Read more
• 2000 — Zak Butters, Australian footballer Read more
• 2000 — Miles McBride, American basketball player Read more
• 1999 — Ellie Kildunne, English rugby player Read more
• 1999 — Vivianne Härri, Swiss alpine skier Read more
• 1999 — Shubman Gill, Indian cricketer Read more
• 1998 — Sierra Capri, American actress Read more
• 1998 — Chelsea Gubecka, Australian swimmer Read more
• 1998 — Emma Laird, English actress Read more
• 1998 — Georgie Gleeson, Australian representative Read more
• 1998 — Matheus Leist, Brazilian racing driver Read more
• 1997 — Tessa, Danish rapper Read more
• 1997 — Lars Nootbaar, American baseball player Read more
• 1996 — Tim Gajser, Slovenian motocross racer Read more
• 1995 — Ellie Black, Canadian gymnast Read more
• 1995 — Kimberley Woods, British slalom canoeist Read more
• 1995 — Celya AB, French stand-up comedian, writer and actress based in England Read more
• 1995 — Maya Kingma, Dutch triathlete Read more
• 1994 — Ćamila Mičijević, Croatian-Bosnian handball player Read more
• 1994 — Alayna Treene, American journalist Read more
• 1994 — Azumi Waki, Japanese voice actress and singer Read more
• 1994 — Paula Nicart, Spanish former footballer Read more
• 1994 — Oleksandr Korpan, Ukrainian military pilot Read more
• 1994 — Gonzalo Piovi, American internet personality Read more
• 1994 — Ghayas Zahid, Irish professional footballer Read more
• 1994 — Shane Griffin, Norwegian professional footballer Read more
• 1994 — George Honeyman, American professional basketball player Read more
• 1994 — Karan Kaila, Indian cricketer Read more
• 1994 — Ivan Ntege, Ugandan professional footballer Read more
• 1994 — Alan Techer, French champion solo motorcycle racer Read more
• 1994 — Dennis Slamar, German footballer Read more
• 1994 — Valeriy Boldenkov, Ukrainian footballer Read more
• 1994 — Rigoberto Sanchez, American professional football punter and kickoff specialist Read more
• 1994 — Sebastian Stasiak, Polish modern pentathlete Read more
• 1994 — Yassine Benzia, Algeria professional footballer Read more
• 1994 — Daiya Maekawa, Japanese professional footballer Read more
• 1994 — Stuart Moore, English professional footballer Read more

Died on September 8

• 2026 — Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong politician and businessman, first Chief Executive of Hong Kong (born 1937) Read more
• 2024 — Mauricio Arriaza Chicas, Salvadoran police officer (born 1964) Read more
• 2024 — Ed Kranepool, American baseball player (born 1944) Read more
• 2024 — Henny Moan, Norwegian actress (born 1936) Read more
• 2024 — Zoot Money, English musician (born 1942) Read more
• 2024 — Peter Renaday, American voice actor (born 1935) Read more
• 2024 — Emi Shinohara, Japanese voice actress and singer (born 1963) Read more
• 2022 — Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms (born 1926) Read more
• 2022 — Gwyneth Powell, English actress (born 1946) Read more
• 2021 — Luis Villafuerte, Filipino politician, former congressman and governor of Camarines Sur (born 1935) Read more
• 2019 — S. Rajasekar, Indian cinematographer, film director, and actor (born 1957) Read more
• 2018 — Gennadi Gagulia, Prime Minister of Abkhazia (born 1948) Read more
• 2017 — Pierre Bergé, French businessman (born 1930) Read more
• 2017 — Jerry Pournelle, American author and journalist (born 1933) Read more
• 2017 — Ljubiša Samardžić, Serbian actor and director (born 1936) Read more
• 2017 — Don Williams, American musician (born 1939) Read more
• 2016 — Hannes Arch, Austrian race pilot (born 1967) Read more
• 2016 — Dragiša Pešić, Montenegrin politician, 5th Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (born 1954) Read more
• 2016 — Prince Buster, Jamaican singer-songwriter and producer (born 1938) Read more
• 2015 — Joaquín Andújar, Dominican baseball player (born 1952) Read more
• 2015 — Joost Zwagerman, Dutch author and poet (born 1963) Read more
• 2014 — Marvin Barnes, American basketball player (born 1952) Read more
• 2014 — S. Truett Cathy, American businessman, founder of Chick-fil-A (born 1921) Read more
• 2014 — Sean O'Haire, American wrestler, mixed martial artist, and kick-boxer (born 1971) Read more
• 2014 — Magda Olivero, Italian soprano (born 1910) Read more
• 2014 — Gerald Wilson, American trumpet player and composer (born 1918) Read more
• 2013 — Don Reichert, Canadian painter and photographer (born 1932) Read more
• 2013 — Jean Véronis, French linguist, computer scientist, and blogger (born 1955) Read more
• 2013 — Radoslav Rotković, Montenegrin historian (born 1928) Read more
• 2012 — Ronald Hamowy, Canadian historian and academic (born 1937) Read more
• 2012 — Thomas Szasz, Hungarian-American psychiatrist and academic (born 1920) Read more
• 2009 — Aage Bohr, Danish physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1922) Read more
• 2009 — Mike Bongiorno, American-Italian television host (born 1924) Read more
• 2007 — Vincent Serventy, Australian ornithologist, conservationist, and author (born 1916) Read more
• 2006 — Hilda Bernstein, English-South African author and activist (born 1915) Read more
• 2006 — Peter Brock, Australian racing driver and sportscaster (born 1945) Read more
• 2005 — Noel Cantwell, Irish cricketer, footballer, and manager (born 1932) Read more
• 2004 — Frank Thomas, American animator, voice actor, and screenwriter (born 1913) Read more
• 2003 — Leni Riefenstahl, German actress, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1902) Read more
• 2002 — Laurie Williams, Jamaican cricketer (born 1968) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian Feast Day: Adrian and Natalia of Nicomedia (Roman Catholic Church); Christian Feast Day: Corbinian; Christian Feast Day: Disibod; Christian Feast Day: Blessed Frédéric Ozanam; Christian Feast Day: Isaac of Armenia; Christian Feast Day: Nativity of Mary (Roman Catholic Church), (Anglo-Catholicism) Monti Fest (Mangalorean Catholic); Christian Feast Day: Our Lady of Charity; Christian Feast Day: Our Lady of Covadonga (national holiday in Asturias); Christian Feast Day: Our Lady of Good Health of Vailankanni; Christian Feast Day: Pope Sergius I; Christian Feast Day: September 8 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Christian Feast Day: Feast Day of Our Lady of Meritxell (national holiday in Andorra); Accession Day (United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms) (during the reign of Charles III); Independence Day (North Macedonia); International Literacy Day (International); Martyrs' Day (Afghanistan) (date may fall on September 9, follows a non-Gregorian calendar); National Day (Andorra), also the feast of Our Lady of Meritxell; National Day (Asturias), also the feast of Our Lady of Covadonga; National Day (Extremadura), also the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe; Star Trek Day (International observance); Victory Day (Pakistan); Victory Day, also the feast of Our Lady of Victories or il-Vittorja (Malta); World Physical Therapy Day

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