On This Day — July 8

🕰️ Notable Events on July 8

• 2014 — Israel launches an offensive on Gaza amid rising tensions following the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers. Wikipedia ↗
• 2011 — Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched in the final mission of the U.S. Space Shuttle program. Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — Kim Jong-il begins to assume supreme leadership of North Korea upon the death of his father, Kim Il-sung. Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — The Island Express train travelling from Bangalore to Kanyakumari derails on the Peruman bridge and falls into Ashtamudi Lake, killing 105 passengers and injuring over 200 more. Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Assassination attempt against Iraqi president Saddam Hussein in Dujail. Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — The inaugural 1980 State of Origin game is won by Queensland who defeat New South Wales 20-10 at Lang Park. Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Israeli Mossad assassinate Palestinian writer Ghassan Kanafani. Wikipedia ↗
• 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. Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — The Chrysler wildcat strike begins in Detroit, Michigan. Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — King Mwambutsa IV Bangiriceng of Burundi is deposed by his son Prince Charles Ndizi. Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Ne Win besieges and dynamites the Rangoon University Student Union building to crush the Student Movement. Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Francis Gary Powers is charged with espionage resulting from his flight over the Soviet Union. Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — The United States Air Force accepts its first female recruits into a program called Women in the Air Force (WAF). Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Reports are broadcast that a UFO crash landed in Roswell, New Mexico in what became known as the Roswell UFO incident. Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan sign the Treaty of Saadabad. Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — The first rugby union test match between the Wallabies of Australia and the Springboks of South Africa is played at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town. Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — The Dow Jones Industrial Average reaches its lowest level of the Great Depression, closing at 41.22. Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Henrique Mitchell de Paiva Couceiro leads an unsuccessful royalist attack against the First Portuguese Republic in Chaves. Wikipedia ↗
• 1898 — The death of crime boss Soapy Smith, killed in the Shootout on Juneau Wharf, releases Skagway, Alaska from his iron grip. Wikipedia ↗
• 1892 — St. John's, Newfoundland is devastated in the Great Fire of 1892. Wikipedia ↗
• 1889 — The first issue of The Wall Street Journal is published. Wikipedia ↗
• 1879 — Sailing ship USS Jeannette departs San Francisco carrying an ill-fated expedition to the North Pole. Wikipedia ↗
• 1876 — White supremacists kill five Black Republicans in Hamburg, South Carolina. Wikipedia ↗
• 1874 — The Mounties begin their March West. Wikipedia ↗
• 1864 — Ikedaya Incident: The Choshu Han shishi's planned Shinsengumi sabotage on Kyoto, Japan at Ikedaya. Wikipedia ↗
• 1859 — King Charles XV & IV accedes to the throne of Sweden-Norway. Wikipedia ↗
• 1853 — The Perry Expedition arrives in Edo Bay with a treaty requesting trade. Wikipedia ↗
• 1822 — Chippewas turn over a huge tract of land in Ontario to the United Kingdom. Wikipedia ↗
• 1808 — Joseph Bonaparte approves the Bayonne Statute, a royal charter intended as the basis for his rule as king of Spain. Wikipedia ↗
• 1776 — Church bells (possibly including the Liberty Bell) are rung after John Nixon delivers the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence of the United States. Wikipedia ↗
• 1775 — The Olive Branch Petition is signed by the Continental Congress of the Thirteen Colonies of North America. Wikipedia ↗
• 1760 — British forces defeat French forces in the last naval battle in New France. Wikipedia ↗
• 1758 — French forces hold Fort Carillon against the British at Ticonderoga, New York. Wikipedia ↗
• 1730 — An estimated magnitude 8.7 earthquake causes a tsunami that damages more than 1,000 km (620 mi) of Chile's coastline. Wikipedia ↗
• 1716 — The Battle of Dynekilen forces Sweden to abandon its invasion of Norway. Wikipedia ↗
• 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. Wikipedia ↗
• 1663 — Charles II of England grants John Clarke a Royal charter to Rhode Island. Wikipedia ↗
• 1592 — Imjin War: At the Battle of Hansan Island, the Korean Navy, led by Yi Sun-sin, Yi Eok-gi, and Won Gyun, decisively defeats the Japanese Navy, led by Wakisaka Yasuharu. Wikipedia ↗
• 1579 — Our Lady of Kazan, a holy icon of the Russian Orthodox Church, is discovered underground in the city of Kazan, Tatarstan. Wikipedia ↗
• 1497 — Vasco da Gama sets sail on the first direct European voyage to India. Wikipedia ↗
• 1283 — Roger of Lauria, commanding the Aragonese fleet defeats an Angevin fleet sent to put down a rebellion on Malta. Wikipedia ↗
• 1099 — Some 15,000 starving Christian soldiers begin the siege of Jerusalem by marching in a religious procession around the city as its Muslim defenders watch. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on July 8

• 1998 — Jaden Christopher Syre Smith, American actor and rapper Wikipedia ↗
• 1996 — Braidon Burns, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Virgil van Dijk, Dutch footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Yarden Gerbi, Israeli world champion and Olympic bronze medalist judoka Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Tor Marius Gromstad, Norwegian footballer (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Miki Roqué, Spanish footballer (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Jesse Sergent, New Zealand cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Dave Taylor, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Jaime Garcia, Mexican baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Renata Costa, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Jamie Cook, English guitarist and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — John Bowker, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Jaroslav Janiš, Czech race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Daniel Navarro, Spanish cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Rich Peverley, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Sophia Bush, American actress and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Hakim Warrick, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Wolfram Müller, German runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Anastasia Myskina, Russian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Eric Chouinard, American-Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Robbie Keane, Irish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Mat McBriar, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Rachael Lillis, American voice actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Urmas Rooba, Estonian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Christian Abbiati, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Paolo Tiralongo, Italian cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Milo Ventimiglia, American actor, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Wang Zhizhi, Chinese basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Talal El Karkouri, Moroccan footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — David Kennedy, American guitarist and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Ellen MacArthur, English sailor Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Elias Viljanen, Finnish singer and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Karl Dykhuis, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Sourav Ganguly, Indian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Neil Jenkins, Welsh rugby player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Beck, American singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Sylvain Gaudreault, Canadian educator and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Todd Martin, American tennis player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Sugizo, Japanese singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — George Fisher, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Billy Crudup, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Shane Howarth, New Zealand rugby player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Michael Weatherly, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Ralf Altmeyer, German-Chinese virologist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Shadlog Bernicke, Nauruan politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Dan Levinson, American clarinet player, saxophonist, and bandleader Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Alexei Gusarov, Russian ice hockey player and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Mark Christopher, American director and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Joan Osborne, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Ces Drilon, Filipino journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Andrew Fletcher, English keyboard player Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Toby Keith, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Karl Seglem, Norwegian saxophonist and record producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Mal Meninga, Australian rugby league player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Kevin Bacon, American actor and musician Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Andreas Carlgren, Swedish educator and politician, 8th Swedish Minister for the Environment Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Tzipi Livni, Israeli lawyer and politician, 18th Justice Minister of Israel Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Carlos Cavazo, Mexican-American guitarist and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Aleksandr Gurnov, Russian journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Terry Puhl, Canadian baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Larry Garner, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Jack Lambert, American football player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Marianne Williamson, American author and activist Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Alan Ashby, American baseball player, manager, and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Anjelica Huston, American actress and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Wolfgang Puck, Austrian-American chef, restaurateur and entrepreneur Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Indian politician, 14th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Raffi, Egyptian-Canadian singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Ruby Sales, American civil-rights activist Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Kim Darby, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Jenny Diski, English author and screenwriter (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Luis Fernando Figari, Peruvian religious leader, founded the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Micheline Calmy-Rey, Swiss politician, 91st President of the Swiss Confederation Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Jaimoe, American drummer Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Jeffrey Tambor, American actor and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Phil Gramm, American economist and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Dario Gradi, Italian-English footballer, coach, and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Joe B. Mauldin, American bass player and songwriter (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Ed Lumley, Canadian businessman and politician, 8th Canadian Minister of Communications Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Diane Clare, English actress (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — John David Crow, American football player and coach (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Steve Lawrence, American actor and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Vitaly Sevastyanov, Russian engineer and astronaut (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Raquel Correa, Chilean journalist (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Marty Feldman, English actor and screenwriter (d. 1982) Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Antonio Lamer, Canadian lawyer and politician, 16th Chief Justice of Canada (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Jerry Vale, American singer (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Chris Adams, American author and retired United States Air Force officer Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Balakh Sher Mazari, former Prime Minister of Pakistan Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Maurice Hayes, Irish educator and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Khensur Lungri Namgyel, Tibetan religious leader Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — David Malet Armstrong, Australian philosopher and author (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — John Dingell, American lieutenant and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Martin Riesen, Swiss professional ice hockey goaltender Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, Swiss-American psychiatrist and author (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Marco Cé, Italian cardinal (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Arthur Imperatore Sr., Italian-American businessman from New Jersey Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Bill Mackrides, American football quarterback Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Dominique Nohain, French actor, screenwriter and director (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Johnnie Johnson, American pianist and songwriter (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Charles C. Droz, American politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Harrison Dillard, American sprinter and hurdler Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, Danish businessman (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Walter Scheel, German soldier and politician, 4th President of West Germany (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Paul B. Fay, American businessman, soldier, and diplomat, 12th United States Secretary of the Navy (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Irwin Hasen, American illustrator (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Oluf Reed-Olsen, Norwegian resistance member and pilot (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Julia Pirie, British spy working for MI5 (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Edward B. Giller, U.S Major General (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Craig Stevens, American actor (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Pamela Brown, English actress (d. 1975) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Faye Emerson, American actress (d. 1983) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — J. F. Powers, American novelist and short story writer (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Jean Rouverol, American author, actress and screenwriter (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Neil D. Van Sickle, American Air Force major general Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Jyoti Basu, Indian politician, 6th Chief Minister of West Bengal (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Billy Eckstine, American singer and trumpet player (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — Ken Farnes, English cricketer (d. 1941) Wikipedia ↗
• 1909 — Alan Brown, English soldier (d. 1971) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Louis Jordan, American singer-songwriter, saxophonist, and actor (d. 1975) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Nelson Rockefeller, American businessman and politician, 41st Vice President of the United States (d. 1979) Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — George W. Romney, American businessman and politician, 43rd Governor of Michigan (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1906 — Philip Johnson, American architect, designed the IDS Center and PPG Place (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1905 — Leonid Amalrik, Russian animator and director (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1904 — Henri Cartan, French mathematician and academic (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — George Antheil, American pianist, composer, and author (d. 1959) Wikipedia ↗
• 1898 — Melville Ruick, American actor (d. 1972) Wikipedia ↗
• 1895 — Igor Tamm, Russian physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1971) Wikipedia ↗
• 1894 — Pyotr Kapitsa, Russian physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1984) Wikipedia ↗
• 1893 — R. Carlyle Buley, American historian and author (d. 1968) Wikipedia ↗
• 1892 — Richard Aldington, English author and poet (d. 1962) Wikipedia ↗
• 1892 — Pavel Korin, Russian painter (d. 1967) Wikipedia ↗
• 1890 — Stanton Macdonald-Wright, American painter (d. 1973) Wikipedia ↗
• 1885 — Ernst Bloch, German philosopher, author, and academic (d. 1977) Wikipedia ↗
• 1885 — Hugo Boss, German fashion designer, founded Hugo Boss (d. 1948) Wikipedia ↗
• 1882 — Percy Grainger, Australian-American pianist and composer (d. 1961) Wikipedia ↗
• 1876 — Alexandros Papanastasiou, Greek sociologist and politician, Prime Minister of Greece (d. 1936) Wikipedia ↗
• 1867 — Käthe Kollwitz, German painter and sculptor (d. 1945) Wikipedia ↗
• 1857 — Alfred Binet, French psychologist and graphologist (d. 1911) Wikipedia ↗
• 1851 — Arthur Evans, English archaeologist and academic (d. 1941) Wikipedia ↗
• 1851 — John Murray, Australian politician, 23rd Premier of Victoria (d. 1916) Wikipedia ↗
• 1839 — John D. Rockefeller, American businessman and philanthropist, founded the Standard Oil Company (d. 1937) Wikipedia ↗
• 1838 — Eli Lilly, American soldier, chemist, and businessman, founded Eli Lilly and Company (d. 1898) Wikipedia ↗
• 1838 — Ferdinand von Zeppelin, German general and businessman, founded the Zeppelin Airship Company (d. 1917) Wikipedia ↗
• 1836 — Joseph Chamberlain, English businessman and politician, Secretary of State for the Colonies (d. 1914) Wikipedia ↗
• 1831 — John Pemberton, American chemist and pharmacist, invented Coca-Cola (d. 1888) Wikipedia ↗
• 1830 — Frederick W. Seward, American lawyer and politician, 6th United States Assistant Secretary of State (d. 1915) Wikipedia ↗
• 1819 — Francis Leopold McClintock, Irish admiral and explorer (d. 1907) Wikipedia ↗
• 1779 — Giorgio Pullicino, Maltese painter and architect (d. 1851) Wikipedia ↗
• 1766 — Dominique Jean Larrey, French surgeon (d. 1842) Wikipedia ↗
• 1760 — Christian Kramp, French mathematician and academic (d. 1826) Wikipedia ↗
• 1621 — Jean de La Fontaine, French author and poet (d. 1695) Wikipedia ↗
• 1593 — Artemisia Gentileschi, Italian painter (d. 1653) Wikipedia ↗
• 1593 — Peter Sainthill, English politician (d. 1648) Wikipedia ↗
• 1545 — Carlos, Prince of Asturias (d. 1568) Wikipedia ↗
• 1538 — Alberto Bolognetti, Roman Catholic cardinal (d. 1585) Wikipedia ↗
• 1528 — Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy (d. 1580) Wikipedia ↗
• 1478 — Gian Giorgio Trissino, Italian linguist, poet, and playwright (d. 1550) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on July 8 (Calendar.cx)