On This Day — October 8

Famous events, births, and deaths from October 8 in history, plus the public holidays, religious observances, sports, and national days happening on this date today.

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48 events · 259 births · 99 deaths recorded for October 8.

🕰️ Notable Events on October 8

2016 — In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, the death toll rises to nearly 900. Wikipedia ↗
2014 — Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person in the United States to be diagnosed with Ebola, dies. Wikipedia ↗
2005 — The 7.6 Mw Kashmir earthquake strikes with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe), leaving 86,000-87,351 people dead, 69,000-75,266 injured, and 2.8 million homeless. Wikipedia ↗
2001 — A twin engine Cessna and Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) jetliner collide in heavy fog during takeoff from Milan, Italy, killing 118 people. Wikipedia ↗
2001 — U.S. President George W. Bush announces the establishment of the Office of Homeland Security. Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Croatia and Slovenia vote to sever constitutional relations with Yugoslavia. Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Israeli-Palestinian conflict: In Jerusalem, Israeli police kill 17 Palestinians and wound over 100 near the Dome of the Rock mosque on the Temple Mount. Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Poland bans Solidarity and all trade unions. Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Cats opens on Broadway and runs for nearly 18 years before closing on September 10, 2000. Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Australia's Ken Warby sets the current world water speed record of 317.60 mph at Blowering Dam, Australia. Wikipedia ↗
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. Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Yom Kippur War: Gabi Amir's armored brigade unsuccessfully attacks Egyptian-occupied positions on the Israeli side of the Suez Canal, in hope of driving them away; more than 150 Israeli tanks are destroyed. Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Greek military junta of 1967-74: Junta strongman George Papadopoulos appoints Spyros Markezinis as Prime Minister of Greece with the task to lead Greece to parliamentary rule. Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Vietnam War: In Paris, a Communist delegation rejects US President Richard Nixon's October 7 peace proposal as "a manoeuvre to deceive world opinion". Wikipedia ↗
1969 — The opening rally of the Days of Rage occurs, organized by the Weather Underground in Chicago. Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Guerrilla leader Che Guevara and his men are captured in Bolivia. Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Spiegel scandal: Der Spiegel publishes the article "Bedingt abwehrbereit" ("Conditionally prepared for defense") about a NATO manoeuvre called "Fallex 62", which uncovered the sorry state of the Bundeswehr (Germany's army) facing the perceived communist threat from the east at the time. The magazine is soon accused of treason. Wikipedia ↗
1956 — New York Yankees's Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in a World Series. Wikipedia ↗
1952 — The Harrow and Wealdstone rail crash kills 112 people. Wikipedia ↗
1944 — World War II: The Battle of Crucifix Hill occurs just outside Aachen; Capt. Bobbie Brown receives a Medal of Honor for his heroics in this battle. Wikipedia ↗
1943 — World War II: Around 30 civilians are executed by Friedrich Schubert's paramilitary group in Kallikratis, Crete. Wikipedia ↗
1941 — World War II: During the preliminaries of the Battle of Rostov, German forces reach the Sea of Azov with the capture of Mariupol. Wikipedia ↗
1939 — World War II: Germany annexes western Poland. Wikipedia ↗
1928 — Joseph Szigeti gives the first performance of Alfredo Casella's Violin Concerto. Wikipedia ↗
1921 — KDKA in Pittsburgh's Forbes Field conducts the first live broadcast of a football game. Wikipedia ↗
1918 — World War I: In action near Pittem, Belgium, USMC 2nd Lieutenant aviator Ralph Talbot of Weymouth, Massachusetts becomes the first-ever USMC aviator to earn the Medal of Honor. Wikipedia ↗
1918 — World War I: In the Argonne Forest in France, United States Corporal Alvin C. York kills 28 German soldiers and captures 132, for which he is awarded the Medal of Honor. Wikipedia ↗
1912 — First Balkan War begins: Montenegro declares war against the Ottoman Empire. Wikipedia ↗
1895 — Eulmi incident: Queen Min of Joseon, the last empress of Korea, is assassinated and her corpse burnt by Japanese infiltrators inside Gyeongbok Palace. Wikipedia ↗
1879 — War of the Pacific: The Chilean Navy defeats the Peruvian Navy in the Battle of Angamos, Peruvian Admiral Miguel Grau is killed in the encounter. Wikipedia ↗
1871 — Four major fires break out on the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago, Peshtigo, Wisconsin, Holland, Michigan, and Manistee, Michigan including the Great Chicago Fire, and the much deadlier Peshtigo Fire. Wikipedia ↗
1862 — American Civil War: Battle of Perryville: Union forces under General Don Carlos Buell halt the Confederate invasion of Kentucky by defeating troops led by General Braxton Bragg at Perryville, Kentucky. Wikipedia ↗
1860 — Telegraph line between Los Angeles and San Francisco opens. Wikipedia ↗
1856 — The Second Opium War between several western powers and China begins with the Arrow Incident on the Pearl River. Wikipedia ↗
1829 — Rail transport: Stephenson's The Rocket wins The Rainhill Trials. Wikipedia ↗
1821 — The government of general José de San Martín establishes the Peruvian Navy. Wikipedia ↗
1813 — The Treaty of Ried is signed between Bavaria and Austria. Wikipedia ↗
1806 — Napoleonic Wars: Forces of the British Empire lay siege to the port of Boulogne in France by using Congreve rockets, invented by Sir William Congreve. Wikipedia ↗
1645 — Jeanne Mance opened the Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal, the first lay hospital in North America. Wikipedia ↗
1582 — Because of the implementation of the Gregorian calendar this day does not exist in this year in Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain. Wikipedia ↗
1573 — End of the Spanish siege of Alkmaar, the first Dutch victory in Eighty Years' War. Wikipedia ↗
1480 — Great stand on the Ugra river, a standoff between the forces of Akhmat Khan, Khan of the Great Horde, and the Grand Duke Ivan III of Russia, which results in the retreat of the Tataro-Mongols and the eventual disintegration of the Horde. Wikipedia ↗
1322 — Mladen II Šubić of Bribir, defeated in the battle of Bliska, is arrested by the Parliament. Wikipedia ↗
1200 — Isabella of Angoulême is crowned Queen consort of England. Wikipedia ↗
1075 — Dmitar Zvonimir is crowned King of Croatia. Wikipedia ↗
876 — Battle of Andernach: Frankish forces led by Louis the Younger prevent a West Frankish invasion and defeat emperor Charles II ("the Bald"). Wikipedia ↗
451 — At Chalcedon, a city of Bithynia in Asia Minor, the first session of the Council of Chalcedon begins (ends on November 1). Wikipedia ↗
314 — Roman Emperor Licinius is defeated by his colleague Constantine I at the Battle of Cibalae, and loses his European territories. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on October 8

1997 — Bella Thorne, American actress Wikipedia ↗
1996 — Sara Sorribes Tormo, Spanish tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1996 — Sara Takanashi, Japanese ski jumper Wikipedia ↗
1994 — Luca Hänni, Swiss singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1993 — Garbiñe Muguruza, Spanish tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1993 — Barbara Palvin, Hungarian model and actress Wikipedia ↗
1993 — Molly Quinn, American actress and producer Wikipedia ↗
1993 — Darrell Wallace, Jr., American race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Maria João Koehler, Portuguese tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Lidziya Marozava, Belarusian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Jordan McLean, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Rachel Klamer, Zimbabwean-Dutch triathlete Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Sione Lousi, New Zealand rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Mahmut Temür, Turkish footballer Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Armand Traoré, French footballer Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Aya Hirano, Japanese voice actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Hassan Maatouk, Lebanese footballer Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Taylor Price, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Louis Dodds, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Michele Sepe, Italian rugby player Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Bruno Mars, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actor Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Eiji Wentz, Japanese singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Elliphant, Swedish singer-songwriter and rapper Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Domenik Hixon, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Mario Cassano, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Michael Fraser, Scottish footballer Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Mihkel Kukk, Estonian javelin thrower Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Abhishek Nayar, Indian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Travis Pastrana, American motorcycle racer Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Phil Mustard, English cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Miloš Pavlović, Serbian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Annemiek van Vleuten, Dutch cyclist Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Vladimir Kisenkov, Russian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Raffi Torres, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Nick Cannon, American actor, rapper, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Paul Burchill, English wrestler Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Gregori Chad Petree, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Antonino D'Agostino, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Mick O'Driscoll, Irish rugby player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Anne-Caroline Chausson, French cyclist Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Jamie Marchi, American voice actress, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Erna Siikavirta, Finnish singer-songwriter and keyboard player Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Karina Bacchi, Brazilian model and actress Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Galo Blanco, Spanish tennis player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Renate Groenewold, Dutch speed skater and cyclist Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Kevyn Adams, American ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Fredrik Modin, Swedish ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Koji Murofushi, Japanese hammer thrower Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Jim Fairchild, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Kari Korhonen, Finnish cartoonist Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Terry Balsamo, American guitarist and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Stanislav Varga, Slovak footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Marc Ellis, New Zealand rugby player and television host Wikipedia ↗
1971 — David Gauke, English lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Pınar Selek, Turkish sociologist, author, and academic Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Monty Williams, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui, Congolese colonel Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Matt Damon, American actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Anne-Marie Duff, English actress Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Sadiq Khan, English lawyer and politician, Minister of State for Transport, Mayor of London Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Sisaundra Lewis, American singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Tetsuya Nomura, Japanese video game designer and director Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Jeremy Davies, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Dylan Neal, Canadian-American actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Ali Benarbia, Algerian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Zvonimir Boban, Croatian footballer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Emily Procter, American actress Wikipedia ↗
1968 — CL Smooth, American rapper and producer Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Leeroy Thornhill, English keyboard player and DJ Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Yvonne Reyes, Venezuelan television host and actress Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Teddy Riley, American singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Art Barr, American wrestler (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Karyn Parsons, American actress and producer Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Matt Biondi, American swimmer and coach Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Ardal O'Hanlon, Irish comedian, actor, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Harri Koskela, Finnish wrestler Wikipedia ↗
1965 — C. J. Ramone, American singer-songwriter and bass player Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Jakob Arjouni, German author (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Ian Hart, English actor Wikipedia ↗
1964 — CeCe Winans, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Steve Perry, American ska singer-songwriter and guitarist (Cherry Poppin' Daddies) Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Bruno Thiry, Belgian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Chen Xiaoxia, Chinese diver Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Steven Bernstein, American trumpet player and composer Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Jon Stevens, New Zealand-Australian singer-songwriter (Noiseworks) Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Simon Burke, Australian actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Ted Kooshian, American pianist and composer Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Andrea Anastasi, Italian volleyball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Reed Hastings, American businessman, co-founded Netflix Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Rano Karno, Indonesian actor and politician Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Ralf Minge, German footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1960 — François Pérusse, Canadian singer-songwriter and comedian Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Mike Teague, English rugby player Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Tommy Armour III, American golfer Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Nick Bakay, American actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Gavin Friday, Irish singer-songwriter, actor, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Erik Gundersen, Danish motorcycle racer Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Peter Horrocks, English journalist and producer Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Mike Morgan, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Carlos I. Noriega, Peruvian-American colonel and astronaut Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Daniel Ribacoff, Brazilian-American polygraph examiner Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Steve Coll, American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Bret Lott, American journalist, author, and academic Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Ursula von der Leyen, Belgian-German physician and politician, Defense Minister of Germany Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Ruffin McNeill, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Antonio Cabrini, Italian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Jeff Lahti, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Janice E. Voss, American engineer and astronaut (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Bill Elliott, American race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Alain Ferté, French race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Darrell Hammond, American comedian and actor Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Paul Lennon, Australian politician, 42nd Premier of Tasmania Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Lonnie Pitchford, American singer and guitarist (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
1954 — Huub Rothengatter, Dutch race car driver and manager Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Robert Saxton, English composer and educator Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Takis Koroneos, Greek basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Jan Marijnissen, Dutch journalist and politician Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Edward Zwick, American director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Jack O'Connell, American educator and politician Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Timo Salonen, Finnish race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Shannon C. Stimson, American philosopher, historian, and theorist Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Robert "Kool" Bell, American singer-songwriter and bass player Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Blake Morrison, English poet, author, and academic Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Jerry Bittle, American cartoonist (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Ashawna Hailey, American computer scientist and philanthropist (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Hamish Stuart, Scottish singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Sigourney Weaver, American actress and producer Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Benjamin Cheever, American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Claude Jade, French actress (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Johnny Ramone, American guitarist and songwriter (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Richard Morris, English archaeologist, historian, and author Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Emiel Puttemans, Belgian runner Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Stephen Shore, American photographer and educator Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Hanan Ashrawi, Palestinian scholar, activist, and politician Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Jean-Jacques Beineix, French director and producer Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Dennis Kucinich, American journalist and politician, 53rd Mayor of Cleveland Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Bel Mooney, English journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Jon Ekerold, South African motorcycle racer Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Ed Kirkpatrick, American baseball player (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Susan Raye, American country music singer Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Chevy Chase, American comedian, actor, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1943 — R. L. Stine, American author, screenwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Stanley Bates, English actor and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1941 — Jesse Jackson, American minister and activist Wikipedia ↗
1941 — Shane Stevens, American author Wikipedia ↗
1941 — George Bellamy, English singer, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1940 — Fred Cash, American soul singer Wikipedia ↗
1940 — Paul Hogan, Australian actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Elvīra Ozoliņa, Latvian javelin thrower Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Harvey Pekar, American author and critic (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Lynne Stewart, American lawyer and criminal Wikipedia ↗
1938 — William Corlett, English author and playwright (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗