1800s / 19th century history on the 8th of May
1846 : Oscar Hammerstein I the German-born American businessman and composer was born in Stettin, Kingdom of Prussia (died in 1919 aged 73).
1877 : The 1st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show opened at Gilmore’s Gardens in New York City. The all-breed conformation show was hosted in New York City for 143 years until 2020. In 2021 the event will be held outdoors at Lyndhurst in Tarrytown, New York, USA. Official website : WestminsterKennelClub.org
1884 : Harry S. Truman the 33rd President of the United States was born in Lamar, Missouri, USA (died in 1972 aged 88).
1886 : Coca~Cola was first sold as a patent medicine by pharmacist John Pemberton. Official website : Coca-ColaCompany.com
1900s / 20th century history on the 8th of May
1903 : Paul Gauguin the French artist died aged 54 (born in 1848).
1912 : Paramount Pictures was founded. Official website : Paramount.com
1913 : Sid James the South African-English actor was born Solomon Joel Cohen in Johannesburg, Transvaal, Union of South Africa (died in 1976 aged 62).
1926 : Don Rickles the American comedian and actor was born Donald Jay Rickles in Los Angeles, California, USA (died in 2017 aged 90).
1927 : Charles Nungesser & François Coli, French war heroes disappeared while attempting to make the first non-stop transatlantic flight from Paris, France to New York, USA, in The White Bird biplane.
1933 : Mohandas Gandhi began a 21-day fast of self-purification and launched his 1 year campaign to help the Harijan movement.
1940 : Ricky Nelson the American singer and actor was born Eric Hilliard Nelson in Teaneck, New Jersey, USA (died in 1985 aged 45).
1945: V-E Day was celebrated in America and Britain : Both Great Britain and the United States celebrated Victory in Europe Day on the 8th May 1945. Cities in both nations, as well as formerly occupied cities in Western Europe, all put out flags and banners, rejoicing in the defeat of the Nazi’s war machine.
1963 : Anthony Field the Australian musician was born in Kellyville, New South Wales, Australia. He is best known as the Blue Wiggle from The Wiggles.
1972 : Darren Hayes the Australian singer-songwriter was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He is best known as the lead singer of Savage Garden (website : SavageGarden.com). Darren Hayes official website : DarrenHayes.com
1975 : Enrique Iglesias the Spanish-American singer-songwriter was born Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler In Madrid, Spain. Official websites : enriqueiglesias.com
1976 : The New Revolution 1st steel rollercoaster with a vertical loop opened at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Official website : SixFlags.com/MagicMountain
1978 : The first ascent of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen was a successful achievement for Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler. Reinhold Messner’s instagram | Peter Habelar’s website : Habeler.com
1980 : The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the eradication of smallpox.
1984 : The Thames Barrier was officially opened, to prevent flooding of Greater London’s (except under extreme circumstances).
1987 : Doris Stokes the English psychic died from an unforeseen circumstances aged 67 (born in 1920).
1997 : China Southern Airlines Flight 3456 crashed while approach Bao’an International Airport in China, resulting in the death of 35 people.
2000s / 21st century history on the 8th of May
2011 : Lionel Rose (MBE) the Australian boxer died aged 62 (born in 1948). He was the first Indigenous Australian to become a world champion boxer when he defeated Harada.
2012 : MAURiCE SENDAK the American author and illustrator died aged 83 (born in 1928). He was best known for his book Where the Wild Things Are, published in 1963, which was made into a movie in 2009.
see more interesting events on all the other days of MAY (History On This Day @ Azoosh)
This page was last updated on the 8th May 2021
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