What are the important events that happened on May 8? Here are historical events, facts, and some myths about this day.

May 8: Facts & Myths About This Day

May 8 is the 129^th day of the year 2024 in the Gregorian calendar. There are 237 days remaining until the end of this year. The day of the week is Wednesday.

Under the Julian calendar, this day is April 25, 2024 – a Wednesday. Both day of the week are the same but did you notice the difference with the Gregorian calendar?

When this day started, 476,424 hours has elapsed since midnight of January 1, 1970 – the Unix epoch.

Strange as it may, if we name this day after a polygon then it will be called ‘hectaicosaenneagon’ day.

Taurus is the zodiac sign of a person born on this day. Emerald is the modern birthstone for this month. Sapphire is the mystical birthstone from Tibetan origin that dates back over a thousand years.

According to the lunisolar Chinese calendar, there are 266 days remaining before the start of the next Chinese New Year.

The ancient Maya civilization believes that the end of the world will happen on December 21, 2012. There are now 4,156 days since this fabled cataclysmic event.

May 8 Historical Events

• 413 –
  Emperor Honorius signs an edict providing tax relief for the Italian provinces Tuscia, Campania, Picenum, Samnium, Apulia, Lucania and Calabria, who are plundered by the Visigoths.
• 1821 –
  Greek War of Independence: The Greeks defeat the Turks at the Battle of Gravia.
• 1877 –
  At Gilmore’s Gardens in New York City, the first Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show opens.
• 1886 –
  Pharmacist John Styth Pemberton first sells a carbonated beverage named “Coca-Cola” as a patent medicine.
• 1902 –
  In Martinique, Mount Pelée erupts, destroying the town of Saint-Pierre and killing over 30,000 people. Only a handful of residents survive the blast.
• 1912 –
  Paramount Pictures is founded.
• 1967 –
  The Philippine province of Davao is split into three: Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental.
• 1972 –
  Vietnam War – U.S. President Richard M. Nixon announces his order to place mines in major North Vietnamese ports in order to stem the flow of weapons and other goods to that nation.
• 1984 –
  Thames Barrier officially opened.
• 1997 –
  A China Southern Airlines Boeing 737 crashes on approach into Bao'an International Airport, killing 35 people.

Who were born on May 8?

• 1670 –
  Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St Albans, English soldier (d. 1726)
• 1753 –
  Miguel Hidalgo Mexican revolutionary (d. 1811)
• 1914 –
  Romain Gary, Polish writer (d. 1980)
• 1951 –
  Chris Frantz, American musician (Talking Heads)
• 1953 –
  Billy Burnette, American singer and guitarist (Fleetwood Mac)
• 1960 –
  Eric Brittingham, American bassist
• 1976 –
  Ian Watkins, Welsh singer and actor (Steps)
• 1981 –
  Björn Dixgård, Swedish guitarist, singer, songwriter
• 1984 –
  Nadine Chandrawinata, Indonesian beauty pageant contestant
• 1986 –
  Marvell Wynne, American footballer

Who died on May 8?

• 1538 –
  Edward Fox, English bishop
• 1943 –
  Mordechaj Anielewicz, Polish Resistance Fighter (b. 1919)
• 1945 –
  Wilhelm Rediess, SS and Police leader of Nazi-occupied Norway (b. 1900)
• 1985 –
  Dolph Sweet, American actor (b. 1920)
• 1985 –
  Karl Marx, German composer (b. 1897)
• 1990 –
  Luigi Nono, Italian composer (b. 1924)
• 1991 –
  Rudolf Serkin, Austrian pianist (b. 1903)
• 1993 –
  Avram Davidson, American writer (b. 1923)
• 1994 –
  George Peppard, American actor (b. 1928)
• 1996 –
  Beryl Burton, English cyclist (b. 1937)