✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 128th day of the year

May 8

A look at May 8 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Friedrich Hayek and Harry S. Truman, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♉ZodiacTaurus ◈BirthstoneEmerald ❀Birth flowerLily of the Valley
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2025

    2025 conclave

    The 2025 papal conclave elects Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, taking the name Leo XIV as the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church.

    History
  2. 1987

    Special Air Service

    The SAS kills eight Provisional Irish Republican Army volunteers and a civilian during an ambush in Loughgall, Northern Ireland.

    Special forces unit of
  3. 1978

    Mount Everest

    The first ascent of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen, by Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler.

    Earth's highest mountain
  4. 1976

    The Great American Revolution

    The rollercoaster The New Revolution, the first steel coaster with a vertical loop, opens at Six Flags Magic Mountain.

    Steel roller coaster in
  5. 1950

    Tollund Man

    The Tollund Man is discovered in a peat bog near Silkeborg, Denmark.

    Iron Age bog body
  6. 1941

    World War II

    World War II: The German Luftwaffe launches a bombing raid on Nottingham and Derby.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  7. 1933

    Mahatma Gandhi

    Mohandas Gandhi begins a 21-day fast of self-purification and launched a one-year campaign to help the Harijan movement.

    Indian independence activist (1869–1948)
  8. 1842

    Versailles rail accident

    A train derails and catches fire in Paris, killing between 52 and 200 people.

    1842 train wreck in
  9. 1821

    Greek War of Independence

    Greek War of Independence: The Greeks defeat the Turks at the Battle of Gravia Inn.

    Greek rebellion against the
  10. 1373

    Julian of Norwich

    Julian of Norwich, a Christian mystic and anchoress, experiences the deathbed visions described in her Revelations of Divine Love.

    English anchoress (c. 1343
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Famous birthday twins

Born on May 8

Friedrich Hayek

b. 1899

Austrian economist and philosopher, Nobel Prize laureate

Harry S. Truman

b. 1884

American colonel and politician, 33rd President of the United States

Henry Dunant

b. 1828

Swiss businessman and activist, co-founded the Red Cross, Nobel Prize laureate

Thomas Pynchon

b. 1937

American novelist

Akebono Tarō

b. 1969

American-Japanese sumo wrestler, the 64th Yokozuna

Peter Canisius

b. 1521

Dutch-Swiss priest and saint

Enrique Iglesias

b. 1975

Spanish-American singer-songwriter, producer, and actor

Roberto Rossellini

b. 1906

Italian director and screenwriter

Deaths

  • 2018Anne V. Coates, British film editor (Lawrence of Arabia, The Elephant Man, Erin Brockovich), Oscar winner
  • 1994George Peppard, American actor and producer
  • 1972Beatrice Worsley, Mexican-Canadian computer scientist
  • 1903Paul Gauguin, French painter and sculptor
  • 1278Emperor Duanzong, Chinese emperor
  • 997Emperor Taizong of Song, Chinese emperor

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Amato Ronconi
  • —Christian feast day: Pope Boniface IV
  • —Christian feast day: Apparition of Saint Michael
  • —Christian feast day: Arsenius the Great
  • —Christian feast day: Desideratus
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Catherine of St. Augustine
  • —Christian feast day: Julian of Norwich (Anglican, Lutheran)
  • —Christian feast day: Magdalene of Canossa

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