✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 281st day of the year

October 8

A look at October 8 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Bruno Mars and Koji Murofushi, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♎ZodiacLibra ◈BirthstoneOpal ❀Birth flowerMarigold
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2001

    United States Department of Homeland Security

    U.S. president George W. Bush announces the establishment of the Office of Homeland Security.

    United States federal executive
  2. 1982

    Solidarity (Polish trade union)

    Poland bans Solidarity and all other trade unions.

    Polish trade union formed
  3. 1967

    Che Guevara

    Guerrilla leader Che Guevara and his men are captured in Bolivia. Guevara would be executed the next day.

    Argentine revolutionary (1928–1967)
  4. 1952

    Harrow and Wealdstone rail crash

    The Harrow and Wealdstone rail crash in England kills 112 people.

    1952 train crash in
  5. 1939

    World War II

    World War II: Germany annexes western Poland.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  6. 1918

    World War I

    World War I: Corporal Alvin C. York kills 28 German soldiers and captures 132, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

    1914–1918 global conflict
  7. 1862

    American Civil War

    American Civil War: The Confederate invasion of Kentucky is halted at the Battle of Perryville.

    1861–1865 conflict in the
  8. 1480

    Great Stand on the Ugra River

    The Great Stand on the Ugra River puts an end to Tatar rule over Moscow

    1480 battle between the
  9. 451

    Council of Chalcedon

    The first session of the Council of Chalcedon begins.

    451 Christian ecumenical council
  10. 316

    Constantine the Great

    Constantine I defeats Licinius, who loses his European territories.

    Roman emperor from 306
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Famous birthday twins

Born on October 8

Bruno Mars

b. 1985

American singer-songwriter, producer, and actor

Koji Murofushi

b. 1974

Japanese hammer thrower

Frank Herbert

b. 1920

American journalist, photographer, and author

Garbiñe Muguruza

b. 1993

Spanish tennis player

Molly C. Quinn

b. 1993

American actress and producer

The Miz

b. 1980

American wrestler, actor, and television personality

Mary Engle Pennington

b. 1872

American bacteriological chemist and refrigeration engineer

Rouben Mamoulian

b. 1897

Georgian-American director and screenwriter

Deaths

  • 1992Willy Brandt, German lawyer and politician, 4th Chancellor of Germany, Nobel Prize laureate
  • 1928Larry Semon, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter
  • 1869Franklin Pierce, American general, lawyer, and politician, 14th President of the United States
  • 1834François-Adrien Boieldieu, French composer
  • 1754Henry Fielding, English novelist and playwright
  • 705Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, Umayyad caliph

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Evodus (or Yves)
  • —Christian feast day: Palatias and Laurentia
  • —Christian feast day: Pelagia (Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches)
  • —Christian feast day: Reparata
  • —Christian feast day: San Ernesto, Che Guevara as a folk saint. (Bolivian campesinos)
  • —Christian feast day: Simeon (Gospel of Luke)
  • —Christian feast day: Thaïs
  • —Christian feast day: William Dwight Porter Bliss and Richard T. Ely (Episcopal Church)

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