May 8th
1794
Antoine Laurent Lavoisier, the father of modern chemistry, was guillotined during the Reign of Terror.
1866
Australian Rules Football was created.
1877
The first Westminister Dog Show was held.
1878
Paul Hines made baseball's first unassisted triple play.
1886
Atlanta pharmacist John Styth Pemberton invented the flavor syrup for Coca-Cola
1902
Mount Pelee on Martinique erupted, destroying the town of St. Pierre, and killing 40,000 people.
1933
Mohandas Gandhi begins a 21-day fast in protest against British oppression in India.
1945
V-E Day marks the European victory of the Allies in World War II.
1967
Muhammad Ali was indicted for refusing induction in U.S. Army.
1970
The album "Let It Be" by the Beatles was released.
1971
Joe Frazier defeated Muhammad Ali at New York's Madison Square Garden.
1973
The 10-week Wounded Knee occupation ended when members of the American Indian Movement surrendered.
1976
The rollercoaster Revolution (roller coaster), the first steel coaster with a vertical flip, opens at Six Flags Magic Mountain
1978
David Berkowitz, a.k.a. the “Son of Sam,” plead guilty to killing six people in New York City.
1999
The Citadel in South Carolina graduated its first female cadet, Nancy Mace.
Birthdays
83 Don Rickles Comedian
69 Toni Tennille Singer (The Captain and Tennille)
67 Jack Blanchard Country singer
66 Paul Samwell-Smith Rock musician (The Yardbirds)
65 Gary Glitter Rock singer
58 Philip Bailey R&B singer (Earth, Wind and Fire)
58 Chris Frantz Rock musician (Talking Heads)
56 Billy Burnette Country musician
56 Alex Van Halen Rock musician (Van Halen)
55 Stephen Furst Actor
55 David Keith Actor
52 Bill Cowher Football coach, sportscaster
51 Lovie Smith Foorball coach (Chicago Bears)
50 Ronnie Lott Football Hall of Famer
45 Melissa Gilbert Actress ("Little House on the Prairie")
45 Bobby Labonte Race car driver
41 Del Gray Country musician (Little Texas)
37 Darren Hayes Rock singer
34 Enrique Iglesias Singer
30
akakirby Cigar Asylum Inmate
24 Julia Whelan Actress ("Once and Again")
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e22byrnes Cigar Asylum Inmate
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hurricane6 Cigar Asylum Inmate
56 Edward Gibbon 5/8/1737 - 1/16/1794 English historian; wrote "History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire"
88 Harry Truman 5/8/1884 - 12/26/1972 American 33rd president of the United States
38 Sonny Liston 5/8/1932 - 12/30/1970 American world champion boxer from 1961 to 1964