July 8th
1680
The first confirmed tornado in America kills a servant at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
1776
The first public reading of the Declaration of Independence was given in Philadelphia, Pa.
1777
Vermont became the first colony to abolish slavery.
1889
The Wall Street Journal began publication.
1889
John L. Sullivan defeated Jake Kilrain, in the last championship bare-knuckle fight. The fight lasted 75 rounds.
1932
The Dow Jones Industrial Average reaches its lowest level of the Great Depression, bottoming out at 41.22.
1947
Reports are broadcast that a UFO has crashed landed in Roswell, New Mexico.
1950
General Douglas MacArthur was named commander-in-chief of the United Nations forces in Korea.
1958
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) awarded the first official gold album. It was for the Oklahoma soundtrack.
1970
"The Everly Brothers Show" was launched on ABC-TV as a summer series.
1990
The final episode of "Mr. Belvedere" aired on ABC.
Birthdays
77 Jerry Vale Singer
74 Steve Lawrence Singer
65 Jeffrey Tambor Actor ("Arrested Development")
62 Kim Darby Actress
61 Raffi Children's performer
60 Wolfgang Puck Celebrity chef
58 Anjelica Huston Actress
57 Jack Lambert Football Hall of Famer
51 Kevin Bacon Actor
48 Andy Fletcher Rock musician (Depeche Mode)
48 Graham Jones Rock musician (Haircut 100)
48 Toby Keith Country singer
47 Joan Osborne Rock singer
44 Corey Parker Actor
41 Billy Crudup Actor
41 Michael Weatherly Actor
39 Beck Rock musician
39 Drew Womack Country singer (Sons of the Desert)
35 icurrie Cigar Asylum Inmate
34 Stephen Mason Rock musician (Jars of Clay)
32 Milo Ventimiglia Actor ("Heroes")
32 Tavis Werts Rock musician
30 Ben Jelen Rock singer
28 Lance Gross Actor
27 Sophia Bush Actress ("One Tree Hill")
24 Jamie Cook Rock musician (Arctic Monkeys)
24 Ace$nyper Cigar Asylum Inmate
23 Jake McDorman Actor ("Greek")
21 Parabola_609 Cigar Asylum Inmate
11 Jaden Smith Actor ("The Pursuit of Happyness")
?? Tikihut27 Cigar Asylum Inmate
97 John D. Rockefeller 7/8/1839 - 5/23/1937 American industrialist and philanthropist
70 Nelson Rockefeller 7/8/1908 - 1/26/1979 American politician; New York governor (1959-73) and U.S. vice president (1974-7)