August 8th
1588
English forces attacked the Spanish Armada, permanently crippling Spain's "invincible" fleet.
1876
Thomas Edison patented the mimeograph machine.
1900
The first Davis Cup tennis tournament began at the Longwood Cricket Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.
1963
In "The Great Train Robbery," some 15 thieves robbed the Glasgow-to-London mail train, making off with more than $6 million in cash.
1969
Sharon Tate, wife of director Roman Polanski, and four others were murdered by members of Charles Manson's "family."
1974
President Nixon announced he would resign the following day as a result of the Watergate scandal.
1988
The lights are turned on at Wrigley Field for the first time, making it the last major league stadium to host night games. (The game, against the Philadelphia Phillies, is rained out after three-and-a-half innings.)
1992
James Hetfield (Metallica) was injured by a stage explosion at a concert in Montreal. A riot occurred at the same show when Axl Rose cut Guns 'N' Roses' set short because of a sore throat.
1999
Wade Boggs got his 3,000th hit of his major league baseball career.
Birthdays
88 Esther Williams Actress
83 Richard Anderson Actor
72 Dustin Hoffman Actor
62 Larry Wilcox Actor ("CHiPS")
60 Keith Carradine Actor
56 Donny Most Actor ("Happy Days")
52 Dennis Drew Rock musician (10,000 Maniacs)
51 Harry Crosby Actor, singer
48 The Edge Rock musician (U2)
48 Rikki Rockett Rock musician (Poison)
47 Kool Moe Dee Rapper
36 Scott Stapp Rock singer (Creed)
34 Tom Linton Rock musician (Jimmy Eat World)
33 Tawny Cypress Actress ("Heroes")
28 Roger Federer Tennis player
~ alley00p Cigar Asylum Inmate
~ RevSmoke Cigar Asylum Inmate