On This Day in History for May 8
Events in History
- 535 John II's reign as Catholic Pope ends, upon his death
- 589 Reccared summons the Third Council of Toledo
- 615 St Boniface IV's reign as Catholic Pope ends
- 685 St Benedict II's reign as Catholic Pope ends after 11 months, upon his death
- 1254 University of Salamanca granted a royal charter by Alfonso IX. Third oldest university still operating and the oldest Hispanic.
- 1348 Ship from Bordeaux carrying the plague, lands in Melcombe Regis (now Weymouth), Dorset. The beginning of the Terrible Pestilence (Black Death) in England.
- 1360 Treaty of Brétigny signed by English & French, ending the first phase of the Hundred Years' War
- 1450 Jack Cade's Rebellion: Kentishmen revolt begins against King Henry VI and they march towards London
- More Events in History
Edward Gibbon
Phillis Wheatley
Harry Truman
Mordecai Anielewicz
Peter BenchleyWeddings in History
- 1783 American seamstress Betsy Ross (31) weds (for the 3rd time) John Claypoole at Christ Church
- 1981 Author John Grisham (26) weds Renee Jones
More Weddings & Divorces in History
Kamehameha I
John Stuart Mill
Paul Gauguin
Elmer RiceMay in History
Suicide Woman Floats To Safety
Nobody could expect to survive a fall from the 100-metre high Clifton Suspension Bridge. But one woman was saved on this day by her billowing skirt.
May 8, 1885Nazi Germany Surrenders
German commander Wilhelm Keitel signs the final unconditional surrender of Germany in the ruins of Berlin
May 8, 1945Botched Crown Jewels Theft Pays Off
Thomas Blood, who tried to steal England's Crown Jewels from the Tower of London on this day was not only forgiven by the King, but given a reward.
May 9, 1671Gardener Grows Into Architectural Legend
Starting a new job at 4.30am, organising the workforce at 6am and meeting his future wife over breakfast: all in a day's work for Joseph Paxton.
May 9, 1826
