From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

February 8 is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 326 days remaining until the end of the year (327 in leap years).

Events

• 421 – Constantius III becomes co-Emperor of the Western Roman Empire.
• 1575 – Universiteit Leiden is founded, and given the motto Praesidium Libertatis.
• 1587 – Mary, Queen of Scots, is executed on suspicion of having been involved in the Babington Plot to murder her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I.
• 1601 – Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, rebels against Queen Elizabeth I – the revolt is quickly crushed.
• 1622 – King James I of England disbands the English Parliament.
• 1692 – A doctor in Salem Village, Massachusetts Bay Colony suggests that two girls in the family of the village minister may be suffering from bewitchment, leading to the Salem witch trials.
• 1693 – The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia is granted a charter by King William III and Queen Mary II.
• 1726 – The Supreme Privy Council is established in Russia.
• 1807 – Battle of Eylau – Napoleon defeats Russians under General Benigssen.
• 1817 – Las Heras crosses the Andes with an army to join San Martín and liberate Chile from Spain.
• 1837 – Richard Johnson becomes the first Vice President of the United States chosen by the United States Senate.
• 1855 – The Devil's Footprints mysteriously appear in southern Devon.
• 1856 – Barbu Dimitrie Ştirbei abolishes slavery in Wallachia.
• 1865 – In the United States, Delaware voters reject the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and vote to continue the practice of slavery. (Delaware finally ratifies the amendment on February 12, 1901.)
• 1867 – The Ausgleich results in the establishment of the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary.
• 1879 – Sandford Fleming first proposes adoption of Universal Standard Time at a meeting of the Royal Canadian Institute.
• 1887 – The Dawes Act authorizes the President of the United States to survey Native American tribal land and divide it into individual allotments.
• 1900 – British troops are defeated by Boers at Ladysmith, South Africa.
• 1904 – Battle of Port Arthur: A surprise torpedo attack by the Japanese at Port Arthur, China starts the Russo-Japanese War.
• 1910 – The Boy Scouts of America is incorporated by William D. Boyce.
• 1915 – D.W. Griffith's controversial film The Birth of a Nation premieres in Los Angeles.
• 1918 – The Stars and Stripes newspaper is published for the first time.
• 1922 – President Warren G. Harding introduces the first radio in the White House.
• 1924 – Capital punishment: The first state execution in the United States by gas chamber takes place in Nevada.
• 1949 – Cardinal Mindszenty of Hungary is sentenced for treason.
• 1952 – Elizabeth II is proclaimed Queen of the UK.
• 1955 – The Government of Sindh abolished Jagirdari system in the province. One million acres (4000 km²) of land thus acquired is to be distributed among the landless peasants.
• 1960 – Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom issues an Order-in-Council, stating that she and her family would be known as the House of Windsor, and that her descendants will take the name "Mountbatten-Windsor".
• 1962 – Charonne massacre. Nine trade unionists are killed by French police at the instigation of Nazi collaborator Maurice Papon, then chief of the Paris Prefecture of Police.
• 1963 – Travel, financial and commercial transactions by United States citizens to Cuba are made illegal by the John F. Kennedy administration.
• 1966 – The National Hockey League awards Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania a second NHL franchise, the Pittsburgh Penguins.
• 1968 – American civil rights movement: The Orangeburg massacre, an attack that left three or four dead in Orangeburg, South Carolina on black students from South Carolina State University who were protesting racial segregation at the town's only bowling alley.
• 1969 – Allende meteorite falls near Pueblito de Allende, Chihuahua, Mexico.
• 1971 – The NASDAQ stock market index opens for the first time.
• 1974 – After 84 days in space, the crew of the first American space station Skylab returns to Earth.
• 1974 – Military coup in Upper Volta.
• 1978 – Proceedings of the United States Senate are broadcast on radio for the first time.
• 1979 – Denis Sassou-Nguesso becomes the President of the Republic of the Congo for the first time.
• 1983 – The Melbourne dust storm hits Australia's second largest city. The result of the worst drought on record and a day of severe weather conditions, a 320 metres (1,050 ft) deep dust cloud envelops the city, turning day to night.
• 1989 – An Independent Air Boeing 707 crashes into Santa Maria mountain in Azores Islands off the coast of Portugal, killing 144.
• 1993 – General Motors sues NBC after Dateline NBC allegedly rigs two crashes intended to demonstrate that some GM pickups can easily catch fire if hit in certain places. NBC settles the lawsuit the next day.
• 1996 – The U.S. Congress passes the Communications Decency Act.
• 1996 – The massive Internet collaboration "24 Hours in Cyberspace" takes place.
• 2010 – The last planned night launch of the space shuttle takes place from Kennedy Space Center.

Births

• 412 – Proclus, Greek philosopher (d. 487)
• 1191 – Yaroslav II of Russia (d. 1246)
• 1291 – King Afonso IV of Portugal (d. 1357)
• 1405 – Constantine XI Palaiologos, the last reigning Emperor of the Byzantine Empire (d. 1453)
• 1487 – Ulrich, Duke of Württemberg (d. 1550)
• 1552 – Agrippa d'Aubigné, French poet and soldier (d. 1630)
• 1577 – Robert Burton, English cleric and writer (d. 1640)
• 1586 – Jacob Praetorius, German composer (d. 1651)
• 1612 – Samuel Butler, English poet (d. 1680)
• 1649 – Gabriel Daniel, French Jesuit historian (d. 1728)
• 1677 – Jacques Cassini, French astronomer (d. 1756)
• 1685 – Charles-Jean-François Hénault, French historian (d. 1770)
• 1700 – Daniel Bernoulli, Dutch-born mathematician (d. 1782)
• 1720 – Emperor Sakuramachi of Japan (d. 1750)
• 1792 – Caroline Augusta of Bavaria, queen of Hungary and Bohemia (d. 1873)
• 1798 – Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich of Russia, Russian Grand Duke (d. 1849)
• 1804 – Richard Lemon Lander, British explorer (d. 1834)
• 1807 – Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, English sculptor and naturalist (d. 1889)
• 1819 – John Ruskin, English author (d. 1900)
• 1820 – William Tecumseh Sherman, American Union general (d. 1891)
• 1822 – Maxime Du Camp, French photographer and journalist (d. 1894)
• 1828 – Jules Verne, French author (d. 1905)
• 1834 – Dmitri Mendeleev, Russian chemist (d. 1907)
• 1847 – Hugh Price Hughes, English social reformer (d. 1902)
• 1850 – Kate Chopin, American author (d. 1904)
• 1878 – Martin Buber, Austrian-born Israeli philosopher (d. 1965)
• 1880 – Franz Marc, German painter (d. 1916)
• 1882 – Thomas Selfridge, First person to die in an airplane crash (d. 1908).
• 1883 – Joseph Alois Schumpeter, Austrian economist (d. 1950)
• 1884 – Reginald Baker, Australian athlete and actor (d. 1953)
• 1886 – Charles Ruggles, American actor (d. 1970)
• 1888 – Dame Edith Evans, British actress (d. 1976)
• 1890 – Claro M. Recto, Filipino nationalist (d. 1960)
• 1893 – Ba Maw, Burmese politician (d. 1977)
• 1894 – Ludwig Marcuse, German author and philosopher (d. 1971)
• 1894 – King Vidor, American film director (d. 1982)
• 1900 – Ivan Ivanov-Vano Soviet animator and Russian animation director (d. 1987)
• 1902 – Demchugdongrub, Mongolian politician (d. 1966)
• 1903 – Greta Keller, Austrian-born cabaret singer and actress (d. 1977)
• 1906 – Chester Carlson, American physicist and inventor (d. 1968)
• 1911 – Elizabeth Bishop, American poet (d. 1979)
• 1913 – Betty Field, American actress (d. 1973)
• 1918 – Fred Blassie, American professional wrestler (d. 2003)
• 1921 – Lana Turner, American actress (d. 1995)
• 1922 – Audrey Meadows, American actress (d. 1996)
• 1925 – Jack Lemmon, American actor and film director (d. 2001)
• 1926 – Neal Cassady, American writer (d. 1968)
• 1928 – Gene Lees, Canadian biographer and lyricist
• 1930 – James Deetz, American anthropologist (d. 2000)
• 1930 – Alejandro Rey, Argentine actor (d. 1987)
• 1931 – James Dean, American actor (d. 1955)
• 1932 – Cliff Allison, British racing driver (d. 2005)
• 1932 – John Williams, American composer and conductor
• 1933 – Elly Ameling, Dutch soprano
• 1933 – Jack Larson, American actor
• 1936 – Larry Verne, American singer
• 1937 – Manfred Krug, German actor
• 1937 – Joe Raposo, American composer (d. 1989)
• 1939 – José Maria Sison, Filipino communist
• 1940 – Ted Koppel, American journalist
• 1941 – Nick Nolte, American actor
• 1941 – Tom Rush, American singer and songwriter
• 1942 – Robert Klein, American comedian
• 1942 – Terry Melcher, American musician and record producer (d. 2004)
• 1942 – Bob Munden, American shooting competitor
• 1943 – Creed Bratton, American actor and musician
• 1943 – Pirzada Qasim, Pakistani poet and Vice Chancellor of Karachi University
• 1944 – Roger Lloyd-Pack, English actor
• 1944 – Sebastião Salgado, Brazilian documentary photographer
• 1948 – Lynda Lyon Block, American convicted murderer (d. 2002)
• 1948 – Dan Seals, American singer (d. 2009)
• 1948 – Ron Tyson, American singer (The Temptations)
• 1949 – Brooke Adams, American actress
• 1950 – Cristina Ferrare, American former supermodel and actress
• 1951 – Z'EV, American text/sound artist (born Stefan Weisser)
• 1953 – Roger Clavet, Québécois politician
• 1953 – Mary Steenburgen, American actress
• 1955 – John Grisham, American writer
• 1955 – Nancy Oliver, American playwright and television writer
• 1956 – Dave Meros, American bassist (Spock's Beard)
• 1958 – Sherri Martel, American professional wrestler (d. 2007)
• 1960 – Dino Ciccarelli, Canadian ice hockey player
• 1961 – Vince Neil, American singer (Mötley Crüe)
• 1961 – Bruce Timm,TV Producer (DC Animated Universe)
• 1963 – Mohammad Azharuddin, Indian cricketer
• 1963 – Joshua Kadison, American pianist and songwriter
• 1964 – Trinny Woodall, British fashion guru
• 1964 – Robert Nebřenský, Czech actor and musician
• 1966 – Kirk Muller, Canadian ice hockey player
• 1966 – Hristo Stoichkov, Bulgarian footballer
• 1968 – Gary Coleman, American actor
• 1968 – Claudette Pace, Maltese singer
• 1968 – Nasos Thanopoulos, Greek businessman
• 1969 – Mary McCormack, American actress
• 1969 – Shiva Rose, American actress
• 1970 – John Filan, Australian footballer
• 1970 – Alonzo Mourning, American basketball player
• 1971 – Mika Karppinen, Finnish drummer (HIM)
• 1971 – Andrus Veerpalu, Estonian cross-country skier
• 1972 – Paul Wight, American professional wrestler
• 1973 – Keith McDonald, American baseball player
• 1974 – Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, French disc jockey (Daft Punk)
• 1974 – Ulises de la Cruz, Ecuadorian footballer
• 1974 – Seth Green, American actor
• 1974 – Kimbo Slice, American mixed martial artist
• 1976 – Abi Titmuss, British glamour model
• 1976 – Khaled Mashud, Bangladeshi cricketer
• 1976 – Adam Piatt, American baseball player
• 1976 – Nicolas Vouilloz, French rally driver
• 1977 – Barry Hall, Australian rules footballer
• 1977 – Dave "Phoenix" Farrell, Linkin Park Bassist
• 1977 – Bridgette Kerkove, American actress
• 1977 – Yucef Merhi, Venezuelan artist
• 1977 – Mathieu Turcotte, Canadian short-track speed skater
• 1979 – Aaron Cook, American baseball player
• 1979 – Josh Keaton, American actor and singer
• 1980 – Ralf Little, English actor/comedian
• 1980 – Cameron Muncey, Australian guitarist (Jet)
• 1980 – Stephen Wright, English footballer
• 1981 – Myriam Montemayor Cruz, Mexican singer
• 1982 – Satomi Kōrogi, Japanese voice actress
• 1982 – Sousuke Takaoka, Japanese actor
• 1982 – Danny Tamberelli, American actor
• 1983 – Jim Verraros, American singer
• 1984 – Panagiotis Vasilopoulos, Greek basketball player
• 1987 – Carolina Kostner, Italian European champion figure skater
• 1988 – Keegan Meth, Zimbabwean cricketer
• 1988 – Ryan Pinkston, American actor
• 1989 – Dani Harmer, English actor
• 1991 – Abdisalam Ibrahim, Somali-Norwegian footballer
• 1994 – Nikki Yanofsky, Canadian artist

Deaths

• 1204 – Alexius IV Angelus, deposed Eastern Roman Emperor (b. c. 1182)
• 1250 – Robert I of Artois, French crusader (b. 1216)
• 1250 – Sir William II Longespee (b. 1212)
• 1265 – Hulagu Khan, Mongol ruler (b. 1217)
• 1296 – King Przemysł II of Poland (b. 1257)
• 1529 – Baldassare Castiglione, Italian writer and diplomat (b. 1478)
• 1587 – Mary, Queen of Scots (b. 1542)
• 1599 – Robert Rollock, Scottish educator (b. 1555)
• 1623 – Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter, English politician (b. 1546)
• 1696 – Tsar Ivan V of Russia (b. 1666)
• 1709 – Giuseppe Torelli, Italian composer (b. 1658)
• 1725 – Tsar Peter I of Russia (b. 1672)
• 1749 – Jan van Huysum, Dutch painter (b. 1682)
• 1750 – Aaron Hill, English writer (b. 1685)
• 1768 – George Dance the Elder, English architect (b. 1695)
• 1772 – Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, Princess of Wales (b. 1719)
• 1849 – France Prešeren, Slovenian poet (b. 1800)
• 1849 – François Antoine Habeneck, French violinist (b. 1781)
• 1856 – Agostino Bassi, Italian entomologist (b. 1773)
• 1907 – Hendrik Willem Bakhuis Roozeboom, Dutch chemist (b. 1854)
• 1910 – Hans Jæger, Norwegian writer and political activist (b. 1854)
• 1921 – Peter Kropotkin, Russian anarchist (b. 1842)
• 1921 – George Formby, Sr., English entertainer (b. 1876)
• 1921 – Barrett Wendell, American academic and author (b. 1855)
• 1924 – Gee Jon First man in U.S. to be executed by lethal gas. (b. 1895)
• 1929 – Maria Christina, Queen Regent of Spain (b. 1858)
• 1932 – Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll, New York City gangster from County Donegal in Ireland (b. 1908)
• 1936 – Charles Curtis, 1st American-Indian Vice-President USA (b. 1860)
• 1956 – Connie Mack, American baseball manager and executive (b. 1862)
• 1957 – Walther Bothe, German physicist and inventor, Nobel laureate (b. 1891)
• 1957 – John von Neumann, Hungarian-born mathematician and physicist (b. 1903)
• 1960 – Giles Gilbert Scott, British architect (b. 1880)
• 1960 – John Langshaw Austin, British philosopher, (b. 1911)
• 1963 – George Dolenz, American actor, father of Micky Dolenz (b. 1908)
• 1964 – Ernst Kretschmer, German psychiatrist (b. 1888)
• 1972 – Markos Vamvakaris, Greek musician and songwriter (b. 1905)
• 1975 – Robert Robinson, British chemist, Nobel laureate (b. 1886)
• 1977 – Eivind Groven, Norwegian composer and ethnomusicologist (b. 1901)
• 1980 – Nikos Xilouris, Greek singer (b. 1936)
• 1982 – John Hay Whitney, American financier (b. 1904)
• 1984 – Karel Miljon, Dutch boxer (b. 1903)
• 1985 – William Lyons, British automobile manufacturer (b. 1901)
• 1987 – Harriet E. MacGibbon, American actress (b. 1905)
• 1990 – Del Shannon, American entertainer (suicide) (b. 1934)
• 1992 – Denny Wright, British jazz guitarist (b. 1924)
• 1993 – N. Shanmugathasan, Sri Lankan communist leader (b. 1920)
• 1994 – Raymond Scott, American composer (b. 1908)
• 1996 – Del Ennis, American baseball player (b. 1925)
• 1998 – Halldór Laxness, Icelandic author, Nobel laureate (b. 1902)
• 1998 – Julian Lincoln Simon, American economist and author (b. 1932)
• 1998 – Enoch Powell, British politician (b. 1912)
• 1999 – Iris Murdoch, Irish author (b. 1919)
• 2000 – Sid Abel, Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1918)
• 2000 – Bob Collins, American radio broadcaster (b. 1942)
• 2000 – Derrick Thomas, American football player (b. 1967)
• 2001 – Ivo Caprino, Norwegian animated film director (b. 1920)
• 2002 – Joachim Hoffmann, German historian (b. 1930)
• 2002 – Ong Teng Cheong, President of Singapore (b. 1936)
• 2004 – Julius Schwartz, American comic book and science fiction editor (b. 1915)
• 2005 – Jimmy Smith, American jazz musician (b. 1925)
• 2005 – Keith Knudsen, American drummer, vocalist and songwriter (The Doobie Brothers) (b. 1948)
• 2006 – Elton Dean, English musician (Soft Machine) (b. 1945)
• 2006 – Akira Ifukube, Japanese composer (b. 1914)
• 2007 – Anna Nicole Smith, American model, actress, and entertainer (b. 1967)
• 2007 – Ian Stevenson, Canadian-American professor and reincarnation expert (b. 1918)
• 2008 – Chua Ek Kay, Singaporean painter (b. 1947)
• 2009 – Marian Cozma, Romanian handball player (b. 1982)
• 2010 – John Murtha, American politician (b. 1932)

Holidays and observances

• Christian Feast Day
  • Jerome Emiliani
  • Juventius of Pavia
  • Meingold of Huy
  • Stephen of Muret
  • Josephine Bakhita
  • February 8 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
• Nirvana Day (Mahayana Buddhism)
• Prešeren Day (Slovenia)
• Scout Sunday; The Sunday preceding February 8 is designated as Scout Sunday and the following Saturday is designated as Scout Sabbath. (Boy Scouts of America)

External links

• BBC: On This Day
• The New York Times: On This Day
• On This Day in Canada

From Wikiquote

Quotes of the day from previous years:

2005

All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware. ~ Martin Buber (born 8 February 1878)

• selected by Kalki

2006

There are, indeed, two forms of discontent: one laborious, the other indolent and complaining. We respect the man of laborious desire, but let us not suppose that his restlessness is peace, or his ambition meekness. It is because of the special connection of meekness with contentment that it is promised that the meek shall 'inherit the earth.' Neither covetous men, nor the grave, can inherit anything; they can but consume. Only contentment can possess. ~ John Ruskin (born 8 February 1819)

• selected by Kalki

2007

One single war — we all know — may be productive of more evil, immediate and subsequent, than hundreds of years of the unchecked action of the mutual-aid principle may be productive of good. ~ Peter Kropotkin, died 8 February 1921.

• proposed by Fys

2008

The greatest thing a human soul ever does in this world is to see something, and tell what it saw in a plain way. Hundreds of people can talk for one who can think, but thousands can think for one who can see. To see clearly is poetry, prophecy, and religion, — all in one. ~ John Ruskin

• proposed by InvisibleSun

2009

Man's constitution is so peculiar that his health is purely a negative matter. No sooner is the rage of hunger appeased than it becomes difficult to comprehend the meaning of starvation. It is only when you suffer that you really understand. ~ Jules Verne, born 8 February 1828.

• proposed by Fys

2010

Suggestions

All political lives, unless they are cut off in midstream at a happy juncture, end in failure, because that is the nature of politics and of human affairs. ~ Enoch Powell, died 8 February 1998.

• 4. Fys. “Ta fys aym”. 23:44, 5 February 2007 (UTC)
• 2 Kalki 23:44, 7 February 2007 (UTC)
• 2 InvisibleSun 01:12, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
• 2 Zarbon 22:02, 22 April 2008 (UTC)

The good Samaritan had compassion. If two good Samaritans had compassion, that would still be individual compassion, not collective compassion. If the good Samaritan had been obliged by decree of the Roman Emperor to assist the traveller, that would not be compassion at all, because it would be done under obligation. ~ Enoch Powell.

• 2. Fys. “Ta fys aym”. 23:44, 5 February 2007 (UTC)
• 2 Kalki 23:44, 7 February 2007 (UTC)
• 3 InvisibleSun 01:12, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
• 1 Zarbon 22:02, 22 April 2008 (UTC)

Remember that the most beautiful things in the world are the most useless: peacocks and lilies, for instance. ~ John Ruskin, born 8 February 1819.

• 3. Fys. “Ta fys aym”. 23:44, 5 February 2007 (UTC)
• 3 ~ Kalki 23:44, 7 February 2007 (UTC)
• 3 InvisibleSun 01:12, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
• 3 Zarbon 22:02, 22 April 2008 (UTC)

There is no wealth but life. Life, including all its powers of love, of joy, and of admiration. That country is the richest which nourishes the greatest numbers of noble and happy human beings; that man is richest, who, having perfected the functions of his own life to the utmost, has also the widest helpful influence, both personal, and by means of his possessions, over the lives of others. ~ John Ruskin

• 3 InvisibleSun 01:12, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
• 1 Zarbon 22:02, 22 April 2008 (UTC)
• 4 Kalki 22:12, 7 February 2009 (UTC)

When we are interested in the beauty of a thing, the oftener we can see it the better; but when we are interested only by the story of a thing, we get tired of hearing the same tale told over and over again, and stopping always at the same point — we want a new story presently, a newer and better one — and the picture of the day, and novel of the day, become as ephemeral as the coiffure or the bonnet of the day. Now this spirit is wholly adverse to the existence of any lovely art. If you mean to throw it aside to-morrow, you can never have it to-day. ~ John Ruskin

• 3 InvisibleSun 01:12, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
• 1 Zarbon 22:02, 22 April 2008 (UTC)
• 3 Kalki 22:12, 7 February 2009 (UTC)

Your honesty is not to be based either on religion or policy. Both your religion and policy must be based on it. Your honesty must be based, as the sun is, in vacant heaven; poised, as the lights in the firmament, which have rule over the day and over the night. ~ John Ruskin

• 3 InvisibleSun 01:12, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
• 1 Zarbon 22:02, 22 April 2008 (UTC)
• 3 Kalki 22:12, 7 February 2009 (UTC)

Punishment is the last and least effective instrument in the hands of the legislator for the prevention of crime. ~ John Ruskin

• 3 InvisibleSun 01:12, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
• 3 because this is true. People should be worried moreso about prevention than punishment. Excellent quote. Zarbon 22:02, 22 April 2008 (UTC)
• 2 Kalki 22:12, 7 February 2009 (UTC) I'd eventually rank this a 3 or 4 but that there are so many ones ones suggested which I would prefer to use first.

An unimaginative person can neither be reverent nor kind. ~ John Ruskin

• 3 InvisibleSun 01:12, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
• 1 Zarbon 22:02, 22 April 2008 (UTC)
• 3 Kalki 22:12, 7 February 2009 (UTC)

It is the glistening and softly spoken lie; the amiable fallacy; the patriotic lie of the historian, the provident lie of the politician, the zealous lie of the partisan, the merciful lie of the friend, and the careless lie of each man to himself, that cast that black mystery over humanity, through which we thank any man who pierces, as we would thank one who dug a well in a desert. ~ John Ruskin

• 3 InvisibleSun 01:12, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
• 1 Zarbon 22:02, 22 April 2008 (UTC)
• 3 Kalki 22:12, 7 February 2009 (UTC)

There is never vulgarity in a whole truth, however commonplace. It may be unimportant or painful. It cannot be vulgar. Vulgarity is only in concealment of truth, or in affectation. ~ John Ruskin

• 3 InvisibleSun 01:12, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
• 1 Zarbon 22:02, 22 April 2008 (UTC)
• 3 Kalki 22:12, 7 February 2009 (UTC)

Life without industry is guilt, and industry without art is brutality. ~ John Ruskin

• 3 InvisibleSun 01:12, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
• 2 Zarbon 22:02, 22 April 2008 (UTC)
• 3 Kalki 22:12, 7 February 2009 (UTC)

Every other sin hath some pleasure annexed to it, or will admit of an excuse; envy alone wants both. Other sins last but for awhile; the gut may be satisfied, anger remits, hatred hath an end, envy never ceaseth. ~ Robert Burton (born February 8, 1577)

• 3 InvisibleSun 10:40, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
• 2 Zarbon 22:02, 22 April 2008 (UTC)
• 2 Kalki 22:12, 7 February 2009 (UTC)

From StrategyWiki, the free strategy guide and walkthrough wiki

Articles detailing events that are related to February 8. This may include the release of games or systems, the founding of a video game related company or some other important event.

From Wikia Gaming, your source for walkthroughs, games, guides, and more!

Game releases

• 1999
  • Mario Party for the Nintendo 64 in North America

From Familypedia

February 8 is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 326 days remaining until the end of the year (327 in leap years).

Events

• 421 - Constantius III becomes co-Emperor of the Western Roman Empire.
• 1575 - Universiteit Leiden founded, and given the motto "Praesidium Libertatis".
• 1587 - Mary was executed at suspicion of having been involved in the Babington Plot to murder her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England.
• 1601 - Robert Devereux, rebels against Elizabeth I of England - revolt is quickly crushed.
• 1622 - King James I of England disbands the English Parliament.
• 1692 - A doctor in Salem Village, Massachusetts Bay Colony declares that three teenage girls are under domination of Satan, leading to the Salem witch trials.
• 1693 - The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg is granted a charter by King William III and Queen Mary II.
• 1726 - The Supreme Privy Council is established in Russia.
• 1807 - Battle of Eylau - Napoleon defeats Russians under General Benigssen.
• 1817 - Las Heras crosses the Andes with an army to join San Martín and liberate Chile from Spain.
• 1837 - Richard Johnson becomes the first Vice President of the United States chosen by the United States Senate.
• 1849 - New Roman Republic established.
• 1855 - The Devil's Footprints mysteriously appear in southern Devon.
• 1865 - In the U.S., Delaware voters reject the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and vote to continue the practice of slavery. (Delaware finally ratifies the amendment on February 12, 1901.)
• 1867 - The Ausgleich results in the establishment of the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary.
• 1879 - Sandford Fleming first proposes adoption of Universal Standard Time at a meeting of the Royal Canadian Institute.
• 1887 - The Dawes Act authorized the President of the United States to survey Native American tribal land and divide it into individual allotments.
• 1900 - British troops are defeated by Boers at Ladysmith, South Africa.
• 1904 - Battle of Port Arthur: A surprise torpedo attack by the Japanese at Port Arthur, China starts the Russo-Japanese War.
• 1910 - The Boy Scouts of America is incorporated by William D. Boyce.
• 1915 - D.W. Griffith's controversial film The Birth of a Nation premieres in Los Angeles.
• 1918 - The Stars and Stripes newspaper publishes for the first time.
• 1922 - President Warren G. Harding introduces the first radio in the White House.
• 1924 - Capital punishment: The first state execution using gas in the United States takes place in Nevada.
• 1936 - Jay Berwanger becomes the first person to be selected by a National Football League draft, by the Philadelphia Eagles.
• 1943 - World War II: Battle of Stalingrad - Soviet Army encircles the troops of Paulus. The Germans surrender.
• 1943 - World War II: Battle of Guadalcanal - United States forces defeat Japanese troops.
• 1949 - Cardinal Mindszenty of Hungary sentenced for treason.
• 1955 - The Government of Sindh abolished Jagirdari system in the province. One million acres (4000 km²) of land thus acquired is to be distributed among the landless peasants.
• 1960 - Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom issued an Order-in-Council, stating that she and her family would be known as the House of Windsor, and that her descendants will take the name "Mountbatten-Windsor".
• 1962 - Charonne massacre. 9 trade unionists are killed by French police at the instigation of Nazi collaborator Maurice Papon, then chief of the Paris Prefecture of Police.
• 1963 - Travel, financial and commercial transactions by United States citizens to Cuba are made illegal by the John F. Kennedy administration.
• 1968 - American civil rights movement: A civil rights protest staged at a white-only bowling alley in Orangeburg is broken-up by highway patrolmen leading to the deaths of three college students.
• 1969 - The last weekly issue of the Saturday Evening Post hits magazine stands.
• 1971 - The Nasdaq stock market index debuts.
• 1974 - After 84 days in space, the crew of the first American space station Skylab return to Earth.
• 1974 - Military coup in Upper Volta.
• 1978 - Proceedings of the United States Senate are broadcast on radio for the first time.
• 1979 - Denis Sassou-Nguesso became the President of the Republic of the Congo for the first time.
• 1986 - 1984 Summer Olympics head of the LAPD bomb squad, Arleigh McCree, and his partner Officer Ronald Ball of the Firearms and explosives unit were killed while trying to dismantle two pipe bombs when they responded to a call. McCree was recognized as one of the top explosive experts in the world.
• 1989 - An Independent Air Boeing 707 crashes into Santa Maria mountain in Azores Islands off the coast of Portugal, killing 144.
• 1993 - General Motors sues NBC after Dateline NBC allegedly rigs two crashes intended to demonstrate that some GM pickups can easily catch fire if hit in certain places. NBC settles the lawsuit the next day.
• 1996 - The U.S. Congress passes the Communications Decency Act.
• 1996 - The massive Internet collaboration "24 Hours in Cyberspace" takes place.
• 1998 - First female ice hockey game in Olympic history: Finland beats Sweden 6-0.
• 2005 - Israel and Palestinians agree to cease-fire.
• 2006 - Palestinians attack Temporary International Presence in Hebron offices in Hebron; International observers end decade-long presence.

Births

• 412 - Proclus, Greek philosopher (d. 487)
• 1191 - Yaroslav II of Russia (d. 1246)
• 1291 - King Afonso IV of Portugal (d. 1357)
• 1405 - Constantine XI Palaiologos, the last reigning Emperor of the Byzantine Empire (d. 1453)
• 1487 - Ulrich (d. 1550)
• 1552 - Agrippa d'Aubigné, French poet and soldier (d. 1630)
• 1577 - Robert Burton, English cleric and writer (d. 1640)
• 1586 - Jacob Praetorius, German composer (d. 1651)
• 1649 - Gabriel Daniel, French Jesuit historian (d. 1728)
• 1677 - Jacques Cassini, French astronomer (d. 1756)
• 1685 - Charles-Jean-François Hénault, French historian (d. 1770)
• 1700 - Daniel Bernoulli, Dutch-born mathematician (d. 1782)
• 1720 - Emperor Sakuramachi of Japan (d. 1750)
• 1792 - Caroline Augusta of Bavaria, queen of Hungary and Bohemia (d. 1873)
• 1804 - Richard Lemon Lander, British explorer (d. 1834)
• 1807 - Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, English sculptor and naturalist (d. 1889)
• 1819 - John Ruskin, English author (d. 1900)
• 1820 - William Tecumseh Sherman, American Union general (d. 1891)
• 1822 - Maxime Du Camp, French photographer and journalist (d. 1894)
• 1828 - Jules Verne, French author (d. 1905)
• 1834 - Dmitri Mendeleev, Russian chemist (d. 1907)
• 1847 - Hugh Price Hughes, English social reformer (d. 1902)
• 1851 - Kate Chopin, American author (d. 1904)
• 1878 - Martin Buber, German philosopher (d. 1965)
• 1880 - Franz Marc, German painter (d. 1916)
• 1883 - Joseph Alois Schumpeter, Austrian economist (d. 1950)
• 1886 - Charles Ruggles, American actor (d. 1970)
• 1888 - Dame Edith Evans, British actress (d. 1976)
• 1890 - Claro M. Recto, Filipino nationalist (d. 1960)
• 1893 - Ba Maw, Burmese politician (d. 1977)
• 1894 - Ludwig Marcuse, German author and philosopher (d. 1971)
• 1894 - King Vidor, American film director (d. 1982)
• 1895 - Hermann Florstedt, Nazi leader (d. 1945)
• 1900 - Ivan Ivanov-Vano Soviet animator and Russian animation director (d. 1987)
• 1902 - Demchugdongrub, Mongolian politician (d. 1966)
• 1903 - Greta Keller, Austrian-born cabaret singer and actress (d. 1977)
• 1906 - Chester Carlson, American physicist and inventor (d. 1968)
• 1911 - Elizabeth Bishop, American poet (d. 1979)
• 1918 - Fred Blassie, American professional wrestler (d. 2003)
• 1921 - Lana Turner, American actress (d. 1995)
• 1922 - Audrey Meadows, American actress (d. 1996)
• 1925 - Jack Lemmon, American actor and film director (d. 2001)
• 1926 - Neal Cassady, American writer (d. 1968)
• 1930 - Alejandro Rey, Argentine actor (d. 1987)
• 1930 - James Deetz, American anthropologist (d. 2000)
• 1931 - James Dean, American actor (d. 1955)
• 1932 - John Williams, American composer and conductor
• 1932 - Cliff Allison, British racing driver (d. 2005)
• 1933 - Elly Ameling, Dutch soprano
• 1933 - Jack Larson, American actor
• 1937 - Manfred Krug, German actor
• 1939 - José Maria Sison, Filipino communist
• 1940 - Ted Koppel, American journalist
• 1941 - Nick Nolte, American actor
• 1941 - Tom Rush, American singer and songwriter
• 1942 - Robert Klein, American comedian
• 1942 - Terry Melcher, American musician and record producer (d. 2004)
• 1943 - Creed Bratton, American actor and musician
• 1943 - Pirzada Qasim, Pakistani poet and VC of Karachi University
• 1944 - Roger Lloyd-Pack, English actor
• 1944 - Sebastião Salgado, Brazilian documentary photographer
• 1948 - Lynda Lyon Block, American convicted murderer (d. 2002)
• 1948 - Dan Seals, American singer
• 1948 - Ron Tyson, American singer (The Temptations)
• 1949 - Brooke Adams, American actress
• 1950 - Cristina Ferrare, American former supermodel and actress
• 1951 - Z'EV, American text/sound artist (born Stefan Weisser)
• 1953 - Mary Steenburgen, American actress
• 1953 - Roger Clavet, Quebecois politician
• 1955 - John Grisham, American writer
• 1960 - Dino Ciccarelli, Canadian ice hockey player
• 1961 - Vince Neil, American singer (Mötley Crüe)
• 1961 - Bruce Timm,TV Producer (DC Animated Universe)
• 1963 - Mohammad Azharuddin, Indian cricketer
• 1963 - Joshua Kadison, American pianist and singer-songwriter
• 1964 - Trinny Woodall, British fashion guru
• 1966 - Kirk Muller, Canadian ice hockey player
• 1966 - Hristo Stoichkov, Bulgarian footballer
• 1968 - Gary Coleman, American actor
• 1968 - Claudette Pace, Maltese singer
• 1969 - Shiva Rose, American actress
• 1970 - Alonzo Mourning, American basketball player
• 1971 - Andrus Veerpalu, Estonian cross-country skier
• 1972 - Paul Wight, American professional wrestler
• 1973 - Keith McDonald, American baseball player
• 1974 - Jamey Carroll, American baseball player
• 1974 - Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, French disc jockey (Daft Punk)
• 1974 - Ulises de la Cruz, Ecuadorian footballer
• 1974 - Seth Green, American actor
• 1976 - Adam Piatt, American baseball player
• 1977 - Dave Farrell, American musician (Linkin Park)
• 1977 - Barry Hall, Australian rules footballer
• 1977 - Bridgette Kerkove, American actress
• 1977 - Yucef Merhi, Venezuelan artist
• 1977 - Mathieu Turcotte, Canadian short-track speed skater
• 1979 - Aaron Cook, American baseball player
• 1980 - Cameron Muncey, Australian guitarist (Jet)
• 1980 - Stephen Wright, English footballer
• 1982 - Eric Alexander, American football player
• 1982 - Sousuke Takaoka, Japanese actor
• 1983 - Jim Verraros, American singer
• 1984 - Panagiotis Vasilopoulos, Greek basketball player
• 1987 - Carolina Kostner, Italian European champion figure skater
• 1988 - Keegan Meth, Zimbabwean cricketer
• 1989 - Danielle Harmer, English actress
• 1995 - Jordan Todosey, Canadian actress

Deaths

• 1204 - Alexius IV Angelus, deposed Eastern Roman Emperor (b. circa 1182)
• 1250 - Robert I of Artois, French crusader (b. 1216)
• 1250 - William II Longespee
• 1265 - Hulagu Khan, Mongol ruler (b. 1217)
• 1296 - King Przemysł II of Poland (b. 1257)
• 1529 - Baldassare Castiglione, Italian writer and diplomat (b. 1478)
• 1587 - Mary, Queen of Scots (b. 1542)
• 1599 - Robert Rollock, Scottish educator
• 1623 - Thomas Cecil, English politician (b. 1546)
• 1696 - Tsar Ivan V of Russia (b. 1666)
• 1709 - Giuseppe Torelli, Italian composer (b. 1658)
• 1725 - Tsar Peter I of Russia (b. 1672)
• 1749 - Jan van Huysum, Dutch painter (b. 1682)
• 1750 - Aaron Hill, English writer (b. 1685)
• 1768 - George Dance the Elder, English architect (b. 1695)
• 1772 - Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, Princess of Wales (b. 1719)
• 1849 - France Prešeren, Slovenian poet (b. 1800)
• 1849 - François Antoine Habeneck, French violinist (b. 1781)
• 1856 - Agostino Bassi, Italian entomologist (b. 1773)
• 1907 - Hendrik Willem Bakhuis Roozeboom, Dutch chemist (b. 1854)
• 1910 - Hans Jæger, Norwegian writer and political activist (b. 1854)
• 1921 - Peter Kropotkin, Russian anarchist (b. 1842)
• 1921 - George Formby, English entertainer (b. 1876)
• 1929 - Maria Christina, Queen Regent of Spain (b. 1858)
• 1932 - Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll, New York City gangster from County Donegal in Ireland (b. 1908)
• 1956 - Connie Mack, American baseball manager and executive (b. 1862)
• 1957 - Walther Bothe, German physicist and inventor, Nobel laureate (b. 1891)
• 1957 - John von Neumann, Hungarian-born mathematician and physicist (b. 1903)
• 1960 - Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, English architect (b. 1880)
• 1963 - George Dolenz, American actor, father of Micky Dolenz (b. 1908)
• 1964 - Ernst Kretschmer, German psychiatrist (b. 1888)
• 1972 - Markos Vamvakaris, Greek musician and songwriter (b. 1905)
• 1975 - Robert Robinson, British chemist, Nobel laureate (b. 1886)
• 1977 - Eivind Groven, Norwegian composer and ethnomusicologist (b. 1901)
• 1980 - Nikos Xilouris, Greek singer (b. 1936)
• 1982 - John Hay Whitney, American financier (b. 1904)
• 1984 - Karel Miljon, Dutch boxer (b. 1903)
• 1985 - William Lyons, British automobile manufacturer (b. 1901)
• 1987 - Harriet E. MacGibbon, American actress (b. 1905)
• 1990 - Del Shannon, American entertainer (suicide) (b. 1934)
• 1992 - Denny Wright, British jazz guitarist (b. 1924)
• 1993 - N. Shanmugathasan, Sri Lankan communist leader
• 1994 - Raymond Scott, American composer (b. 1908)
• 1996 - Del Ennis, American baseball player (b. 1925)
• 1998 - Halldór Laxness, Icelandic author, Nobel laureate (b. 1902)
• 1998 - Julian Lincoln Simon, American economist and author (b. 1932)
• 1999 - Iris Murdoch, Irish author (b. 1919)
• 2000 - Sid Abel, Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1918)
• 2000 - Derrick Thomas, American football player (b. 1967)
• 2001 - Ivo Caprino, Norwegian animated film director (b. 1920)
• 2002 - Joachim Hoffmann, German historian (b. 1930)
• 2002 - Ong Teng Cheong, President of Singapore (b. 1936)
• 2004 - Julius Schwartz, American comic book and science fiction editor (b. 1915)
• 2005 - Jimmy Smith, American jazz musician (b. 1925)
• 2005 - Keith Knudsen, American drummer, vocalist and songwriter (The Doobie Brothers) (b. 1948)
• 2006 - Elton Dean, English musician (Soft Machine) (b. 1945)
• 2006 - Akira Ifukube, Japanese composer (b. 1914)
• 2007 - Anna Nicole Smith, American model, actress, and entertainer (b. 1967)
• 2007 - Ian Stevenson, professor and reincarnation expert (b. 1918).

Holidays and observances

• Slovenia - Prešeren Day, the Slovenian cultural holiday.
• Nirvana Day - an annual Buddhist festival.
• Boy Scouts of America - Scout Sunday; The Sunday preceding February 8 is designated as Scout Sunday and the following Saturday is designated as Scout Sabbath.

Liturgical Feasts

• Saint Jerome Emiliani
• Saint Juventius
• Saint Meingold of Huy
• Saint Jacoba (d. 1239)
• February 8

External links

• BBC: On This Day
• The New York Times: On This Day

• On This Day in Canada