August 8 in History

Historical Events on August 8

1576 The cornerstone for Tycho Brahe's Uraniborg observatory is laid on the island of Hven.

1863 American Civil War: Following his defeat in the Battle of Gettysburg, General Robert E. Lee sends a letter of resignation to Confederate President Jefferson Davis (which is refused upon receipt).

1876 Thomas Edison receives a patent for his mimeograph.

1908 Wilbur Wright makes his first flight at a racecourse at Le Mans, France. It is the Wright Brothers' first public flight.

1918 World War I: The Battle of Amiens begins a string of almost continuous Allied victories with a push through the German front lines (Hundred Days Offensive).

1963 Great Train Robbery: In England, a gang of 15 train robbers steal £2.6 million in bank notes.

1967 The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is founded by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

1974 President Richard Nixon, in a nationwide television address, announces his resignation from the office of the President of the United States effective noon the next day.

1990 Iraq occupies Kuwait and the state is annexed to Iraq. This would lead to the Gulf War shortly afterward.

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Famous Birthdays on August 8

1951 Mohamed Morsi

1953 Nigel Mansell

1978 Louis Saha

1981 Roger Federer

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Famous Deaths on August 8

1002 Almanzor

1985 Louise Brooks

2017 Glen Campbell

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