1587
Politics
Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary, Queen of Scots, was executed at Fotheringhay Castle under Elizabeth’s authority, ending a central dynastic and religious threat.
View detailsThis Day
08February
24 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1828
Science
First woman awarded the Royal Astronomical Society Gold Medal
Herschel became the first woman to receive the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society, honoring her lifetime contributions to astronomy.
View details1831
Medicine
Birth of Rebecca Davis (Rebecca Lee Crumpler)
Rebecca Davis (later Rebecca Lee Crumpler) was born in Delaware.
View details1838
1850
Literature
Birth of Kate Chopin
Kate Chopin was born on February 8, 1850, in St. Louis, Missouri.
View details1881
Medicine
Death of Mary Margaretta Campbell
Death of missionary Mary Margaretta Campbell while returning north to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand.
View details1881
Science
Granted Patent for Elevated Railway Noise-Reduction System
Walton patented a sound-dampening rail system for elevated railways, succeeding where Thomas Edison had failed, and sold the rights to New York's Metropolitan Railroad for $10,000.
View details1911
Science
Birth of Elizabeth Bishop
Elizabeth Bishop was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, on February 8, 1911.
View details1921
Science
First woman awarded Doctor of Astronomy from Groningen University
On February 8, 1921, Groningen University made Cannon the first woman to receive its Doctor of Astronomy degree.
View details1926
Science
First woman to deliver a paper at an AIEE convention
Presented 'Steady-State Stability' at AIEE, first woman to do so.
View details1943
Science
Birth of Valerie L. Thomas
Valerie L. Thomas was born in Maryland, USA, destined to become a noted NASA scientist.
View details1951
Medicine
First radiation treatment for cervical cancer
Henrietta Lacks received her first radiation treatment for cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins Hospital on February 8, 1951.
View details1960
Science
Hollywood Walk of Fame star dedicated
Edith Head was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6504 Hollywood Boulevard on February 8, 1960.
View details1972
Politics
Became first female Speaker of the Canadian Senate
On February 8, 1972, Muriel McQueen Fergusson was appointed the first woman to serve as Speaker of the Senate of Canada.
View details1978
Science
First woman appointed State Attorney for Dade County, Florida
Florida Governor Reubin Askew appointed Reno as Dade County State Attorney, the first woman to lead a county prosecutor's office in Florida.
View details1986
Sports
First African American woman to win U.S. senior national figure skating title
Won the U.S. women’s title and became the first African American woman to win a senior national figure skating championship.
View details1987
Literature
Death of Bronisława Wajs (Papusza) in Inowrocław
Papusza died on 8 February 1987 in Inowrocław, Poland, ending the life of the pioneering first published Romani poet in Poland.
View details1988
Literature
Death of Daisy Turner
Daisy Turner passed away on February 8, 1988, at the age of 104.
View details1999
Literature
Death of Iris Murdoch
Iris Murdoch died on February 8, 1999, from Alzheimer's disease.
View details2009
Science
Death of Rica Erickson
Rica Erickson died on 8 February 2009 in Western Australia at the age of 100.
View details2019
Science
First country artist honored as MusiCares Person of the Year
At the MusiCares gala in Los Angeles, Parton becomes the first country artist honored as MusiCares Person of the Year.
View details2020
Science
First artist with 50 number-ones on a single Billboard chart
Madonna becomes the first artist ever to earn 50 number-one hits on a single Billboard chart (Dance Club Songs).
View details2024
Activism
KU Leuven Honorary Doctorate Decision
KU Leuven decides to honor Kachindamoto with a doctorate for her work against child marriage.
View details2025
Activism
Additional seven-and-a-half-year sentence
On February 8, 2025, Narges Mohammadi was further sentenced to seven and a half years, escalating her imprisonment.
View details