1588
Politics
Defeat of the Spanish Armada
Defeat of the Spanish Armada during Elizabeth I’s reign, securing England’s naval dominance.
View detailsThis Day
08August
29 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1588
Politics
Defeat of the Spanish Armada
The Spanish Armada was defeated off Gravelines by English forces and storms, securing Elizabeth’s Protestant realm from invasion.
View details1747
Science
Death of Madeleine de Verchères
Madeleine de Verchères died on August 8, 1747, near Montreal, having spent her later life seeking recognition and pension for her wartime service.
View details1807
Literature
Birth of Emilie Flygare-Carlén
Emilie Flygare-Carlén was born on August 8, 1807, in Strömstad, Sweden.
View details1814
Activism
Birth in Spencer, New York
Esther McQuigg (later Hobart Morris) was born in Spencer, New York, on August 8, 1814.
View details1856
Science
Death of Mary Anne Schimmelpenninck
Mary Anne Schimmelpenninck died on 8 August 1856 in Clifton, Bristol, England, leaving a legacy of religious and literary writings.
View details1857
Arts
Birth of Cécile Chaminade
Cécile Chaminade was born on August 8, 1857 in Paris, France.
View details1863
Science
Birth of Florence Merriam Bailey
Florence Augusta Merriam Bailey was born on August 8, 1863, in Locust Grove, New York.
View details1876
Activism
Born in Belgravia, London
Sophia Duleep Singh was born on 8 August 1876 at Elveden Hall, Suffolk, the daughter of the exiled Maharaja Duleep Singh and goddaughter of Queen Victoria.
View details1884
Literature
Birth in St. Louis, Missouri
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, to John Warren Teasdale and Mary Elizabeth Willard.
View details1886
Science
Death of Lydia Koidula in Kronstadt, Russian Empire
Died at age 42 in Kronstadt (near St. Petersburg), where she had lived after marrying a Russian military doctor.
View details1896
Literature
Birth of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings was born in Washington, D.C., known for fiction about rural Florida.
View details1916
Activism
Death of Lily Braun
Lily Braun passed away on August 8, 1916, in Berlin, Germany.
View details1918
Activism
Navy approves women’s enlistment in Marine Corps
Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels approved women’s enlistment in the Marine Corps on August 8, 1918.
View details1932
Sports
Olympic gold and Olympic record in 100-meter freestyle
Madison won Olympic gold in the 100m freestyle at the 1932 Los Angeles Games in 1:06.8, lowering the Olympic record by more than four seconds.
View details1935
Literature
Launch of "My Day" daily newspaper column
Eleanor Roosevelt's first "My Day" column appears, making her the first presidential spouse to write a daily, widely syndicated newspaper column.
View details1943
1944
Activism
Anne Frank transported to Westerbork transit camp
Anne Frank and others were transported to Westerbork transit camp.
View details1948
Exploration
Birth of Svetlana Savitskaya
Born in Moscow, she later became a famed Soviet pilot and cosmonaut.
View details1950
Sports
Co-founding of the LPGA
Suggs co-founds the LPGA, pivotal in woman's golf development.
View details1951
Medicine
Readmission for metastatic cervical cancer
On August 8, 1951, Lacks was readmitted to Johns Hopkins with severe pain as her cervical cancer had metastasized.
View details1992
Sports
Long jump bronze at Barcelona 1992 Olympics
Joyner-Kersee wins a bronze medal in the women’s long jump at the Barcelona 1992 Olympics with a 7.07 m jump.
View details1994
Science
IAU approval of Venus crater "Wang Zhenyi"
IAU approved the name "Wang Zhenyi" for a Venus crater in 1994, honoring her achievements.
View details1995
Science
Filed U.S. patent application for biodegradable foamed plastic materials
Catia Bastioli, on behalf of Novamont, filed U.S. patent application US08/512,673 for biodegradable foamed plastic materials.
View details2012
Sports
First Indian female boxer to win an Olympic medal – London 2012
Mary Kom won an Olympic bronze in 2012, a first for an Indian woman boxer.
View details2013
Activism
Named recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
President Barack Obama announces Gloria Steinem as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
View details2013
Exploration
Completion of Western Alaska kayak/SUP expedition
Concluded her Western Alaska expedition, having crossed the Bering Strait earlier.
View details2016
Sports
Global media recognition of Kosovo's first Olympic medal
International media widely report on Kelmendi's historic Rio 2016 gold as Kosovo's first Olympic medal.
View details2021
Sports
U.S. Senior Women’s Open victory
Wins the U.S. Senior Women’s Open at Brooklawn Country Club on 8 August 2021, adding a senior USGA title to her record.
View details