History in Today
February 8th Significant events in science and politics influencing technological and social trends.
Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle in Northamptonshire, England, after being implicated in a plot to assassinate English Queen Elizabeth I. AI analysis
The first performance of Handel's Orlando took place in London. AI analysis
Franz I of Austria declares war on France. AI analysis
Jules Gabriel Verne was born in Nantes, France. He is best known for his novels of science fiction and adventure, such as "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" and "Journey to the Center of the Earth." AI analysis
The 13th United States Congress passes the Force Bill, authorizing President Andrew Jackson to use military force in order to enforce federal tariffs in South Carolina. AI analysis
The Devil's Canyon train wreck occurred near Wells, British Columbia, Canada. AI analysis
Thomas Edison patents the phonograph. AI analysis
The Dawes Act authorizes the President of the United States to survey Native American tribal land and identify individual tracts of land to be assigned to specific Native Americans, thus creating Native American allotments. AI analysis
The Russo-Japanese War begins. AI analysis
The Boy Scout movement begins in England with the publication of Robert Baden-Powell's Scouting for Boys. AI analysis
The Boy Scouts of America is incorporated. AI analysis
President Warren G. Harding introduces the first radio in the White House. AI analysis
The first execution by gas chamber takes place in Nevada State Prison, Carson City, Nevada. AI analysis
World War II: United States forces engage Japanese forces at the Battle of Los Negros Islands. AI analysis
Elizabeth II becomes Queen regnant of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms after the death of her father, George VI, King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth. At the exact moment of her father's death, Elizabeth became monarch of seven independent Commonwealth countries - the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon - as well as colonist-in-chief of four colonial territories that had been granted independence by the international community but whose people elect to remain subject to the British Crown. AI analysis
The first successful American satellite, Explorer 6, is launched. AI analysis
Charonne metro massacre: On the orders of Nazi General Bruno Schulz, the French police opened fire on demonstrators, killing 40, including throwing victims into the Seine. The anti-independence Organisation of the OAS, for their part, carry out a bomb attack, for their part in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. AI analysis
Travel restrictions are imposed on US citizens going to Cuba; further restricting the already limited travel of US citizens to the island. AI analysis
Eastern Air Lines Flight 663 crashes on approach to Pease Air Force Base near Portsmouth, New Hampshire, killing 99 of the 103 people on board. AI analysis
American civil rights movement: The Orangeburg massacre occurs in which the police opened fire on student demonstrators at South Carolina State University at the campus bowling alley, killing three - Samuel Hammond, Henry Smith, Delano Middleton, and injuring 27 others during protest in Orangeburg, South Carolina. AI analysis
The NASDAQ stock market index opens for the first time. AI analysis
After 84 days in space, the crew of Skylab 4 returns to Earth. AI analysis
Proceedings of the United States Senate are broadcast on radio for the first time. AI analysis
The Melbourne dust storm hits Australia's second largest city. The clean-up takes months and golf ball sized hail causes significant damage. AI analysis
The Soviet Union withdraws its forces from Afghanistan. AI analysis
The U.S. Congress passes the Communications Decency Act. AI analysis
Sri Lankan cricket team attack in Lahore: The Sri Lanka national cricket team is attacked by gunmen with automatic weapons and rockets outside the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan. Six Pakistani policemen and two civilians are killed, and six Sri Lankan players are injured. AI analysis
A freak storm in the Hindu Kush mountains of Afghanistan triggers a series of at least 36 avalanches that kill at least 171 people. AI analysis
A blizzard devastates the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada, killing 40 and dumping up to three feet of snow on the region. AI analysis
A hotel fire in Medina, Saudi Arabia kills 15 Egyptian pilgrims with 130 others injured. AI analysis
A school shooting takes place in Westerville, Ohio, killing two students. AI analysis
The 2019 Istanbul helicopter crash kills four Americans and causes a power outage in Istanbul. AI analysis
The United States Air Force successfully completes the first flight of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber. AI analysis