# On this day: May 8

May 8 is the 128th day of the year (129th in leap years), with 237 days left until the end of the year.

## May 8 in one line

Headline entries for May 8, from Wikipedia: in 1945, World War II: The German Instrument of Surrender signed at Berlin-Karlshorst comes into effect. This is commemorated as Victory in Europe Day; born 1884: Harry S. Truman, American colonel and politician, 33rd President of the United States (died 1972); died 1880: Gustave Flaubert, French novelist (born 1821). In 2026 it is a Friday, in 2027 a Saturday.

## Events on May 8

- 1360 The Hundred Years War: the Treaty of Brétigny is drafted between King Edward III of England and King John II of France (the Good). [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Br%C3%A9tigny)
- 1373 Julian of Norwich experienced religious visions, later recorded in Revelations of Divine Love, the earliest surviving English-language work attributed to a woman. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_of_Norwich)
- 1429 The Hundred Years War: Joan of Arc lifts the Siege of Orléans, turning the tide of the war [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Orl%C3%A9ans_(1428%E2%80%931429))
- 1541 Hernando de Soto stops near present-day Walls, Mississippi, and sees the Mississippi River (then known by the Spanish as Río de Espíritu Santo, the name given to it by Alonso Álvarez de Pineda in 1519). [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hernando_de_Soto)
- 1643 First English Civil War: The first siege of Wardour Castle ended after six days with the surrender of the Royalist garrison under Lady Blanche Arundell [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Wardour_Castle)
- 1794 Branded a traitor during the Reign of Terror, French chemist Antoine Lavoisier, who was also a tax collector with the Ferme générale, is tried, convicted and guillotined in one day in Paris. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine_Lavoisier)
- 1821 Greek War of Independence: At the Battle of Gravia Inn, a 120-man Greek force led by Odysseas Androutsos repulsed an Ottoman army of 8,000 soldiers. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gravia_Inn)
- 1842 A train derailed and caught fire near Versailles, France, killing at least 52 people. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versailles_rail_accident)
- 1886 Pharmacist John Pemberton first sells a carbonated beverage named "Coca-Cola" as a patent medicine. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca-Cola)
- 1902 In Martinique, Mount Pelée erupts, destroying the town of Saint-Pierre and killing over 30,000 people. Only a handful of residents survive the blast. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Pel%C3%A9e)
- 1927 French aviators Charles Nungesser and François Coli aboard the biplane L'Oiseau Blanc took off from Paris, attempting to make the first non-stop flight to New York, only to disappear before arrival. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L'Oiseau_Blanc)
- 1933 Mohandas Gandhi begins a 21-day fast of self-purification and launched a one-year campaign to help the Harijan movement. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi)
- 1942 World War II: The Axis launched a major counteroffensive, turning the tide of the Battle of the Kerch Peninsula. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Kerch_Peninsula)
- 1945 A parade in Sétif, French Algeria, celebrating the end of World War II in Europe became a riot and was followed by reprisals, carried out by colonial authorities over the following weeks, that killed thousands. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A9tif_and_Guelma_massacre)
- 1945 World War II: The German Instrument of Surrender signed at Berlin-Karlshorst comes into effect. This is commemorated as Victory in Europe Day. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Instrument_of_Surrender)
- 1945 End of the Prague uprising, celebrated now as a national holiday in the Czech Republic. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague_uprising)
- 1950 The Tollund Man, a naturally mummified corpse, was discovered in a peat bog near Silkeborg, Denmark. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tollund_Man)
- 1957 South Vietnamese president Ngô Đình Diệm began a state visit to the United States, his regime's main sponsor. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_visit_by_Ngo_Dinh_Diem_to_the_United_States)
- 1963 In Huế, South Vietnam, soldiers opened fire into a crowd of Buddhists protesting against a government ban on the flying of the Buddhist flag on Phật Đản, killing nine and sparking the Buddhist crisis. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hu%E1%BA%BF_Ph%E1%BA%ADt_%C4%90%E1%BA%A3n_shootings)
- 1970 Construction workers attacked students and others who were protesting the Vietnam War in New York City. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_Hat_Riot)
- 1970 The Beatles release their 12th and final studio album Let It Be. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_It_Be_(album))
- 1972 Four members of Black September hijacked Sabena Flight 571 to demand the release of 315 Palestinians convicted on terrorism charges. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabena_Flight_571)
- 1976 Great American Revolution opened at Six Flags Magic Mountain, California. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_American_Revolution)
- 1980 The World Health Organization confirms the eradication of smallpox. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organization)
- 1984 The Soviet Union announced the boycott of the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, citing security concerns. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_Summer_Olympics_boycott)
- 1987 A British Special Air Service unit ambushed a Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) unit in Loughgall, Northern Ireland, killing eight IRA members and one civilian. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loughgall_ambush)
- 2025 Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as Pope Leo XIV, making him the first pope born in the United States, the first to hold either U.S. or Peruvian citizenship, the first from the Order of Saint Augustine, and the second from the Americas after his immediate predecessor, Pope Francis. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Leo_XIV)

## Born on May 8

- 1737 Edward Gibbon, English historian and politician (died 1794) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Gibbon)
- 1753 Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, Mexican priest and rebel leader (died 1811) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_Hidalgo_y_Costilla)
- 1786 John Vianney, French priest and saint (died 1859) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Vianney)
- 1828 Henry Dunant, Swiss businessman and activist, co-founded the Red Cross, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1910) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Dunant)
- 1884 Harry S. Truman, American colonel and politician, 33rd President of the United States (died 1972) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman)
- 1899 Friedrich Hayek, Austrian economist and philosopher, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1992) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Hayek)
- 1902 André Michel Lwoff, French microbiologist and physician, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1994) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_Michel_Lwoff)
- 1903 Fernandel, French actor and singer (died 1971) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernandel)
- 1906 Roberto Rossellini, Italian director and screenwriter (died 1977) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Rossellini)
- 1911 Robert Johnson, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 1938) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Johnson)
- 1916 João Havelange, Brazilian water polo player, lawyer, and businessman (died 2016) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo%C3%A3o_Havelange)
- 1926 David Attenborough, English environmentalist and television host [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Attenborough)
- 1926 Don Rickles, American comedian and actor (died 2017) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Rickles)
- 1937 Thomas Pynchon, American novelist [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Pynchon)
- 1960 Franco Baresi, Italian footballer and coach (died 2026) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco_Baresi)
- 1961 Bill de Blasio, American politician, 109th Mayor of New York City [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_de_Blasio)
- 1970 Luis Enrique, Spanish footballer and manager [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_Enrique)
- 1970 Naomi Klein, Canadian author and activist [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naomi_Klein)
- 1975 Enrique Iglesias, Spanish-American singer-songwriter, producer, and actor [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrique_Iglesias)
- 1978 Lúcio, Brazilian footballer [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%BAcio)
- 1981 Andrea Barzagli, Italian footballer [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Barzagli)
- 1996 6ix9ine, American rapper [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6ix9ine)

## Died on May 8

- 535 Pope John II [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_II)
- 615 Pope Boniface IV (born 550) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Boniface_IV)
- 685 Pope Benedict II [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Benedict_II)
- 1788 Giovanni Antonio Scopoli, Italian physician and botanist (born 1723) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Antonio_Scopoli)
- 1794 Antoine Lavoisier, French chemist and biologist (born 1743) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine_Lavoisier)
- 1819 Kamehameha I, king of the Hawaiian Islands (born 1738) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamehameha_I)
- 1842 Jules Dumont d'Urville, French admiral and explorer (born 1790) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jules_Dumont_d'Urville)
- 1880 Gustave Flaubert, French novelist (born 1821) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustave_Flaubert)
- 1891 Helena Blavatsky, Russian-English mystic and author (born 1831) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena_Blavatsky)
- 1903 Paul Gauguin, French painter and sculptor (born 1848) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Gauguin)
- 1936 Oswald Spengler, German historian and philosopher (born 1880) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oswald_Spengler)
- 1988 Robert A. Heinlein, American science fiction writer and screenwriter (born 1907) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_A._Heinlein)
- 1995 Teresa Teng, Taiwanese singer (born 1953) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teresa_Teng)
- 2012 Maurice Sendak, American author and illustrator (born 1928) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Sendak)

## Holidays and observances

- Christian feast day: Amato Ronconi [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amato_Ronconi)
- Christian feast day: Pope Boniface IV [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Boniface_IV)
- Christian feast day: Apparition of Saint Michael [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_(archangel))
- Christian feast day: Arsenius the Great [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenius_the_Great)
- Christian feast day: Desideratus [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desideratus)
- Christian feast day: Blessed Catherine of St. Augustine [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_of_St._Augustine)
- Christian feast day: Julian of Norwich (Anglican, Lutheran) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_of_Norwich)
- Christian feast day: Magdalene of Canossa [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magdalene_of_Canossa)
- Christian feast day: Our Lady of Luján [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Luj%C3%A1n)
- Christian feast day: Peter II of Tarentaise [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_II_of_Tarentaise)
- Christian feast day: Blessed Teresa Demjanovich (Ruthenian Catholic Church) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teresa_Demjanovich)
- Christian feast day: Blessed Ulrika Nisch [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulrika_Nisch)
- Christian feast day: 19 Martyrs of Algeria [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19_martyrs_of_Algeria)
- Christian feast day: May 8 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_8_(Eastern_Orthodox_liturgics))
- Emancipation Day (Columbus, Mississippi) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_Day)
- Furry Dance (Helston, UK) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furry_Dance)
- Liberation Day (Czech Republic) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberation_Day)
- Miguel Hidalgo's birthday (Mexico) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_Mexico)
- Parents' Day (South Korea) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parents'_Day)
- Truman Day (Missouri) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truman_Day)
- Veterans Day (Norway) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Day_(Norway))
- Victory in Europe Day, and its related observances (Europe): Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War, continues to May 9 [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_of_Remembrance_and_Reconciliation_for_Those_Who_Lost_Their_Lives_during_the_Second_World_War)
- Victory in Europe Day, and its related observances (Europe): Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945 (Ukraine) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_Remembrance_and_Victory_over_Nazism_in_World_War_II_1939%E2%80%931945)
- White Lotus Day (Theosophy) [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Lotus_Day)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia — “May 8”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_8) — events, births, deaths and observances (text under CC BY-SA 4.0) (checked 2026-10-15)
- [Wikipedia — “Selected anniversaries/May 8”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Selected_anniversaries/May_8) — the anniversaries editors chose for the date and the article each one is about (checked 2026-10-15)
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/) — in how many language editions each entry's own article exists, used to fill the lists (CC0) (checked 2026-10-15)
- [vacanza/holidays (open-source holiday rules, MIT licence)](https://github.com/vacanza/holidays) — holiday rules used to build the lists (checked 2026-10-15)

The events, births, deaths and observances above are from the English Wikipedia article [“May 8”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_8) and the articles it links to ([authors and history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_8?action=history)), retrieved 2026-10-15 through the Wikimedia “On this day” feed. They are licensed under [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/); this selection is shared under the same licence. Every anniversary that Wikipedia's editors selected for May 8 stays on the list; the remaining places, up to 27 events, 22 births and 14 deaths, go to the entries whose own article — about the event itself, or else the person or thing it is about — appears in the most language editions (counted from Wikidata); an article about a person or thing, which covers far more than one day, counts half. An entry with no article of its own counts, also at half, by the least covered article it links, and one that links only places counts for nothing. The 1945 German Instrument of Surrender entry stays as well, and comes first in the one-line summary: we keep a short list, checked by hand, of widely known events that Wikipedia's editors leave out of their selection, usually because the article carries a maintenance notice. Each list runs by year, and the wording is unchanged apart from removing references to pictures, audio and video.

## May 8 in the calendar

| Year | Weekday | ISO week | Moon (UTC) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026 | Friday | 2026-W19 | 🌖 Waning Gibbous |
| 2027 | Saturday | 2027-W18 | 🌒 Waxing Crescent |
| 2028 | Monday | 2028-W19 | 🌕 Full Moon |
| 2029 | Tuesday | 2029-W19 | 🌘 Waning Crescent |
| 2030 | Wednesday | 2030-W19 | 🌒 Waxing Crescent |

Moon phases are for the day in UTC; at the edges of a phase your local date can differ.

## Public holidays on May 8

- [🇫🇷 France](https://whathappen.today/holidays/france/): Victory Day (2026 and 2027)

[Today's holidays in 28 countries →](https://whathappen.today/holidays/)

## Nearby dates

[← May 7](https://whathappen.today/on-this-day/may-7/) · [May 9 →](https://whathappen.today/on-this-day/may-9/)

[All 366 days](https://whathappen.today/on-this-day/)

Last updated: 15 October 2026

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Web page: https://whathappen.today/on-this-day/may-8/