On This Day: 8 April

8 April in Indian history

• 1942World War II: The United States Army Air Forces flew its first mission from India over the Hump (the eastern end of the Himalayas) to deliver materiel to China.India
• 1630Kiliaen van Rensselaer purchased land near present-day Albany, New York, to establish Rensselaerswyck, which became the most successful patroonship under the Dutch West India Company.India

8 April in world history

• 2020Bernie Sanders ends his presidential campaign, leaving Joe Biden as the Democratic Party's nominee.
• 2005A solar eclipse occurs, visible over areas of the Pacific Ocean and Latin American countries such as Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Venezuela.
• 2002The Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on mission STS-110, carrying the S0 truss to the International Space Station. Astronaut Jerry L. Ross also becomes the first person to fly on seven spaceflights.
• 1990The conservative New Democracy party of Constantine Mitsotakis is elected in the Greek parliamentary election.
• 1974Hank Aaron passes Babe Ruth as the all-time leader in career home runs by hitting his 715th home run off of Al Downing at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
• 1968BOAC Flight 712 experienced an engine fire shortly after take-off from London Heathrow, leading to the deaths of five people on board, including flight attendant Jane Harrison, who was posthumously awarded a George Cross for heroism.
• 1960The Netherlands and West Germany sign an agreement to negotiate the return of German land annexed by the Dutch in return for 280 million German marks as Wiedergutmachung.
• 1959A team of computer manufacturers, users, and university people led by Grace Hopper meets to discuss the creation of a new programming language that would be called COBOL.
• 1954A Royal Canadian Air Force Canadair Harvard collides with a Trans-Canada Airlines Canadair North Star over Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, killing 37 people.
• 1917World War I: German naval officer Wilhelm Werner murdered 19 captured crew members of the British cargo ship Torrington by submerging U-55 when they were on deck.
• 1904Longacre Square in Midtown Manhattan was renamed Times Square after the New York Times building.
• 1895In Pollock v. Farmers' Loan & Trust Co. the Supreme Court of the United States declares unapportioned income tax to be unconstitutional.
• 1866Austro-Prussian War: Italy and Prussia sign a secret alliance against the Austrian Empire.
• 1864American Civil War: Late-arriving reinforcements helped Confederate forces rout the Union Army at the Battle of Mansfield.
• 1271Crusades: The Knights Hospitaller surrendered the Krak des Chevaliers, a castle in present-day Syria, to the army of the Mamluk sultan Baybars.
• 217Roman emperor Caracalla was assassinated near Harran and succeeded by his Praetorian Guard prefect Macrinus.

Born on 8 April

• 1982Allu Arjun, Indian actorIndia
• 1979Amit Trivedi, Indian singer-songwriterIndia
• 1954G.V. Loganathan, Indian-American engineer and academic (died 2007)India
• 1914María Félix, Yaqui/Basque-Mexican actress (died 2002)
• 1892Mary Pickford, Canadian-American actress, producer, screenwriter and co-founder of United Artists (died 1979)
• 1871Clarence Hudson White, American photographer and educator (died 1925)

Died on 8 April

• 2015Jayakanthan, Indian journalist and author (born 1934)India
• 1894Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Indian journalist, author, and poet (born 1838)India
• 1848Gaetano Donizetti, Italian composer (born 1797)
• 1492Lorenzo de' Medici, Italian ruler (born 1449)

Frequently asked questions

What happened on 8 April in history?

2020: Bernie Sanders ends his presidential campaign, leaving Joe Biden as the Democratic Party's nominee. 2005: A solar eclipse occurs, visible over areas of the Pacific Ocean and Latin American countries such as Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Venezuela. 2002: The Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on mission STS-110, carrying the S0 truss to the International Space Station. Astronaut Jerry L. Ross also becomes the first person to fly on seven spaceflights. 1990: The conservative New Democracy party of Constantine Mitsotakis is elected in the Greek parliamentary election.

What happened on 8 April in Indian history?

1942: World War II: The United States Army Air Forces flew its first mission from India over the Hump (the eastern end of the Himalayas) to deliver materiel to China. 1630: Kiliaen van Rensselaer purchased land near present-day Albany, New York, to establish Rensselaerswyck, which became the most successful patroonship under the Dutch West India Company.

Which famous people were born on 8 April?

Allu Arjun, Indian actor (1982); Amit Trivedi, Indian singer-songwriter (1979); G.V. Loganathan, Indian-American engineer and academic (died 2007) (1954); María Félix, Yaqui/Basque-Mexican actress (died 2002) (1914).

Which day is observed on 8 April?

Buddha's Birthday, also known as Hana Matsuri, "Flower Festival" (Japan); Earliest day on which Fast and Prayer Day can fall, while April 14 is the latest; celebrated on the second Friday in April (Liberia); International Romani Day.