Updated
May 8, 2014,
8:54 am
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On May 8, 1973, militant American Indians who had held the South Dakota hamlet of Wounded Knee for 10 weeks surrendered.
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On May 8, 1884, Harry S Truman, American 33rd president of the United States, was born. Following his death on Dec. 26, 1972, his obituary appeared in The Times.
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Other birthdays »
| 1541
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Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto reached the Mississippi River.
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| 1794
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Antoine Lavoisier, the father of modern chemistry, was executed on the guillotine during France's Reign of Terror.
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| 1846
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The first major battle of the Mexican War was fought at Palo Alto, Texas, resulting in victory for Gen. Zachary Taylor's forces.
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| 1886
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Atlanta pharmacist John Styth Pemberton invented the flavor syrup for Coca-Cola.
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| 1944
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The first "eye bank" was established, in New York City.
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| 1945
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President Harry S. Truman announced in a radio address that World War II had ended in Europe.
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| 1958
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Vice President Richard Nixon was shoved, stoned, booed and spat upon by anti-American protesters in Lima, Peru.
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| 1968
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Jim "Catfish" Hunter of the Oakland Athletics pitched a perfect game against the Minnesota Twins in Oakland.
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| 1970
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Construction workers broke up an anti-war protest on New York City's Wall Street.
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| 1970
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The album "Let It Be" by the Beatles was released.
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| 1973
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Militant American Indians who had held the South Dakota hamlet of Wounded Knee for 10 weeks surrendered.
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| 1978
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David Berkowitz pleaded guilty in Brooklyn to the "Son of Sam" killings.
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| 1987
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Gary Hart, dogged by questions about his personal life, withdrew from the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
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| 1999
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The Citadel, South Carolina's formerly all-male military school, graduated its first female cadet.
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| 2012
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Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers became the 16th major league baseball player to hit four home runs in a game.
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Historic Birthdays
Harry Truman
5/8/1884 - 12/26/1972
American 33rd president of the United States.
Go to obituary »
| 56
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Edward Gibbon 5/8/1737 - 1/16/1794
English historian; wrote "History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire"
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| 78
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Thomas Hancock 5/8/1786 - 3/26/1865
English inventor; helped start the British rubber industry
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| 82
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Henri Dunant 5/8/1828 - 10/30/1910
Swiss humanitarian and founder the Red Cross; awarded Nobel Prize for Peace (1901)
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| 79
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James Rowland Angell 5/8/1869 - 3/4/1949
American psychologist and president of Yale University
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| 80
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Thomas Costain 5/8/1885 - 10/8/1965
Canadian-born American historical novelist
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| 25
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Joselito 5/8/1895 - 5/16/1920
Spanish bullfighter
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| 77
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Edmund Wilson 5/8/1895 - 6/12/1972
American essayist and literary critic
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| 92
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Friedrich von Hayek 5/8/1899 - 3/23/1992
Austrian-born English economist; awarded Nobel Prize in 1974
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| 67
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Fernandel 5/8/1903 - 2/26/1971
French comedian
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| 71
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Roberto Rossellini 5/8/1906 - 6/3/1977
Italian film director
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| 66
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Romain Gary 5/8/1914 - 12/2/1980
French novelist, war hero and diplomat
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| 38
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Sonny Liston 5/8/1932 - 12/30/1970
American world champion boxer from 1961 to 1964
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