What Happened on December 8

Complete Timeline — December 8 Through the Ages

1. 1326

   Daitokuji temple, Rinzai line, established in Kyoto by Daito Kokushi

   Daitoku-ji (大徳寺; the ‘temple of Great Virtue’) is a Rinzai school Zen Buddhist temple in the Murasakino neighborhood of Kita-ku in the city of Kyoto Japan. Its (sangō) is Ryūhōzan (龍宝山).

2. 1609

   Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan opens its reading room, second public library in Europe

   Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan opens its reading room, second public library in Europe

3. 1659

   Mexican border town Ciudad Juárez is founded by Fray García de San Francisco.

   Mexican border town Ciudad Juárez is founded by Fray García de San Francisco.

4. 1710

   Battle of Brihuega in the War of the Spanish Succession: British General James Stanhope captured by French & Spanish for

   Battle of Brihuega in the War of the Spanish Succession: British General James Stanhope captured by French & Spanish forces

5. 1794

   1st issue of Herald of Rutland, VT published

   1st issue of Herald of Rutland, VT published

6. 1813

   Ludwig van Beethoven's 7th Symphony in A major premieres in Vienna, with Beethoven conducting

   The Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92, is a symphony in four movements composed by Ludwig van Beethoven between 1811 and 1812, while improving his health in the Bohemian spa town of Teplitz.

7. 1852

   Gustav Freytag's comedy play "The Journalists" premieres in Breslau

   The Journalists is a comedy in four acts by Gustav Freytag. It was first performed in 1852 and first printed in 1854. It is still regarded as one of the most successful German comedies.

8. 1854

   Pope Pius IX proclaims Immaculate Conception, makes Mary, free of Original Sin

   Pope Pius IX (Italian: Pio IX; born Giovanni Maria Battista Pietro Pellegrino Isidoro Mastai-Ferretti; 13 May 1792 – 7 February 1878) was head of the Catholic Church from 1846 to 1878.

9. 1863

   Abraham Lincoln issues his Amnesty Proclamation and plan for the Reconstruction of the South

   The Ten Percent Plan, formally the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (13 Stat.

10. 1863

    2,500 reported killed as result of fire at Jesuit Church of La Compana, Santiago, Chile

    2,500 reported killed as result of fire at Jesuit Church of La Compana, Santiago, Chile

11. 1869

    20th Roman Catholic ecumenical council, Vatican I, opens in Rome

    The First Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, commonly known as the First Vatican Council or Vatican I, was the 20th ecumenical council of the Catholic Church, held three centuries after the preceding...

12. 1872

    American religious leader Brigham Young (71) weds his 55th and final wife, American poet Hannah Tapfield (68) in Salt La

    American religious leader Brigham Young (71) weds his 55th and final wife, American poet Hannah Tapfield (68) in Salt Lake City, Utah

13. 1875

    Aleksandr Ostrovsky's play "Volki i Ovsty" (Wolves and Sheep) premieres at the Alexandrinsky Theatre in St Petersburg, R

    Aleksandr Ostrovsky's play "Volki i Ovsty" (Wolves and Sheep) premieres at the Alexandrinsky Theatre in St Petersburg, Russia

14. 1876

    Suriname begins compulsory education for children aged 7 to 12

    Compulsory education refers to a period of education that is required of all people and is imposed by the government.

15. 1880

    5,000 armed Boers gather in Paardekraal, South Africa

    The Paardekraal Monument is situated in Krugersdorp, South Africa. The monument commemorates the original site of vow made by Transvaal Boers on 13 December 1880, prior to the armed rebellion known...

16. 1881

    Vienna's Ringtheater is destroyed by a gaslight fire, killing an estimated 384 to 1,000 people

    Vienna's Ringtheater is destroyed by a gaslight fire, killing an estimated 384 to 1,000 people

17. 1907

    Gustaf V of Sweden becomes King of Sweden (1907-50)

    Gustaf V of Sweden becomes King of Sweden (1907-50)

18. 1909

    Bird banding society founded

    The Hartford Audubon Society, founded in 1909, is nonprofit organization dedicated to wildlife conservation and education.

19. 1913

    Construction begins on the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition

    San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the fourth-most populous city in California and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with a population of 867,567 in 2024.

20. 1914

    Battle of the Falkland Islands: British Royal Navy destroys the German East Asia Squadron in a decisive naval battle

    Battle of the Falkland Islands: British Royal Navy destroys the German East Asia Squadron in a decisive naval battle

21. 1914

    Irving Berlin's musical "Watch Your Step" premieres in NYC

    Irving Berlin's musical "Watch Your Step" premieres in NYC

22. 1914

    Ernie Toshack is born

    Ernie Toshack, New Zealand athlete, known for australian cricketer, was born on 1914-12-08.

23. 1923

    German-US friendship treaty signed

    The Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Consular Relations between Germany and the United States of America was an agreement for the improvement of relations between the U.S.

24. 1926

    Joachim Fest is born

    Joachim Fest, German historian, known for german historian, was born on 1926-12-08.

25. 1930

    Broadway Theater opens at 1681 Broadway NYC

    The Broadway Theatre (formerly Universal's Colony Theatre, B.S. Moss's Broadway Theatre, Earl Carroll's Broadway Theatre, and Ciné Roma) is a Broadway theater at 1681 Broadway (near 53rd Street) in...

26. 1930

    Maximilian Schell is born

    Maximilian Schell, Austrian actor, filmmaker, and theatre director, known for swiss actor, filmmaker, and theatre director, was born on 1930-12-08.

27. 1931

    Coaxial cable patented

    Coaxial cable patented

28. 1933

    French nun Bernadette Soubirous, who saw the vision of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes, is canonized by the Catholic Church

    Bernadette Soubirous, SCN, also known as Bernadette of Lourdes (religious name Marie-Bernarde), was a miller's daughter from Lourdes (Lorda in Occitan), in the department of Hautes-Pyrénées in...

29. 1934

    Friedrich Wolf's "Professor Mamlock" premieres in Zurich

    Professor Mamlock is a theater play written by Friedrich Wolf in 1933. Portraying the hardships a Jewish doctor named Hans Mamlock experiences under the Hitler regime, it is one of the earliest works...

30. 1935

    The Japanese military police launches a violent suppression of the religious sect Oomoto, beginning with a crackdown on

    The Japanese military police launches a violent suppression of the religious sect Oomoto, beginning with a crackdown on the sect's operational bases of Ayabe and Kameoka in Kyoto Prefecture and the arrest of its leader Onisaburo Deguchi.

31. 1936

    Anastasio Somoza García elected President of Nicaragua

    Anastasio Somoza García (1 February 1896 – 29 September 1956) was the leader of Nicaragua from 1936 until his assassination in 1956.

32. 1938

    Highest temperature for December in US recorded in La Mesa Calif

    Highest temperature for December in US recorded in La Mesa Calif

33. 1941

    US and Britain declare war on Japan, US enters World War II

    World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers.

34. 1941

    Chełmno extermination camp opens, 50 kilometres from Łódź, Poland

    Chełmno, or Kulmhof, was the first of Nazi Germany's extermination camps and was situated 50 km (31 mi) north of Łódź, near the village of Chełmno nad Nerem.

35. 1942

    8th Heisman Trophy Award: Frank Sinkwich, Georgia (HB)

    8th Heisman Trophy Award: Frank Sinkwich, Georgia (HB)

36. 1946

    US Army rocket plane XS-1 makes its first powered flight

    US Army rocket plane XS-1 makes its first powered flight

37. 1947

    Gregg Allman is born

    Gregg Allman, American musician, known for american musician, was born on 1947-12-08. Gregory LeNoir Allman (December 8, 1947 – May 27, 2017) was an American musician, singer and songwriter.

38. 1948

    14th Heisman Trophy Award for US college football awarded to halfback Doak Walker of SMU

    14th Heisman Trophy Award for US college football awarded to halfback Doak Walker of SMU

39. 1948

    Jimmy Lai is born

    Jimmy Lai, Chinese hong kong businessman and activist, known for hong kong businessman and activist, was born on 1948-12-08.

40. 1950

    NBA player Bob Cousy (22) weds his college sweetheart Missie Ritterbusch

    NBA player Bob Cousy (22) weds his college sweetheart Missie Ritterbusch

41. 1951

    AL alters its restrictions on night games, adopting NL's suspended game rule & lifting its ban on lights for Sunday game

    AL alters its restrictions on night games, adopting NL's suspended game rule & lifting its ban on lights for Sunday games

42. 1952

    First TV acknowledgment of a pregnancy in the "I Love Lucy" episode "Lucy is Enceinte," which incorporates Lucy's real-l

    First TV acknowledgment of a pregnancy in the "I Love Lucy" episode "Lucy is Enceinte," which incorporates Lucy's real-life pregnancy into the storyline

43. 1953

    Prime Minister of Canada John Diefenbaker (58) weds second wife Olive Palmer (51) at Park Road Baptist Church in Toronto

    Prime Minister of Canada John Diefenbaker (58) weds second wife Olive Palmer (51) at Park Road Baptist Church in Toronto, Canada

44. 1953

    19th Heisman Trophy Award: Johnny Lattner, Notre Dame (HB)

    19th Heisman Trophy Award: Johnny Lattner, Notre Dame (HB)

45. 1953

    Sam Kinison is born

    Sam Kinison, American comedian, known for american comedian, was born on 1953-12-08. Samuel Burl Kinison ( KIN-iss-ən; December 8, 1953 – April 10, 1992) was an American stand-up comedian and actor.

46. 1954

    Maxwell Anderson's play "Bad Seed", based on the book by William March, premieres in NYC

    Maxwell Anderson's play "Bad Seed", based on the book by William March, premieres in NYC

47. 1954

    Kim Basinger is born

    Kim Basinger, American actress, known for american actress, was born on 1954-12-08. Kimila Ann Basinger ( BAY-sing-ər; born December 8, 1953) is an American actress.

48. 1955

    21st Heisman Trophy Award: Howard Cassady, Ohio State (HB)

    21st Heisman Trophy Award: Howard Cassady, Ohio State (HB)

49. 1955

    Brooklyn catcher Roy Campanella wins his 3rd MVP Award

    Brooklyn catcher Roy Campanella wins his 3rd MVP Award

50. 1956

    1st test firing of Vanguard satellite program, TV-0

    1st test firing of Vanguard satellite program, TV-0

51. 1959

    Baseball's new Continental League awards its 6th franchise to Atlanta, Georgia

    Atlanta is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the county seat of Fulton County and extends into neighboring DeKalb County.

52. 1960

    MLB expansion team Los Angeles Angels sign a 4 year lease to use Dodger Stadium

    The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, within the Greater Los Angeles area.

53. 1961

    Antwerp Belgium diocese forms

    Antwerp Belgium diocese forms

54. 1962

    -day newspaper strike begins in NYC

    -day newspaper strike begins in NYC

55. 1963

    Frank Sinatra, Jr is kidnapped at Harrah's Lake Tahoe (Nevada)

    Harrah's Lake Tahoe is a hotel and casino in Stateline, Nevada. Harrah's is branded with the name of its former owner and operator, William F. Harrah.

56. 1963

    Steve Elkington is born

    Steve Elkington is born

57. 1965

    Pope Paul VI closes the final session of the Second Vatican Council, an influential ecumenical council that significantl

    Pope Paul VI closes the final session of the Second Vatican Council, an influential ecumenical council that significantly modernizes church practices

58. 1965

    Abe Burrows' play "Cactus Flower" premieres in NYC

    Abe Burrows' play "Cactus Flower" premieres in NYC

59. 1966

    The US and USSR reach an agreement on a treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons in outer space (the Outer Space Treaty), whic

    The US and USSR reach an agreement on a treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons in outer space (the Outer Space Treaty), which is signed the following month

60. 1966

    New York Yankee trade, outfielder Roger Maris to St' Louis Cardinals for Charlie Smith

    Roger Eugene Maris was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB).

61. 1966

    Sinead O'Connor is born

    Sinead O'Connor, Irish musician, known for irish singer-songwriter, was born on 1966-12-08. Shuhada' Sadaqat was an Irish singer-songwriter, record producer and activist.

62. 1967

    NHL California Seals change name to Oakland Seals

    The California Golden Seals were a professional ice hockey club that competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1967 to 1976.

63. 1969

    Greek DC-6B crashes in storm at Athens, 93 killed

    Greek DC-6B crashes in storm at Athens, 93 killed

64. 1970

    Head of the Catholic Church in Ireland Cardinal William Conway publishes a pamphlet on the topic of segregation in educa

    Head of the Catholic Church in Ireland Cardinal William Conway publishes a pamphlet on the topic of segregation in education in Northern Ireland

65. 1972

    United Airlines crashes at Chicago's Midway Airport killing 45

    United Air Lines Flight 553 was a scheduled domestic flight from Washington National Airport to Omaha, Nebraska, via Chicago Midway International Airport.

66. 1973

    39th Heisman Trophy Award: John Cappelletti, Penn State (RB)

    39th Heisman Trophy Award: John Cappelletti, Penn State (RB)

67. 1974

    Greek monarchy rejected by referendum

    A referendum on the constitutional form of the state was held in Greece on 8 December 1974.

68. 1975

    Radio station 4ZZZ begins transmitting in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia at 105.7 FM; frequency changes to 102.1 FM in

    Radio station 4ZZZ begins transmitting in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia at 105.7 FM; frequency changes to 102.1 FM in 1978

69. 1976

    Asylum Records releases The Eagles fifth studio album "Hotel California"; it spawns two #1 singles and sells over 30 mil

    Asylum Records releases The Eagles fifth studio album "Hotel California"; it spawns two #1 singles and sells over 30 million copies

70. 1977

    43rd Heisman Trophy Award: Earl Campbell, Texas (RB)

    43rd Heisman Trophy Award: Earl Campbell, Texas (RB)

71. 1978

    "The Deer Hunter", directed by Michael Cimino and starring Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken and Meryl Streep, premiere

    "The Deer Hunter", directed by Michael Cimino and starring Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken and Meryl Streep, premieres in Los Angeles (Academy Awards Best Picture 1979)

72. 1978

    Commencement of the first day/night World Series Cricket Supertest at VFL Park, Melbourne

    Commencement of the first day/night World Series Cricket Supertest at VFL Park, Melbourne

73. 1980

    "Bravo" network premieres on cable TV

    "Bravo" network premieres on cable TV

74. 1981

    France performs nuclear test

    France performs nuclear test

75. 1983

    9th NASA Space Shuttle Mission: Columbia 6 lands at Edwards AFB

    9th NASA Space Shuttle Mission: Columbia 6 lands at Edwards AFB

76. 1983

    Nicki Minaj is born

    Nicki Minaj, Trinidadian musician, known for trinidadian rapper and singer, was born on 1983-12-08.

77. 1984

    Europe & 64 developing countries sign Lome III treaty

    Europe & 64 developing countries sign Lome III treaty

78. 1984

    Ringo Starr hosts "Saturday Night Live"; Herbie Hancock is the musical guest

    The tenth season of Saturday Night Live, an American sketch comedy series, originally aired in the United States on NBC between October 6, 1984, and April 13, 1985.

79. 1985

    Ken O'Brien's 96 yard TD pass (NY Jet record) to Wesley Walker

    Ken O'Brien's 96 yard TD pass (NY Jet record) to Wesley Walker

80. 1986

    NBC premiere of miniseries "Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna" (Part 2)

    NBC premiere of miniseries "Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna" (Part 2)

81. 1988

    Knick's set NBA record of 11 3-pointers & sink Bucks, 113-109

    The 1988 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 1987–88 season, and the culmination of the season's playoffs.

82. 1989

    Great Britain performs nuclear test

    Great Britain performs nuclear test

83. 1990

    Indians agree to a lease new ballpark in Gateway (Jacobs Field)

    Progressive Field is a baseball stadium in the downtown area of Cleveland, Ohio. It is the ballpark of the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball and, together with Rocket Arena, is part of the...

84. 1991

    Russia, Belarus and Ukraine form the Commonwealth of Independent States

    The Common Economic Space is the goal and the result of the process of economic integration of post-Soviet states envisaged by Article 7 of the Agreement on the creation the Commonwealth of...

85. 1992

    NBC announces that "Cheers" will go off the air in May 1993

    "One for the Road" is the final episode of the American television series Cheers. It was the 271st episode of the series and the twenty-sixth episode of the eleventh season of the show.

86. 1993

    Dow Jones Industrial Average hits record 3734.53

    Dow Jones Industrial Average hits record 3734.53

87. 1994

    Darryl Strawberry indicted on tax evasion charges

    Darryl Eugene Strawberry Sr. is an American former professional baseball right fielder who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB).

88. 1995

    Krzysztof Penderecki conducts the Munich Philharmonic in premiere of his Symphony No. 3

    The Symphony No. 3 is a symphony in five movements composed between 1988 and 1995 by Krzysztof Penderecki. It was commissioned and completed for the centenary of the Munich Philharmonic.

89. 1995

    Raheem Sterling is born

    Raheem Sterling, English athlete, known for english footballer, was born on 1995-12-08.

90. 1998

    Tadjena massacre: 81 people are killed by armed groups in Algeria.

    The Tadjena massacre was an incident resulting in 81 deaths. Beginning about 9:00 p.m.

91. 2002

    The Caribbean Community Heads of Government meet with the Government of Cuba and declare the date "CARICOM-Cuba Day" to

    The Caribbean Community Heads of Government meet with the Government of Cuba and declare the date "CARICOM-Cuba Day" to celebrate diplomatic ties between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Republic of Cuba

92. 2004

    The Cuzco Declaration is signed in Cuzco, Peru, establishing the Union of South American Nations

    The Union of South American Nations (USAN), sometimes also referred to as the South American Union, abbreviated in Spanish as UNASUR and in Portuguese as UNASUL, is an intergovernmental regional...

93. 2005

    Ante Gotovina, a Croatian Army general accused of war crimes, is captured in Playa de las Américas, Tenerife, by Spanish

    Ante Gotovina, a Croatian Army general accused of war crimes, is captured in Playa de las Américas, Tenerife, by Spanish police

94. 2007

    73rd Heisman Trophy Award: Tim Tebow, Florida (QB)

    The Florida Gators football program represents the University of Florida (UF) in American college football.

95. 2008

    Kirsty Williams is elected leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, becoming the first female leader of a political party

    Kirsty Williams is elected leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, becoming the first female leader of a political party in Wales

96. 2009

    Coordinated bombings in Baghdad, Iraq, kill 127 people and injure 448

    The December 2009 Baghdad bombings were attacks in Baghdad, Iraq, which resulted in the deaths of at least 127 people and injuries to at least 448 more.

97. 2010

    American "Heart" rock singer Nancy Wilson (56) divorces American "Almost Famous" and "Elizabethtown" director Cameron Cr

    American "Heart" rock singer Nancy Wilson (56) divorces American "Almost Famous" and "Elizabethtown" director Cameron Crowe (53) due to irreconcilable differences after 24 years of marriage

98. 2011

    The NBA and players union reach financial agreement to end a 161-day lockout, shortening the season by 16 games

    The NBA and players union reach financial agreement to end a 161-day lockout, shortening the season by 16 games

99. 2012

    UN climate conference agrees to extend the Kyoto Protocol to 2020

    The Kyoto Protocol was an international treaty which extended the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,...

100. 2018

     84th Heisman Trophy Award: Kyler Murray, Oklahoma (QB)

     84th Heisman Trophy Award: Kyler Murray, Oklahoma (QB)

101. 2018

     Brian Ortega fights Max Holloway at UFC 231 and loses by doctor stoppage, earning Fight of the Night

     Brian Ortega fights Max Holloway at UFC 231 and loses by doctor stoppage, earning Fight of the Night

102. 2019

     Fire in an illegal bag factory in Delhi, India, kills 43

     On 8 December 2019, a fire occurred at a factory building in Anaj Mandi area of Delhi, India.

103. 2020

     Former Israeli space security chief Haim Eshed says Aliens and a Galactic Federation exist and Donald Trump knows about

     Former Israeli space security chief Haim Eshed says Aliens and a Galactic Federation exist and Donald Trump knows about it, in article published in the Jerusalem Post

104. 2022

     American basketball star Brittany Griner is released by Russian authorities in a prisoner exchange for Russian arms deal

     American basketball star Brittany Griner is released by Russian authorities in a prisoner exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout; Griner detained on drug smuggling charges since February 2022

105. 2022

     Canadian pop singer Celine Dion reveals via Instagram that she has been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), a ra

     Canadian pop singer Celine Dion reveals via Instagram that she has been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), a rare neurological disorder

106. 2023

     Exhibition "The Art of Zen" featuring ink painting "Persimmons" the 'Zen Mona Lisa' by 13th century Chinese monk Muqi op

     Exhibition "The Art of Zen" featuring ink painting "Persimmons" the 'Zen Mona Lisa' by 13th century Chinese monk Muqi opens In San Francisco [1]

107. 2023

     Kawhi Leonard scores a season-high 41 points in a win over the Utah Jazz

     Kawhi Anthony Leonard ( kə-WHY; born June 29, 1991) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

108. 2024

     Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad resigns and flees to Moscow after rebel forces sweep into the capital, Damascus [1]

     On 8 December 2024, the Assad regime collapsed during a major offensive by opposition forces.

109. 2024

     Dutch driver Max Verstappen finishes 6th in the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP to claim his 4th consecutive World F1 title;

     Dutch driver Max Verstappen finishes 6th in the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP to claim his 4th consecutive World F1 title; Lando Norris wins the race as McLaren takes Constructors C'ship for first time in 26 years

110. 2025

     7.5 magnitude earthquake off of Japan's northeast coast causes building damage and triggers a brief tsunami warning

     7.5 magnitude earthquake off of Japan's northeast coast causes building damage and triggers a brief tsunami warning

People Associated with December 8

Years with Events on December 8

More Days in December