What is Today, July 8th? Holidays, Events, and Historical Events

July 8th is a day with a rich history and significance in India and around the world. On this day, we commemorate the birth of Jyoti Basu, one of the foremost leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and the death of Chandra Shekhar Singh, the 9th Prime Minister of India. We also celebrate the Vasco da Gama Festival in Goa to commemorate the arrival of Vasco da Gama in India in 1498 and World Population Day to raise awareness about global population issues. In the United States, National Lighthouse Day is celebrated to commemorate the importance of lighthouses in navigation and safety.

Today is Saturday, July 8, 2023. Here are some of the holidays, events, and historical events that happened on this day:

Holidays

• National Lighthouse Day in the United States
• World Population Day

Events

• The Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876, where General George Custer and his men were defeated by the Lakota and Cheyenne
• The first commercial flight was in 1919, when the British Airways aircraft City of Liverpool flew from London to Paris.
• The first World Cup was in 1930, when Uruguay defeated Argentina in the final.

Historical Events

• The death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC
• The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in 1440
• The signing of the Declaration of Independence by the United States in 1776
• 1099: Some 15,000 starving Christian soldiers begin the siege of Jerusalem by marching in a religious procession around the city as its Muslim defenders watch.
• 1283: Roger of Lauria, commanding the Aragonese fleet, defeats an Angevin fleet sent to put down a rebellion on Malta.
• 1497: Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama departs on his first voyage and becomes the first European to reach India by sea.
• 1551: William I, Prince of Orange (18), weds Countess Anna van Egmont (18).
• 1608: The first French settlement in Quebec is established by Samuel de Champlain.
• 1663: King Charles II of England granted a charter to Rhode Island.
• 1889: The Wall Street Journal is first published by Dow Jones & Company.
• 1911: Nikola Tesla—a Serbian American inventor and researcher who discovered the rotating magnetic field, the basis of most alternating-current machinery—was born this day or the next in Smiljan, Croatia.
• 1947: The Roswell UFO incident occurs in Roswell, New Mexico.
• 1960: The US Pilot of a U-2 Spy plane, Francis Gary Powers, is charged with espionage.
• 2001: The first Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, is released in the United States.
• 2011: The final launch of the Space Shuttle program takes place.

In addition to these holidays, events, and historical events, there are also a number of other things that happened on July 8th. For example, the following people were born on this day:

• David Bowie was an English singer, songwriter, and actor (1947–2016).
• Bill Gates is an American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist (born 1955).
• Jennifer Lopez is an American actress, singer, and dancer (born 1969).

Some specific events that happened in India on July 8th:

• 1918: The Montagu Chelmsford Report was published to reform the Indian Constitution.
• 1932: The US stock index, the Dow Jones, reached a low of 81 points in the Great Depression.
• 1988: The recruitment of women in the US Air Force began.
• 1958: Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru started the hydroelectric project on the world's largest canal, Bhakra-Nangal, in Punjab.
• 1975: In the earthquake in Bagan, Myanmar, thousands of temples were destroyed, and there was a huge loss of life and property.
• 1972: Sourav Ganguly, one of the best cricket players in India, was born.
• 1914: Jyoti Basu, one of the foremost leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), who served in West Bengal for 23 years, was born.

July 8th holds great historical and global significance, particularly in India. It is a day dedicated to remembering notable individuals and celebrating important events. Firstly, it marks the birth of Jyoti Basu, a prominent leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and the passing of Chandra Shekhar Singh, the 9th Prime Minister of India. Additionally, this day is observed as the Vasco da Gama Festival in Goa, which commemorates Vasco da Gama's arrival in India in 1498. Moreover, it serves as World Population Day, aiming to raise awareness about global population-related issues. In the United States, National Lighthouse Day is celebrated on this day to recognize the vital role lighthouses play in navigation and safety. Over the years, July 8th has witnessed numerous significant events, making it a meaningful day for people worldwide.