On This Day: April 8

Updated April 7, 2012, 2:28 pm

On April 8, 1973, artist Pablo Picasso died at his home near Mougins, France, at age 91.
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On April 8, 1912, Sonja Henie, the Norwegian figure skater who was the women’s world champion for 10 years and a three-time gold medalist in the Olympics , was born. Following her death on Oct. 12, 1969, her obituary appeared in The Times.

Go to obituary » | Other birthdays »

On This Date

By The Associated Press

1513 Explorer Juan Ponce de Leon claimed Florida for Spain.

1913 The 17th amendment to the Constitution, providing for the popular election of U.S. senators, was ratified.

1918 First lady Betty Ford was born Elizabeth Bloomer in Chicago.

1935 The Works Progress Administration was approved by Congress.

1952 President Harry S. Truman seized the steel industry to avert a nationwide strike.

1970 The Senate rejected President Richard Nixon’s nomination of G. Harrold Carswell to the Supreme Court.

1973 Artist Pablo Picasso died at age 91.

1977 The Clash’s self-titled debut album was released in Britain.

1990 Ryan White, an AIDS patient whose battle for acceptance gained national attention, died at age 18.

1992 Tennis player Arthur Ashe announced that he had AIDS.

1994 Rock singer-musician Kurt Cobain of Nirvana was found dead in Seattle at age 27 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

2002 Suzan-Lori Parks became the first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for drama for her play “Topdog/Underdog.”

2005 World leaders joined pilgrims and prelates in St. Peter’s Square for the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

2009 Somali pirates hijacked the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama. (The crew retook the cargo ship, and Navy sharpshooters killed two pirates holding the ship’s American captain.)

2011 Congressional and White House negotiators struck a last-minute budget deal ahead of a midnight deadline, averting a federal shutdown and cutting billions in spending.

Current Birthdays

By The Associated Press

Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood turns 71 years old today.

AP Photo/Jonathan Short

Actress Robin Wright turns 46 years old today.

AP Photo/Dan Steinberg

1926 Shecky Greene, Comedian, turns 86

1937 Seymour Hersh, Investigative reporter, turns 75

1938 Kofi Annan, Former United Nations secretary-general, turns 74

1940 John Havlicek, Basketball Hall of Famer, turns 72

1941 Darlene Gillespie, TV personality (“The Mickey Mouse Club”), turns 71

1941 J.J. Jackson, R&B singer, turns 71

1941 Peggy Lennon, Singer (The Lennon Sisters), turns 71

1947 Steve Howe, Rock musician (Yes), turns 65

1949 John Madden, Director (“Shakespeare in Love”), turns 63

1955 Ron Johnson, U.S. senator, R-Wisc., turns 57

1960 John Schneider, Actor, singer (“The Dukes of Hazzard”), turns 52

1962 Izzy Stradlin, Rock musician (Guns n’ Roses), turns 50

1963 Julian Lennon, Rock musician, turns 49

1964 Biz Markie, Rapper, turns 48

1968 Patricia Arquette, Actress (“Medium”), turns 44

1973 Emma Caulfield, Actress (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Beverly Hills, 90210”), turns 39

1981 Taylor Kitsch, Actor (“Friday Night Lights”), turns 31

Historic Birthdays

Sonja Henie 4/8/1912 – 10/12/1969 Norwegian-born American skater; Olympic gold medalist and popular entertainer.Go to obituary »

78 Giuseppe Tartini 4/8/1692 – 2/26/1770
Italian violinist, composer and theorist

64 David Rittenhouse 4/8/1732 – 6/26/1796
American astronomer and inventor

60 John Loudon 4/8/1783 – 12/14/1843
Scottish landscape architect and horticultural journalist

84 William Welch 4/8/1850 – 4/30/1934
American pathologist; modernized medical practices in the United States

70 Harvey Cushing 4/8/1869 – 10/7/1939
American surgeon; pioneered important neurosurgery techniques

59 Albert I 4/8/1875 – 2/17/1934
King of the Belgiams (1909-1934) and leader of Belgiam army during World War I

94 Sir Adrian Boult 4/8/1889 – 2/23/1983
English conductor; led the B.B.C. Symphony

87 Mary Pickford 4/8/1892 – 5/28/1979
Canadian-born American motion-picture actress

85 Sir John Hicks 4/8/1904 – 5/20/1989
English Nobel Prize-winning economist (1972)

74 Carmen McRae 4/8/1920 – 11/10/1994
American jazz vocalist and pianist

44 Michael Bennett 4/8/1943 – 7/2/1987
American dancer, choreographer, and stage director

1513	Explorer Juan Ponce de Leon claimed Florida for Spain.
1913	The 17th amendment to the Constitution, providing for the popular election of U.S. senators, was ratified.
1918	First lady Betty Ford was born Elizabeth Bloomer in Chicago.
1935	The Works Progress Administration was approved by Congress.
1952	President Harry S. Truman seized the steel industry to avert a nationwide strike.
1970	The Senate rejected President Richard Nixon’s nomination of G. Harrold Carswell to the Supreme Court.
1973	Artist Pablo Picasso died at age 91.
1977	The Clash’s self-titled debut album was released in Britain.
1990	Ryan White, an AIDS patient whose battle for acceptance gained national attention, died at age 18.
1992	Tennis player Arthur Ashe announced that he had AIDS.
1994	Rock singer-musician Kurt Cobain of Nirvana was found dead in Seattle at age 27 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
2002	Suzan-Lori Parks became the first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for drama for her play “Topdog/Underdog.”
2005	World leaders joined pilgrims and prelates in St. Peter’s Square for the funeral of Pope John Paul II.
2009	Somali pirates hijacked the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama. (The crew retook the cargo ship, and Navy sharpshooters killed two pirates holding the ship’s American captain.)
2011	Congressional and White House negotiators struck a last-minute budget deal ahead of a midnight deadline, averting a federal shutdown and cutting billions in spending.

1926	Shecky Greene, Comedian, turns 86
1937	Seymour Hersh, Investigative reporter, turns 75
1938	Kofi Annan, Former United Nations secretary-general, turns 74
1940	John Havlicek, Basketball Hall of Famer, turns 72
1941	Darlene Gillespie, TV personality (“The Mickey Mouse Club”), turns 71
1941	J.J. Jackson, R&B singer, turns 71
1941	Peggy Lennon, Singer (The Lennon Sisters), turns 71
1947	Steve Howe, Rock musician (Yes), turns 65
1949	John Madden, Director (“Shakespeare in Love”), turns 63
1955	Ron Johnson, U.S. senator, R-Wisc., turns 57
1960	John Schneider, Actor, singer (“The Dukes of Hazzard”), turns 52
1962	Izzy Stradlin, Rock musician (Guns n’ Roses), turns 50
1963	Julian Lennon, Rock musician, turns 49
1964	Biz Markie, Rapper, turns 48
1968	Patricia Arquette, Actress (“Medium”), turns 44
1973	Emma Caulfield, Actress (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Beverly Hills, 90210”), turns 39
1981	Taylor Kitsch, Actor (“Friday Night Lights”), turns 31

78	Giuseppe Tartini 4/8/1692 – 2/26/1770 Italian violinist, composer and theorist
64	David Rittenhouse 4/8/1732 – 6/26/1796 American astronomer and inventor
60	John Loudon 4/8/1783 – 12/14/1843 Scottish landscape architect and horticultural journalist
84	William Welch 4/8/1850 – 4/30/1934 American pathologist; modernized medical practices in the United States
70	Harvey Cushing 4/8/1869 – 10/7/1939 American surgeon; pioneered important neurosurgery techniques
59	Albert I 4/8/1875 – 2/17/1934 King of the Belgiams (1909-1934) and leader of Belgiam army during World War I
94	Sir Adrian Boult 4/8/1889 – 2/23/1983 English conductor; led the B.B.C. Symphony
87	Mary Pickford 4/8/1892 – 5/28/1979 Canadian-born American motion-picture actress
85	Sir John Hicks 4/8/1904 – 5/20/1989 English Nobel Prize-winning economist (1972)
74	Carmen McRae 4/8/1920 – 11/10/1994 American jazz vocalist and pianist
44	Michael Bennett 4/8/1943 – 7/2/1987 American dancer, choreographer, and stage director