Updated May 7, 2012, 2:28 pm
On May 8, 1973, militant American Indians who had held the South Dakota hamlet of Wounded Knee for 10 weeks surrendered.
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.
Go to obituary » | Other birthdays »
On This Date
By The Associated Press
1541 Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto reached the Mississippi River. 1794 Antoine Lavoisier, the father of modern chemistry, was executed on the guillotine during France’s Reign of Terror. 1846 The first major battle of the Mexican War was fought at Palo Alto, Texas, resulting in victory for Gen. Zachary Taylor’s forces. 1886 Atlanta pharmacist John Styth Pemberton invented the flavor syrup for Coca-Cola. 1944 The first “eye bank” was established, in New York City. 1945 President Harry S. Truman announced in a radio address that World War II had ended in Europe. 1958 Vice President Richard Nixon was shoved, stoned, booed and spat upon by anti-American protesters in Lima, Peru. 1968 Jim “Catfish” Hunter of the Oakland Athletics pitched a perfect game against the Minnesota Twins in Oakland. 1970 Construction workers broke up an anti-war protest on New York City’s Wall Street. 1970 The album “Let It Be” by the Beatles was released. 1973 Militant American Indians who had held the South Dakota hamlet of Wounded Knee for 10 weeks surrendered. 1978 David Berkowitz pleaded guilty in Brooklyn to the “Son of Sam” killings. 1987 Gary Hart, dogged by questions about his personal life, withdrew from the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. 1999 The Citadel, South Carolina’s formerly all-male military school, graduated its first female cadet. Current Birthdays
By The Associated Press
Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith turns 54 years old today.
AP Photo/Nam Y Huh
Boston Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez turns 30 years old today.
AP Photo/Charles Krupa
1926 David Attenborough, Environmentalist, turns 86 1926 Don Rickles, Comedian, turns 86 1937 Dennis DeConcini, Former U.S. senator, D-Ariz., turns 75 1940 Toni Tennille, Singer (The Captain and Tennille), turns 72 1944 Gary Glitter, Rock singer, turns 68 1945 Keith Jarrett, Jazz pianist, turns 67 1951 Philip Bailey, R&B singer (Earth, Wind and Fire), turns 61 1951 Chris Frantz, Rock musician (Talking Heads), turns 61 1953 Alex Van Halen, Rock musician (Van Halen), turns 59 1957 Bill Cowher, Football coach, sportscaster, turns 55 1959 Ronnie Lott, Football Hall of Famer, turns 53 1964 Melissa Gilbert, Actress (“Little House on the Prairie”), turns 48 1975 Enrique Iglesias, Singer, turns 37
Historic Birthdays
Harry Truman 5/8/1884 – 12/26/1972 American 33rd president of the United States.Go to obituary »
56 Edward Gibbon 5/8/1737 – 1/16/1794
English historian; wrote “History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”78 Thomas Hancock 5/8/1786 – 3/26/1865
English inventor; helped start the British rubber industry82 Henri Dunant 5/8/1828 – 10/30/1910
Swiss humanitarian and founder the Red Cross; awarded Nobel Prize for Peace (1901)79 James Rowland Angell 5/8/1869 – 3/4/1949
American psychologist and president of Yale University80 Thomas Costain 5/8/1885 – 10/8/1965
Canadian-born American historical novelist25 Joselito 5/8/1895 – 5/16/1920
Spanish bullfighter77 Edmund Wilson 5/8/1895 – 6/12/1972
American essayist and literary critic92 Friedrich von Hayek 5/8/1899 – 3/23/1992
Austrian-born English economist; awarded Nobel Prize in 197467 Fernandel 5/8/1903 – 2/26/1971
French comedian71 Roberto Rossellini 5/8/1906 – 6/3/1977
Italian film director66 Romain Gary 5/8/1914 – 12/2/1980
French novelist, war hero and diplomat38 Sonny Liston 5/8/1932 – 12/30/1970
American world champion boxer from 1961 to 1964
