Emperor Taizong, the second emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty, died on May 8, 997. He was known for completing the unification of China. He was succeeded by his third son, Zhao Heng, who ascended the throne as Emperor Zhenzong.
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On This Day in History: May 8
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on May 8th. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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The Treaty of Brétigny, between England and France, was drafted on May 8, 1360 and ratified on October 24, 1360, by Kings John II of France and Edward III of England. The treaty included substantial territorial concessions to England and it is seen now as marking the end of the first phase of the Hundred Years' War (1337–1453).
The Italian explorer, Christopher Columbus leaves on his fourth and final voyage, on or around, May 8, 1502, to the New World from Cádiz, Spain, hoping to find a passage to Asia, with four ships and 140 men, including his brother Bartholomew and his son Fernando (Ferdinand). Columbus was born in Genoa in 1451 and died on May 20, 1506 at age 54 in in Valladolid, Spain.
Columbus fourth trip was a desperate, unsuccessful attempt to find a western passage to Asia, but his fleet was decimated by hurricanes and shipworms, leaving him marooned for over a year in Jamaica before returning to Spain in 1504.
Note: Some sources list the start of Columbus fourth trip to have started sometime between May 4 to May 11, 1502.
The image shown is of a portrait executed in the first half of the sixteenth century after the death of Columbus. It is displayed in a showcase of the Museum of the sea and navigation of Genoa, "It Padiglione del Mare e della Navigazione."
The artist, Ridolfo Ghirlandaio, was the son of Domenico Ghirlandaio. He is also known as Ridolfo Bigordi. Ghirlandaio never lived in Spain and it is unlikely that he ever met with the Admiral.
Spanish conquistador and explorer Hernando De Soto reaches the Mississippi River on May 8, 1541. at a point below Natchez, becoming the first European to document seen the river. From there, they traveled through Arkansas and Louisiana, still with few material gains to show for their efforts. Turning back to the Mississippi, de Soto died of a fever on its banks on May 21, 1542.
A legal process by which the Protestant Church of England was restored becomes official as Queen Elizabeth gives the Royal assent to the Revised Act of Supremacy of 1558, which re-established the Church of England’s independence from Rome. and the the Act of Uniformity of 1559 which outlined what form the English Church should take.
Dr. John Stith Pemberton, a local pharmacist from Atlanta, Georgia, produced the syrup for Coca‑Cola, and on May, 8, 1886, carried a jug of the new product down the street to Jacobs' Pharmacy, where it was mixed with carbonated water and sold at the soda fountain for 5 cents a glass.
The drink was originally intended as a tonic to relieve headaches and fatigues. Dr. Pemberton never realized the potential of the beverage he created. He gradually sold portions of his business and, just prior to his death in 1888, sold his remaining interest in Coca‑Cola to Asa G. Candler. An Atlantan business man. Candler proceeded to buy additional rights and acquire complete control. More
Martinique's Mount Pelée erupts on May 8, 1902, and destroys the town of Saint-Pierre, killing approximately 30,000 people, 15 percent of the island’s population. in the space of a few minutes. This is considered the worst volcanic disaster of the 20th century. Mount Pelée is still classified as an active volcano.
The USS Lexington becomes the first U.S. aircraft carrier to be sunk during World War II on May 8, 1942. The sinking took place during the Battle of the Coral Sea. 216 crewmen died. Additionally, 42 aircraft (17 SBD Dauntless dive bombers, 13 F4F Wildcat fighters, and 12 TBD Devastator torpedo bombers) were lost with the ship. More
Hermann Goring, a prominent Nazi figure, was captured by the U.S. Army, southeast of Salzburg, Austria, on May 8, 1945. He was taken into custody by Brigadier General Robert Stack of the U.S. 36th Infantry Division.
He was apprehended as Germany surrendered to the Allies. Goring had been commander in chief of the Luftwaffe, president of the Reichstag, head of the Gestapo and Prime Minister of Prussia. Goering was an early member of the Nazi Party and was wounded in the failed Munich Beer Hall Putsch in 1923. As a result of his wounds, he became addicted to painkillers, particularly, morphine. Goring was tried at Nuremberg and found guilty on all counts. He requested at trial an execution by firing squad, but it was denied. Instead, he was sentenced to death by hanging. However he committed suicide with Cyanide the night before he was to be hanged.
World War II officially ends in Europe at midnight on May 8, 1945, with the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany, marking Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day). The war in the Pacific, continued until Japan's surrendered on September 1945.
Police in Silkeborg, Denmark, discovers, on May 8, 1950, a well-preserved bog body near the village of Tollund. Initially mistaken for a recent murder victim, the body was identified as an exceptionally well preserved Iron Age corpse (500 B.C. until 800 CE), now known as the Tollund Man.
The man's remarkable state of preservation, including visible wrinkles, hair, and beard, led to extensive study and analysis of his remains, including his last meal. It is believed he lived in the early part of the Iron Age. More
Cardinal Robert Prevost is elected Pope on May 8, 2025, taking the name, Leo XIV. Prevost, 69, is the first U.S. born pope in the church's history. He is also a citizen of Peru, where he worked for over two decades. His first public words as Pope, spoken in Italian, were "Peace be with you,"