Historical Events on January 8
- 1790: The first State of the Union Address given to the public is delivered from U.S. President George Washington in New York.
- 1806: Cape Colony is officially made a colony of Great Britain.
- 1811: Slave leader Charles Deslondes attempts to start slave revolts in St. Charles and St. James. However, it turns out to be unsuccessful.
- 1815: At the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812, An American military force is led by Andrew Jackson against British forces.
- 1835: For the only time in U.S history, the national debt of the United States is zero.
- 1863: The Second Battle of Springfield begins during the American Civil War.
- 1867: In Washington D.C., the U.S Capital, African-American men receive the right to vote.
- 1877: Warriors led by the Oglala Lakota leader Crazy Horse rally for their last battle against the U.S Cavalry. The battle takes place at Wolf Mountain in the Montana Territory.
- 1889: A United States patent is issued to Herman Hollerith for his punched card calculator.
- 1904: The Blackstone Library receives its dedication on this day; This would be the beginning of the Chicago Public Library System.
- 1940: During World War II, Britain begins rationing food.
- 1945: The Philippine Commonwealth Army attack Japanese Army forces in the province of Ilocos Sur in Northern Luzon.
- 1963: The painting “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci is shown in the U.S for the first time at the National Gallery of Art in the city of Washington, D.C.
- 1964: A War on Poverty is declared by U.S President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Famous Birthdays on January 8
- American Confederate general and U.S Ambassador to Turkey, James Longstreet is born in 1821.
- American soldier, politician and Medal of Honor Recipient, John H. Moffitt is born in 1843.
- English author Emma Booth is born in 1860.
- American singer and actor, Elvis Presley is born in 1935.
- American TV game show host and producer, Bob Eubanks is born in 1938.
- English physicist and author, Stephen Hawking is born in 1942.
- American author and rancher, Don Bendell is born in 1947.
- English singer-songwriter and actor, David Bowie is born in 1947.
