![Immediate image source: http://www.dsloan.com/Auctions/A22/item-kendall-nebel.html Originally published in George Wilkins Kendall & Carl Nebel: The War between the United States and Mexico Illustrated, Embracing Pictorial Drawings of all the Principal Conflicts, New York: D. Appleton; Philadelphia: George Appleton [Paris: Plon Brothers], 1851.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Nebel_Mexican_War_12_Scott_in_Mexico_City_%28cropped%29.jpg/1920px-Nebel_Mexican_War_12_Scott_in_Mexico_City_%28cropped%29.jpg)
Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
May 8 Friday, May 8, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on May 8 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
8
Holidays
War 180 years ago
Mexican-American War: American forces led by Zachary Taylor defeat a Mexican force north of the Rio Grande in the first major battle of the war.
Zachary Taylor's American forces defeat a Mexican army north of the Rio Grande in the first major battle of the Mexican-American War.
History
What happened on May 8
12 verified entries Full timeline
- -453World history
Spring and Autumn period: The house of Zhao defeats the house of Zhi, ending the Battle of Jinyang, a military conflict between the elite families of the State of Jin.
The house of Zhao defeats the house of Zhi in the Battle of Jinyang, concluding a conflict among elite families of the State of Jin during China's Spring and Autumn period.
- 413UK history
Emperor Honorius signs an edict providing tax relief for the Italian provinces Tuscia, Campania, Picenum, Samnium, Apulia, Lucania and Calabria, which were plundered by the Visigoths.
Emperor Honorius grants tax relief to Italian provinces devastated by Visigoth raids.
- 589European history
Reccared I opens the Third Council of Toledo, marking the entry of Visigothic Spain into the Catholic Church.
Reccared I convenes the Third Council of Toledo, ushering Visigothic Spain into the Catholic Church.
- 1360War
The Hundred Years War: the Treaty of Brétigny is drafted between King Edward III of England and King John II of France (the Good).
The Treaty of Brétigny is drafted, marking a temporary peace between England and France.
- 1373Religion
Julian of Norwich, a Christian mystic and anchoress, experiences the deathbed visions described in her Revelations of Divine Love.
Julian of Norwich receives divine visions that she later records in "Revelations of Divine Love."
- 1429War
The Hundred Years War: Joan of Arc lifts the Siege of Orléans, turning the tide of the war
Joan of Arc leads French forces to lift the Siege of Orléans, shifting the momentum of the Hundred Years' War.
- 1516World history
A group of imperial guards, led by Trịnh Duy Sản, murder Emperor Lê Tương Dực and flee, leaving the capital Thăng Long undefended.
Trịnh Duy Sản leads a group of imperial guards in murdering Emperor Lê Tương Dực and fleeing the capital, leaving Thăng Long undefended.
- 1541US history
Hernando de Soto stops near present-day Walls, Mississippi, and sees the Mississippi River (then known by the Spanish as Río de Espíritu Santo, the name given to it by Alonso Álvarez de Pineda in 1519).
Hernando de Soto encounters the Mississippi River near present-day Walls, Mississippi, which he names Río de Espíritu Santo.
- 1608UK history
A newly nationalized silver mine in Scotland at Hilderston, West Lothian is re-opened by Bevis Bulmer.
Bevis Bulmer re-opens a nationalized silver mine in Hilderston, West Lothian.
- 1639US history
William Coddington founds Newport, Rhode Island.
William Coddington establishes Newport, Rhode Island as a settlement for religious freedom.
- 1794World history
Branded a traitor during the Reign of Terror, French chemist Antoine Lavoisier, who was also a tax collector with the Ferme générale, is tried, convicted and guillotined in one day in Paris.
Antoine Lavoisier, a French chemist and tax collector for the Ferme générale, is tried, convicted, and executed by guillotine in a single day.
- 1846War
Mexican-American War: American forces led by Zachary Taylor defeat a Mexican force north of the Rio Grande in the first major battle of the war.
Zachary Taylor's American forces defeat a Mexican army north of the Rio Grande in the first major battle of the Mexican-American War.
Born today
Famous birthdays on May 8
7 this date All birthdays
Bob Clampett
American animator, director, and producer
Bob Clampett, the American animator and director best known for his work on Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies at Warner Bros. Cartoons, was born in 1913.
Born
1913
Died
1984
Tom of Finland
Finnish illustrator
1920 – 1991
Don Rickles
American comedian and actor
1926 – 2017
David Keith
American actor and director
b. 1954 · 72
Bad News Brown
Canadian rapper, harmonica player, and actor
1977 – 2011
Lars Eller
Danish ice hockey player
b. 1989 · 37
Kemba Walker
American basketball player
b. 1990 · 36
Music
The number one songs on May 8
Across the years Full chart history
Also #1 on this day
- 2026"Rein Me In"— Sam Fender and Olivia Dean
- 2025"Ordinary"— Alex Warren
- 2024"Fortnight"— Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone
- 2023"Miracle"— Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding
- 2022"As It Was"— Harry Styles
- 2021"Montero (Call Me by Your Name)"— Lil Nas X
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport May 8, 1898
The first games of the Italian football league system are played.
The first matches of Italy's football league system are played, marking the beginning of organized competitive football in the country.
Read the story
🔬 Science May 8, 1978
The first ascent of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen, by Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler.
Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler reach the summit of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Emancipation Day (Columbus, Mississippi)
International
Emancipation Day is observed in many former European colonies in the West Indies and parts of the United States on various dates to commemorate the emancipation of slaves of African descent
Furry Dance (Helston, UK)
International
The Furry Dance is a celebration of the passing of winter and the arrival of spring, and one of the oldest British customs still practised today
Liberation Day (Czech Republic)
International
Liberation Day is a day, often a public holiday, that marks the liberation of a place, similar to an independence day, but differing from it because it does not involve the original creation of stateh
Miguel Hidalgo's birthday (Mexico)
International
In Mexico, there are three major kinds of public holidays:Statutory holiday: holidays observed all around Mexico
Parents' Day (South Korea)
International
Parents' Day is observed in on May 8
Truman Day (Missouri)
International
Truman Day is a commemorative holiday to celebrate the birth of Harry S
❝
Cartoons are not just for kids, but for everyone who ever was a kid.
— Bob Clampett · born May 8, 1913