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This Day in History for May 8

MAY 8 Friday 2026
Featured event 2025

conclave

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as Pope Leo XIV (pictured), making him the first pope born in the United States, the first to hold either U.S. or Peruvian citizenship, the first from the Order of Saint Augustine, and the second from the Americas after his immediate predecessor, Pope Francis.

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Emancipation Day (Columbus, Mississippi) Furry Dance (Helston, UK) Feast of 19 Martyrs of Algeria

Notable Births

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Portrait of Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman 2005Portrait of Moulay Hassan, Crown Prince of Morocco Moulay Hassan, Crown Prince of Morocco 2003Portrait of Jordyn Huitema Jordyn Huitema 2001Portrait of 6ix9ine 6ix9ine 1996

Notable Deaths

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Portrait of Simon Mann Simon Mann 2025Portrait of Chris Cannon Chris Cannon 2024Portrait of Jimmy Johnson (cornerback) Jimmy Johnson (cornerback) 2024Portrait of Pete McCloskey Pete McCloskey 2024

On This Day Quote

“Lost time is never found again.”

— Benjamin Franklin
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What happened on this day

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  1. 2025
    conclave

    The 2025 papal conclave elects Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, taking the name Leo XIV as the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church.

  2. 2021
    Kabul school bombing

    A car bomb explodes in front of a school in Kabul, capital city of Afghanistan killing at least 55 people and wounding over 150.

  3. 2019
    British 17-year-old Isabelle Holdaway is reported to be the first patient ever to…

    British 17-year-old Isabelle Holdaway is reported to be the first patient ever to receive a genetically modified phage therapy to treat a drug-resistant infection.

  4. 1997
    China Southern Airlines Flight 3456 crashes on approach into Bao'an International…

    China Southern Airlines Flight 3456 crashes on approach into Bao'an International Airport, killing 35 people.

  5. 1988
    A fire at Illinois Bell's Hinsdale Central Office triggers an extended 1AESS…

    A fire at Illinois Bell's Hinsdale Central Office triggers an extended 1AESS network outage once considered to be the "worst telecommunications disaster in US telephone industry history".

View full historical timeline (40 events)
Notable Births 12
Oliver Bearman 2005Moulay Hassan, Crown Prince of Morocco 2003Jordyn Huitema 20016ix9ine 1996Pat Cummins 1993Olivia Culpo 1992Kevin Hayes 1992Lane Johnson 1990
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Notable Deaths 12
Simon Mann 2025Chris Cannon 2024Jimmy Johnson (cornerback) 2024Pete McCloskey 2024Ramón Fonseca Mora 2024Rita Lee 2023Robert Gillmor 2022Dennis Waterman 2022
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On This Day Quote

“Lost time is never found again.”

— Benjamin Franklin

People born today

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Portrait of Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman 2005 British racing driver (born 2005)Portrait of Moulay Hassan, Crown Prince of Morocco Moulay Hassan, Crown Prince of Morocco 2003 Crown Prince of Morocco (born 2003)Portrait of Jordyn Huitema Jordyn Huitema 2001 Canadian soccer player (born 2001)Portrait of 6ix9ine 6ix9ine 1996 American rapper (born 1996)Portrait of Pat Cummins Pat Cummins 1993 Australian cricketer (born 1993)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on May 8?

One highlighted entry is from 2025: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as Pope Leo XIV (pictured), making him the first pope born in the United States, the first to hold either U.S. or Peruvian citizenship, the first from the Order of Saint Augustine, and the second from the Americas after his immediate predecessor, Pope Francis.

Who was born on May 8?

People listed for May 8 include Oliver Bearman (2005), Moulay Hassan, Crown Prince of Morocco (2003), and Jordyn Huitema (2001).

What observances fall on May 8?

Observances listed for May 8 include Christian feast day: 19 Martyrs of Algeria, Christian feast day: Amato Ronconi, and Christian feast day: Apparition of Saint Michael.

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