On This Day - What Happened On April 8 | Britannica

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Today Celebration of the Buddha's birth On this day most practitioners of Buddhism in Japan celebrate the birth of the Buddha, who lived in India sometime between the 6th and the 4th century bce and founded Buddhism. © Corbis

Featured Biography

Kofi Annan Ghanaian statesman and secretary-general of the United Nations bornApril 8, 1938Kumasi, Gold CoastdiedAugust 18, 2018 (aged 80)Bern, SwitzerlandAP/Wide World Photos 1968 Patricia Arquette American actress 1938 Kofi Annan Ghanaian statesman and secretary-general of the United Nations 1937 Seymour Hersh American journalist 1918 Betty Ford first lady of the United States 1892 Mary Pickford Canadian-born American actress See All Biographies On This Day

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2024 A total solar eclipse occurred across parts of Mexico, the United States, and Canada; it was North America's second total solar eclipse in seven years. Check out our solar eclipse FAQJordan Salkin—GRC/NASA 2013 Margaret Thatcher, who was the United Kingdom's (and Europe's) first woman prime minister (1979–90) and the only British prime minister in the 20th century to win three consecutive terms, died at age 87. Test your knowledge of British historyAP Images 2003 It was reported that springtails (Collembola), long thought to be among the oldest ancestors of insects, did not evolve as insects but rather evolved from a separate group that was formed even before crustaceans and insects diverged. Sort fact from fiction in our insects and spiders quizM.W.F. Tweedie—NHPA/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 1990 Ryan White, who became a national symbol in the United States after he contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion given to treat his hemophilia, died at age 18. What's the difference between HIV and AIDS?AP Images 1990 The first episode of Twin Peaks aired on television, and it won critical acclaim and a cult following with its unconventional narrative, surreal tone, and eerie characters.Lynch/Frost Productions 1979 The final episode of All in the Family aired on CBS; one of American TV's most successful sitcoms, it was known for its frank and satirical treatment of such topics as race, gender, sex, and bigotry.Copyright © Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS); all rights reserved 1974 American baseball player Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruth's record, which had stood since 1935. In 1976 he completed his career with 755 home runs. See where Hank Aaron ranks on our list of the 10 greatest baseball players of all timePictorial Parade 1973 Pablo Picasso, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, died in France at age 91. Take our quiz about artists, painters, and architectsEncyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 1950 Jawaharlal Nehru of India concluded the Delhi Pact with Liaqat Ali Khan of Pakistan, providing for the safe passage of refugees displaced after the two countries severed relations in December 1949. Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about IndiaKarsh—Rapho/Photo Researchers 1941 British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood—who, with her partner, Malcolm McLaren, extended the influence of the 1970s punk music movement into fashion—was born. How much do you know about fashion?© John Phillips/Getty Images 1913 The Seventeenth Amendment, which called for the direct election of U.S. senators by voters of the states, was ratified. Test your knowledge of amendments to the U.S. ConstitutionNARA 1912 Sonja Henie, a Norwegian American figure skater who won the world amateur championship for women in 10 consecutive years (1927–36) and three gold medals in the Winter Olympic Games (1928, 1932, and 1936), was born. How much do you know about figure skating?© George Rinhart—Corbis Historical/Getty Images 1859 German philosopher Edmund Husserl, founder of phenomenology, was born. Discover unexpected facts about philosophersArchiv für Kunst und Geschichte, Berlin 1838 The Great Western, the earliest regular transatlantic steamer, embarked on its maiden voyage from Bristol, England, to New York City. Take our quiz about ships and underwater exploration 1820 Venus de Milo, an ancient statue commonly thought to represent Aphrodite, was found in pieces on the Aegean island of Melos; it was later reconstructed and put on display in the Louvre, Paris. Take our quiz about sculptors and sculpture© Joe Sohm/Dreamstime.com SIGN UP FOR History's Biggest Headlines Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors. SIGN UP Thanks for signing up for Today in History. Your first newsletter will arrive soon! SIGN UP By clicking "Sign Up" you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.