On This Day - What Happened On May 8 | Britannica

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1945 World War II in Europe ended Following Germany's unconditional surrender, World War II in Europe officially ended at midnight on this day in 1945, although the war in the Pacific continued until the Japanese surrender in September. How much do you know about World War II? Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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Paul Gauguin French painter bornJune 7, 1848Paris, FrancediedMay 8, 1903 (aged 54)Hiva Oa, French PolynesiaCourtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Chester Dale Collection, 1963.10.150 1961 Bill de Blasio American politician 1940 Rick Nelson American musician and actor 1926 David Attenborough English broadcaster, writer, and naturalist 1926 Don Rickles American comedian and actor 1899 F.A. Hayek British economist See All Biographies On This Day

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2025 Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected the first American pope of the Roman Catholic Church and took the name Leo XIV; he succeeded Francis, who had died the previous month.© Alberto Pizzoli—AFP/Getty Images 2012 American artist Maurice Sendak, who was best known for his illustrated children's books, died at age 83. Test your knowledge of children's authorsJames Keyser—The Chronicle Collection/Getty Images 1999 Nancy Mace became the first woman to graduate from The Citadel, a military college in Charleston, South Carolina. Take our quiz about historic firstsCocoaBeachBoy 1980 Following a global vaccination program, the WHO officially declared that smallpox was eradicated; for centuries, the acute infectious disease was one of the world's most-dreaded plagues. Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about human healthCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (Image Number: 7073) 1970 A month after Paul McCartney announced that he had left the Beatles, the British rock group released Let It Be, their last original studio album to hit the record shops.How much do you know about the Fab Four?Hulton Archive/Getty Images 1950 Police in Silkeborg, Denmark, were alerted to the discovery of a corpse in a bog; it was revealed to be a remarkably preserved bog body and was given the name Tollund Man. Read about nine noteworthy bog bodiesTim Graham/Alamy 1942 In the Battle of the Coral Sea, the USS Lexington became the first U.S. aircraft carrier to be sunk during World War II. Test your knowledge of World War battlesNational Archives, Washington, D.C. 1902 Mount Pelée on Martinique erupted, destroying the port of Saint-Pierre and killing approximately 30,000 people, 15 percent of the island's population. How much do you know about volcanoes?© Albert Barr/Shutterstock.com 1886 American pharmacist John S. Pemberton developed Coca-Cola, a drink he originally billed as a cure-all tonic. Take our quiz about popular drinksPopular Graphic Arts Collection/Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (Digital file no. cph 3g12222) 1884 Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president of the United States (1945–53), was born in Lamar, Missouri. Can you identify where each president was born?Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (LC-USZ62-13033) 1877 The first Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show (then known as the First Annual New York Bench Show of Dogs) began, attracting large crowds over four days; it is one of the oldest continuously running sporting events in the United States, second only to the Kentucky Derby. Take our quiz about dogs© Debby Wong/Shutterstock.com 1864 During the American Civil War, the Union forces of Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant engaged the Confederate troops of General Robert E. Lee at Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia. How much do you know about the American Civil War?Courtesy Meserve-Kunhardt Collection 1846 U.S. troops under Zachary Taylor defeated a Mexican force under General Mariano Arista in the Battle of Palo Alto, the first clash of the Mexican-American War (1846–48). Sort fact from fiction in our wars throughout history quizLibrary of Congress, Washington, D.C. (neg. no. LC-USZ62-13012) 1737 English historian Edward Gibbon, who was best known for the book The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1776–88), was born in Putney, Surrey.Courtesy of The National Portrait Gallery, London 1429 Largely due to the efforts of Joan of Arc, English troops ended their siege of the French city of Orléans, which was the military turning point of the Hundred Years' War between France and England. Read about six teenagers who made history© DeAgostini/Getty Images 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.