April 8

Today in History
• 1341 - Francesco Petrarca crowned in Rome
• 1455 - Alfonso de Borgia elected as Pope Callistus III
• 1500 - Battle at Novara: King Louis XII beats duke Ludovico Sforza
• 1513 - Explorer Juan Ponce de Leon claimed Florida for Spain
• 1730 - 1st Jewish congregation in U.S. forms synagogue
• 1766 - 1st fire escape patented, wicker basket on a pulley and chain
• 1789 - House of Representives 1st meeting
• 1862 - John D. Lynde patents aerosol dispenser


Holidays - Traditional and Obscure
• Baby Massage Day
• Black Saturday
• Day of Romas
• Easter Saturday
• International Romani Day
• National Dog Fighting Awareness Day
• Pygmy Hippo Day
• World Pageant Day

Birthdays
• 0563 - Gautama Buddha's birthday, the founder of Buddhism
• 1320 - Pedro I, King of Portugal, King of Portugal and of the Algarves
• 1460 - Ponce de Leon, Spain, searched for fountain of youth, found Florida
• 1605 - Philip IV, King of Spain and Portugal, 1621 - 1665
• 1655 - Louis Willem I, Margrave of Baden-Baden
• 1726 - Lewis Morris, U.S. farmer signed Declaration of Independence
• 1731 - William Williams, U.S. merchant signed Declaration of Independence
• 1818 - Christaan IX, king of Denmark, 1863-1906