August 8

Today in History
• 1303 - Crete earthquake strikes with estimated magnitude of 8
• 1508 - Juan Ponce de León founds Caparra the first European settlement in Puerto Rico
• 1549 - Henry II of France declares war on England
• 1585 - John Davis enters Cumberland Sound in search of the Northwest Passage
• 1605 - The city of Oulu, Finland, is founded by Charles IX of Sweden
• 1673 - Dutch battle fleet of 23 ships demands surrender of NYC
• 1854 - Smith and Wesson patents metal bullet cartridges
• 1876 - Thomas Edison is granted the patent for Autographic Printing


Holidays - Traditional and Obscure
• Culturama Day
• International Cat Day
• National Dollar Day
• National Frozen Custard Day
• Peace Festival in Augsburg
• Peasants' Day
• Scottish Wildcat Day
• Wear Your Mother’s Jewelry Day

Birthdays
• 1079 - Emperor Horikawa of Japan
• 1605 - Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, British colonial Governor of Maryland
• 1617 - Adriaan W. "Joris" van Geel, Flemish missionary, Bantu Dictionary
• 1705 - Gustaaf Imhoff, gov of Ceylon (1736-40)/gov of Neth-Indies (1743-50)
• 1763 - Charles Bulfinch, 1st US pro architect (Mass State House)
• 1814 - Esther Morris [Esther Hobart McQuigg], American suffragist, anti-slavery activist
• 1861 - William Bateson, English biologist (originator of term "genetics")
• 1866 - Matthew A Henson, 1st African American to reach North Pole