March 8

Today in History
• 1531 - Henry VIII recognised as supreme head of Church in England
• 1702 - England Queen Anne ascends throne upon death of King William III
• 1754 - Marquis of Ensenada becomes premier of Spain
• 1766 - Willem V (18) becomes governor of United Provinces
• 1817 - The New York Stock Exchange is founded
• 1838 - U.S. Mint in New Orleans begins operation (producing dimes)
• 1855 - 1st train crosses 1st U.S. railway suspension bridge, Niagara Falls
• 1867 - British North America Act is passed in the House of Commons


Holidays - Traditional and Obscure
• Holi
• International Women's Day
• Nari Dibas
• National No Smoking Day
• National Oregon Day
• National Peanut Cluster Day
• National Proofreading Day
• National Retro Video Game Day

Birthdays
• 1286 - John III, Duke of Brittany
• 1293 - Beatrice of Castile, Queen of Portugal (1325-57)
• 1495 - Juan de Dios, Port/Sp saint/founder, Brothers of Mercy
• 1726 - Richard Howe, British admiral, born in London
• 1748 - William V of Orange, Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic
• 1783 - Hannah Hoes, future wife of U.S. President Martin Van Buren
• 1787 - Karl Ferdinand von Grafe, help create modern plastic surgery
• 1822 - Ignacy Lukasiewicz, engineer and inventor, built the 1st modern oil refinery