May 8 - Mostly Better

Mostly Better

This Day In History

1541

Hernando de Soto reaches the Mississippi River and names it Río de Espíritu Santo.

1877

At Gilmore's Gardens in New York City, the first Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show opens.

1886

Pharmacist John Styth Pemberton first sells a carbonated beverage named "Coca-Cola" as a patent medicine.

1912

Paramount Pictures is founded.

1927

Attempting to make the first non-stop flight from Paris to New York, French war heroes Charles Nungesser and Francois Coli disappear after taking off aboard the biplane White Bird.

1976

Revolution, the first steel coaster with a vertical loop, opens at Six Flags Magic Mountain.

1980

The eradication of smallpox is endorsed by the World Health Organization.

Famous Birthdays

1521

Petrus Canisius, Dutch Jesuit (d. 1597)

1735

Sir Nathaniel Dance-Holland, English painter (d. 1811)

1786

Jean Vianney, French Catholic priest (d. 1859)

1835

Bertalan Székely, Hungarian painter (d. 1910)

1847

Oscar Hammerstein I, American theater producer and impresario (d. 1919)

1884

Harry S. Truman, President of the United States (d. 1972)

1895

James H. Kindelberger, American aviation executive (d. 1962)
Fulton J. Sheen, American bishop (d. 1979)

1899

Friedrich Hayek, Austrian-born British economist and philosopher, Nobel laureate (d. 1992)

1910

Andrew E. Svenson, American children's book author and publisher (d. 1975)

1911

Robert Johnson, American blues musician (d. 1938)

1926

David Attenborough, English naturalist

1932

Sonny Liston, American boxer (d. 1970)

1954

Stephen Furst, American actor

1964

Melissa Gilbert, American actress