March 8 in history — What Happened Today in History
March 8 in history is full of turning points. This page walks you through what happened on March 8 in history, who was born on March 8 and who passed away on March 8, so nothing about this day slips past you.
On this page, March 8 in history is arranged as a timeline of major events in reverse order, with birthdays and deaths in their own sections, plus a short FAQ about March 8 in history at the bottom.
Major Events on March 8 in History 40
- 2021
International Women's Day marches in Mexico become violent with 62 police officers and 19 civilians injured in Mexico City alone.
- 2021
Twenty-eight political institutions in Myanmar establish the National Unity Consultative Council, a historic alliance of ethnic armed organizations and democratically elected leaders, in response to the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état.
- 2018
The first Aurat March (social/political demonstration) is held on International Women's Day in Karachi, Pakistan, since then held annually across Pakistan, and the feminist slogan "Mera Jism Meri Marzi" (My body, my choice), in demand for women's right to bodily autonomy and against gender-based violence, came into vogue in Pakistan.
- 2017
The Azure Window, a natural arch on the Maltese island of Gozo, collapses in stormy weather.
- 2014
In one of aviation's greatest mysteries, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, carrying a total of 239 people, disappears en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The fate of the flight remains unknown.
- 2010
Headlined by Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair, TNA Wrestling moves its flagship program, TNA Impact!, to Monday night. This effort to go "big time live" failed but is notable in the history of professional wrestling television.
- 2004
A new constitution is signed by Iraq's Governing Council.
- 2001
Space Shuttle Discovery launches on STS-102, carrying the Expedition 2 crew to the International Space Station.
- 1994
A collision at Indira Gandhi International Airport kills 9 people.
- 1988
Aeroflot Flight 3379 is hijacked by the Ovechkin family and diverted to Veshchevo in the Soviet Union.
- 1985
A supposed failed assassination attempt on Islamic cleric Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah in Beirut, Lebanon kills 80 and injures 200 others.
- 1983
Cold War: While addressing a convention of Evangelicals, U.S. President Ronald Reagan labels the Soviet Union an "evil empire".
All entries for March 8（+28）
- 1979
Philips demonstrates the compact disc publicly for the first time.
- 1979
Images taken by Voyager 1 prove the existence of volcanoes on Io, a moon of Jupiter.
- 1966
Nelson's Pillar in Dublin, Ireland, is destroyed by a bomb.
- 1965
Vietnam War: US Marines arrive at Da Nang.
- 1965
Aeroflot Flight 513 crashes during takeoff from Kuybyshev Airport, killing 30 and injuring 9.
- 1963
The Ba'ath Party comes to power in Syria in a coup d'état.
- 1962
A Turkish Airlines Fokker F27 Friendship crashes into Mount Medetsiz in the Taurus Mountains of Turkey, killing all 11 people on board.
- 1950
The iconic Volkswagen Type 2 "Bus" begins production.
- 1949
President of France Vincent Auriol and ex-Vietnamese emperor Bảo Đại sign the Élysée Accords, giving Vietnam greater independence from France and creating the State of Vietnam to oppose Viet Minh-led Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
- 1942
World War II: The Dutch East Indies surrender Java to the Imperial Japanese Army.
- 1942
World War II: Imperial Japanese Army forces capture Rangoon, Burma from the British.
- 1937
Spanish Civil War: The Battle of Guadalajara begins.
- 1936
Daytona Beach and Road Course holds its first oval stock car race.
- 1924
A mine disaster kills 172 coal miners near Castle Gate, Utah.
- 1921
Spanish Prime Minister Eduardo Dato Iradier is assassinated while on his way home from the parliament building in Madrid.
- 1917
International Women's Day protests in Petrograd mark the beginning of the February Revolution (February 23 in the Julian calendar).
- 1917
The United States Senate votes to limit filibusters by adopting the cloture rule.
- 1916
World War I: A British force unsuccessfully attempts to relieve the siege of Kut (present-day Iraq) in the Battle of Dujaila.
- 1910
French aviatrix Raymonde de Laroche becomes the first woman to receive a pilot's license.
- 1868
Sakai incident: Japanese samurai kill 11 French sailors in the port of Sakai, Osaka.
- 1844
King Oscar I ascends to the thrones of Sweden and Norway.
- 1844
The Althing, the parliament of Iceland, is reopened after 45 years of closure.
- 1801
War of the Second Coalition: At the Battle of Abukir, a British force under Sir Ralph Abercromby lands in Egypt with the aim of ending the French campaign in Egypt and Syria.
- 1782
Gnadenhutten massacre: Ninety-six Native Americans in Gnadenhutten, Ohio, who had converted to Christianity, are killed by Pennsylvania militiamen in retaliation for raids carried out by other Indian tribes.
- 1775
An anonymous writer, thought by some to be Thomas Paine, publishes "African Slavery in America", the first article in the American colonies calling for the emancipation of slaves and the abolition of slavery.
- 1736
Nader Shah, founder of the Afsharid dynasty, is crowned Shah of Iran.
- 1722
The Safavid Empire of Iran is defeated by an army from Afghanistan at the Battle of Gulnabad.
- 1702
Queen Anne, the younger sister of Mary II, becomes Queen regnant of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Famous Birthdays on March 8 in History 25
- 2004
Kit Connor, English actor
- 2003
Montana Jordan, American actor
- 1999
Nathan McSweeney, Australian cricketer
- 1997
Tijana Bošković, Serbian volleyball player
- 1996
Kyle Allen, American football player
- 1995
Marko Gudurić, Serbian basketball player
- 1995
Isaiah Whitehead, American basketball player
- 1994
Claire Emslie, Scottish footballer
- 1993
Rui Machida, Japanese basketball player
- 1991
Yoon Ji-sung, South Korean singer and actor
- 1990
Kristinia DeBarge, American singer-songwriter and actress
- 1990
Asier Illarramendi, Spanish footballer
All entries for March 8（+13）
- 1990
Brandon Kozun, American-Canadian ice hockey player
- 1990
Petra Kvitová, Czech tennis player
- 1990
Kevin Zeitler, American football player
- 1989
Robbie Hummel, American basketball player and sportscaster
- 1988
Benny Blanco, American record producer
- 1988
Tommy Pham, American baseball player
- 1987
Milana Vayntrub, Uzbekistani-American actress and comedian
- 1987
Jonathan Wright, Australian rugby league player
- 1986
Chad Gable, American wrestler
- 1986
Thomas Morstead, American football player
- 1985
Maria Ohisalo, Finnish politician and researcher
- 1984
Yoshihisa Hirano, Japanese baseball player
- 1984
Ross Taylor, New Zealand cricketer
Notable Deaths on March 8 in History 25
- 2025
Athol Fugard, South African actor, director, and playwright (born 1932)
- 2020
Max von Sydow, Swedish actor (born 1929)
- 2019
Marshall Brodien, American actor (born 1934)
- 2019
Cedrick Hardman, American football player and actor (born 1948)
- 2018
Kate Wilhelm, American author (born 1928)
- 2016
George Martin, English composer, conductor, and producer (born 1926)
- 2015
Sam Simon, American director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1955)
- 2014
Leo Bretholz, Austrian-American Holocaust survivor and author (born 1921)
- 2014
William Guarnere, American sergeant (born 1923)
- 2013
John O'Connell, Irish politician, Irish Minister of Health (born 1927)
- 2013
Ewald-Heinrich von Kleist-Schmenzin, German soldier and publisher (born 1922)
- 2012
Simin Daneshvar, Iranian author and academic (born 1921)
All entries for March 8（+13）
- 2009
Hank Locklin, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1918)
- 2007
John Inman, English actor (born 1935)
- 2007
John Vukovich, American baseball player and coach (born 1947)
- 2005
César Lattes, Brazilian physicist and academic (born 1924)
- 2005
Aslan Maskhadov, Chechen commander and politician, President of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (born 1951)
- 2004
Muhammad Zaidan, Syrian militant, founded the Palestinian Liberation Front (born 1948)
- 2003
Adam Faith, English singer (born 1940)
- 2003
Karen Morley, American actress (born 1909)
- 1999
Adolfo Bioy Casares, Argentinian journalist and author (born 1914)
- 1999
Peggy Cass, American actress and comedian (born 1924)
- 1999
Joe DiMaggio, American baseball player and coach (born 1914)
- 1998
Ray Nitschke, American football player (born 1936)
- 1996
Jack Churchill, British colonel (born 1906)
That is the story of March 8 in history. Bookmark this page and come back next year on March 8 to relive these world-changing moments — or take a random trip through time and see what happened on another day in history.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on March 8 in history?
The biggest event on March 8 in history is: 2021 — International Women's Day marches in Mexico become violent with 62 police officers and 19 civilians injured in Mexico City alone.. In total, 40 major events are recorded for this day.
Who was born on March 8?
25 famous people were born on March 8 in history, the best known being 2004 — Kit Connor, English actor.
Who died on March 8?
25 notable people died on March 8 in history, including 2025 — Athol Fugard, South African actor, director, and playwright (born 1932).
Why should I read about March 8 in history?
Exploring March 8 in history helps you grasp the day's place in history in just a few minutes: events, birthdays and deaths in one read — perfect for students, teachers and curious minds.
Browse the March calendar
Take a random trip through time
What happened on your birthday?
Enter your date of birth and travel back to the day you were born.