Today In History [8th October, 2015]

A chronological timetable of historical events that occurred on this day in history. Historical facts of the day in the areas of military, politics, science, music, sports, arts, entertainment and more. Discover what happened today in history.
Today in History
October 8

876		Charles the Bald is defeated at the Battle of Andernach.
1690		Belgrade is retaken by the Turks.
1840		King William I of Holland abdicates.
1855		Arrow, a ship flying the British flag, is boarded by Chinese who arrest the crew, thus beginning the Second Chinese War.
1862		The Union is victorious at the Battle of Perryville, the largest Civil War combat to take place in Kentucky.
1871		The Great Chicago Fire begins in southwest Chicago, possibly in a barn owned by Patrick and Katherine O’Leary. Fanned by strong southwesterly winds, the flames raged for more than 24 hours, eventually leveling three and a half square miles and wiping out one-third of the city. Approximately 250 people were killed in the fire; 98,500 people were left homeless; 17,450 buildings were destroyed.
1897		Journalist Charles Henry Dow, founder of the Wall Street Journal, begins charting trends of stocks and bonds.
1900		Maximilian Harden is sentenced to six months in prison for publishing an article critical of the German Kaiser.
1906		Karl Ludwig Nessler first demonstrates a machine in London that puts permenant waves in hair. The client wears a dozen brass curlers, each wearing two pounds, for the six-hour process.
1912		First Balkan War begins as Montenegro declares war against the Ottoman Empire.
1918		US Army corporal Alvin C. York kills 28 German soldiers and captures 132 in the Argonne Forest; promoted to sergeant and awarded US Medal of Honor and French Croix de Guerre.
1919		The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives pass the Volstead Prohibition Enforcement Bill.
1921		First live radio broadcast of a football game; Harold W. Arlin was the announcer when KDKA of Pittsburgh broadcast live from Forbes Field as the University of Pittsburgh beat West Virginia University 21–13.
1922		Lilian Gatlin becomes the first woman pilot to fly across the United States.
1932		Indian Air Force established.
1939		Nazi Germany annexes Western Poland.
1956		Don Larsen of the New York Yankees pitches the first perfect game in World Series history against the Brooklyn Dodgers.
1967		Guerrilla Che Guevara captured in Bolivia.
1968		U.S. forces in Vietnam launch Operation SEALORDS (South East Asia Lake, Ocean, River and Delta Strategy), an attack on communist supply lines and base areas in and around the Mekong Delta.
1969		The "Days of Rage" begin in Chicago; the Weathermen faction of the Students for a Democratic Society initiate 3 days of violent antiwar protests.
1973		In the Yom Kippur War an Israeli armored brigade makes an unsuccessful attack on Egyptian positions on the Israeli side of the Suez Canal.
1978		Ken Warby of Australia sets the world water speed record, 317.60 mph, at Blowering Dam in Australia; no other human has yet (2013) exceeded 300 mph on water and survived.
1982		The musical Cats begins a run of nearly 18 years on Broadway.
1991		Croatia votes to sever its ties with Yugoslavia.
2001		US President George W. Bush establishes the Office of Homeland Security.
Born on October 8
1810		James Wilson Marshall, discoverer of gold in California.
1890		Eddie Rickenbacker, U.S. fighter pilot in World War I, aviation pioneer.
1895		Juan Peron, Argentinean dictator.
1917		Rodney Porter, British biochemist and Nobel Proze winner.
1926		Cesar Milstein, molecular biologist.
1936		Rona Barrett, gossip columnist; co-host of NBC’s Tomorrow program (1980-81).
1939		Paul Hogan, comedian, actor; won Golden Globe for his role as "Crocodile" Dundee (1986).
1939		Lynne Stewart, US attorney convicted of conspiracy and providing material support to terrorists (2005) and perjury (2010).
1941		Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader.
1943		Chevy Chase, actor, comedian, known for his roles on Saturday Night Live TV series and comedic movies (National Lampoon’s Summer Vacation, Caddyshack).
1943		R. L. Stine, author, screenwriter, producer; known as the "Stephen King of children’s literature" for his hundreds of horror novels written for younger readers.
1948		Johnny Ramone, musician, songwriter, founding member of The Ramones band.
1949		Sigourney Weaver, actress; (Aliens film series, Gorillas in the Mist).
1952		Edward Zwick, director, producer whose films often are based on historic events (Glory, The Last Samurai).
1959		Erik Gundersen, motorcycle speedway rider; won 3 Speedway World Championships, 2 Long Track World Championships, and 7 World Team Cup awards (riding for Denmark in the latter).
1965		C. J. Ramone, musician, sometimes vocalist of The Ramones.
1970		Matt Damon, actor, screenwriter, producer, philanthropist; shared Academy Award and Golden Globe for screenplay Good Will Hunting; appeared in Saving Private Ryan, Invictus.