Plot
A plot to assassinate the King is exposed, its leaders flee into exile
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On this date in world history
December 8 in History
This permanent archive page contains 144 World History Database records for December 8, spanning 1212 to 2025. Recorded topics include Plot; Peerage; Legislation.
Total: 144Events: 126Births: 6Deaths: 4Battles: 8Countries: 29
Events on December 8
Peerage
Created Earl of Wiltshire
Peerage
Creates Thomas Boleyn Earl of Wiltshire
Legislation
The Poor Law is enacted
Poor Law
The Poor Law is enacted
Reform of Poor Relief
The Poor Law is enacted
Negotiations at Hungerford
William III of Orange receives commissioners representing James II and answers proposals for a negotiated political settlement.
Definition of Parliamentary Session
Supports an amendment clarifying that a parliamentary session exists even when no act or judgment is passed.
Surrender of Lille Citadel
The citadel of Lille surrenders after the prolonged Allied siege.
Capture of Breslau
Captures Breslau after the Battle of Leuthen
Congress of Davis
Davis takes his seat in Congress
President of Ecuador
Appointed President of Ecuador
President of Ecuador
Appointed President of Ecuador
Clifton Bridge Completion
Hawkshaw helps complete Brunel's Clifton bridge design.
Clifton Bridge Opened
The Clifton Suspension Bridge opens to the public.
Clifton Suspension Bridge
The Clifton Suspension Bridge opens to the public as a memorial to Brunel five years after his death.
Red River Resistance
Leads a provisional government during the Red River Resistance.
American Federation of Labor
Gompers becomes president of the newly formed American Federation of Labor.
Moscow Uprising
Socialist Revolutionaries support armed resistance in Moscow.
Falkland Islands Strategy Vindicated
Sturdee's force destroys most of von Spee's squadron, vindicating Fisher's decision to send superior battlecruisers south.
Formal Order to Evacuate ANZAC Received
Birdwood receives the final order to evacuate the ANZAC and Suvla positions.
Symphony No 5 Premiere
Conducts the first version of Symphony No 5 in Helsinki on his fiftieth birthday.
Marshal
Appointed Marshal of France
Rule of Bosporus
Allies occupy the Bosporus, Dardenelles, Marmara, Imros, Lemnos, Smathrace & Tenedos
Rule of Dardanelles
Allies occupy the Bosporus, Dardenelles, Marmara, Imros, Lemnos, Smathrace & Tenedos
Rule of Marmara
Allies occupy the Bosporus, Dardenelles, Marmara, Imros, Lemnos, Smathrace & Tenedos
Rule of Tenedos
Allies occupy the Bosporus, Dardenelles, Marmara, Imros, Lemnos, Smathrace & Tenedos
Rule of Turkey
Allies occupy the Bosporus, Dardenelles, Marmara, Imros, Lemnos, Smathrace & Tenedos
Rule of Turkey
Allies occupy the Bosporus, Dardenelles, Marmara, Imros, Lemnos, Smathrace & Tenedos
Rule of Turkey
Allies occupy the Bosporus, Dardenelles, Marmara, Imros, Lemnos, Smathrace & Tenedos
Provisional Polish Eastern Frontier
The Allied powers recognize Polish sovereignty west of a provisional eastern line while expressly reserving Poland's possible rights to territories farther east.
Election
The Conservative Party wins 38% of votes cast, 258 MPs, & loses its majority
date
Publication of "Mein Kampf", official publication date
Mein Kampf
Publication of "Mein Kampf", official publication date
Mein Kampf", official
Publication of "Mein Kampf", official publication date
Resignation of Horace Greeley Hjalmar Schacht
Hitler accepts Schachts resignation after he disagrees with Goerings policies
Graf Spee
The Graf Spee has sunk 9 merchant ships, not a single life had been lost
River Plate Shipping Area Selected
Langsdorff heads toward the River Plate region, where heavy merchant traffic offers a final opportunity before an intended return voyage.
Army Reform
Kerensky develops his views through army reform after 1917.
Declaration of War
Britain declares war on Japan
Declaration of War
Announces to a Greater German Reichstag he had declared war on the US
Declaration of War
The USA declares War on Japan
Invasion of Hong Kong
Japanese troops begin to attack Hong Kong
Invasion of Hong Kong
Leads the 2Third Army across the border of Japanese occupied China
Invasion of Malaya
The 25th Army lands near the Thai border, immediately after Pearl Harbour
Operation Typhoon
Reaches within 20km of Moscow before the Red Army force Model back
Red Army
Reaches within 20km of Moscow before the Red Army force Model back
Siege of Hong Kong
Japanese troops begin to attack Hong Kong
Siege of Moscow
Reaches within 20km of Moscow before the Red Army force Model back
Republican National Guard
Becomes commander of the Republican National Guard created by the Italian Social Republic.
Republican National Guard Formed
Takes command of the new Republican National Guard formed from Fascist and security organizations.
Manhattan Project Resignation
Rotblat leaves the Manhattan Project after concluding that Germany is no longer developing an atomic bomb threat requiring his participation.
Krupp Trial Opens
The Krupp Case opened against industrial managers accused of plunder and forced-labour offences.
Atoms for Peace
Proposes international peaceful use of uranium and atomic energy.
Atoms For Peace
President Dwight D Eisenhower envisioned the creation of this international body to control and develop the use of atomic energy, in his "Atoms for Peace" speech before the United Nations General Assembly
Atoms for Peace
President Dwight D Eisenhower envisioned the creation of this international body to control and develop the use of atomic energy, in his "Atoms for Peace" speech before the United Nations General Assembly
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
President Dwight D Eisenhower envisioned the creation of this international body to control and develop the use of atomic energy, in his "Atoms for Peace" speech before the United Nations General Assembly
Paramilitary Status Briefing
Lansdale participates in a Special Group briefing on the status and timing of paramilitary preparations.
Prime Minister of Japan
Appointed Prime Minister of Japan, 2nd term
J. Lee Rankin Appointment
Warren appointed former Solicitor General J. Lee Rankin as general counsel of the assassination commission on December 8, 1963.
Operation Harvest Moon
Walt oversees Marine participation in Operation Harvest Moon
Race Relations Act
Supports the first Race Relations Act as a Labour Member of Parliament.
Their Satanic Majesties Request
The Rolling Stones release Their Satanic Majesties Request.
Covert Executive Telephone
Bernstein and Woodward report that figures connected with the Watergate case used a covert executive telephone, adding another communications link to the investigation.
Covert Executive Telephone
Woodward and Bernstein report that figures connected with the Watergate case used a covert executive telephone, adding another communications link to the investigation.
Dorothy Hunt Plane Crash
Hunt's wife Dorothy dies in United Airlines Flight 553; investigators later determine the crash was accidental, while cash found among her belongings attracts Watergate-related attention.
Watergate
Congress, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated the crash, and found it to be an accident caused by crew error.
Watergate
Congress, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated the crash, and found it to be an accident caused by crew error.
Watergate
Congress, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated the crash, and found it to be an accident caused by crew error.
Watergate
Hunt's wife, Dorothy, was killed in the December 8, 1972 plane crash of United Airlines Flight 553 in Chicago.
Watergate
Hunt's wife, Dorothy, was killed in the December 8, 1972 plane crash of United Airlines Flight 553 in Chicago.
Watergate
Hunt's wife, Dorothy, was killed in the December 8, 1972 plane crash of United Airlines Flight 553 in Chicago.
Watergate
Over $10,000 in cash was found in Dorothy Hunt's handbag in the wreckage
Watergate
Over $10,000 in cash was found in Dorothy Hunt's handbag in the wreckage
Watergate
Over $10,000 in cash was found in Dorothy Hunt's handbag in the wreckage.
Watergate
Over $10,000 in cash was found in Dorothy Hunt's handbag in the wreckage.
Monarchy Referendum
Greek voters reject restoration of the monarchy in a referendum held after democracy is restored.
Referendum Campaign Exclusion
Constantine is not permitted to return to Greece to campaign personally before the referendum on the future of the monarchy.
Referendum Vote Share
The option associated with restoration of the monarchy receives slightly more than thirty percent of the vote in the Greek referendum.
Prime Minister
Becomes prime minister and dominant leader of the new Lao Peoples Democratic Republic
Hotel California
Co-writes Hotel California and helps define the album's twin-guitar sound.
Hotel California
Sings lead vocals on Hotel California, the title track of the band's landmark album.
Hotel California
Records his final Eagles studio album with the band before leaving in 1977.
Hotel California
Makes his first Eagles studio album appearance on Hotel California after replacing Bernie Leadon.
Anglo-Irish Summit
Meets Thatcher in Dublin for Anglo-Irish talks.
Assassination of John Winston Lennon
John Lennon is shot by deranged assailant, Mark Chapman as he and Yoko return to the Dakota after a recording session, he is pronounced dead at Roosevelt Hospital
Summit Meeting at Dublin
Attends the Anglo-Irish summit in Dublin
British Gas Privatisation
British Gas shares begin trading on 8 December 1986 following the Government's large public privatisation offer.
INF Treaty Signed
Signs the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Mikhail Gorbachev.
Infifada
The First Intifada begins after a traffic collision in Gaza kills Palestinian workers and protests spread through the occupied territories
Intifada, 1st
The First Intifada begins after a traffic collision in Gaza kills Palestinian workers and protests spread through the occupied territories
Treaty of Nuclear Weapons
A Treaty is signed ending all intermediate-range nuclear weapons in Europe
Amnesty
Husak declares an amnesty on political crimes
Strasbourg European Council
Represents Italy as leaders consider monetary union and the political changes reshaping Europe.
Strasbourg European Council
Represents Germany as leaders consider monetary union, political change in Europe and future treaty negotiations.
Strasbourg European Council
Represents Greece as leaders consider monetary union and political transformation in Europe.
Earth-Moon Imaging by Galileo
During the first Earth flyby, Galileo obtains images of Earth and the Moon for calibration and planetary studies.
First Galileo Earth Flyby
Galileo flies past Earth for a gravity assist that increases its heliocentric speed on the journey to Jupiter.
Belovezha Agreement
Signs the Belovezha Agreement with the leaders of Ukraine and Belarus, declaring the Soviet Union ended and creating the CIS.
Commonwealth
Yeltsin, Ukrainian Pres. Leonid Kravchuk, and Belarus Pres. Stanislav Shuskevich meet in a hunting lodge to proclaim the Soviet Union null and void and to form a loose Commonwealth of Independent States. Russia, Byelorussia and Ukraine declare the Soviet national Government dead, forging a new alliance to be known as the Commonwealth of Independent States
Constitutional Referendum
Voters approve the new Constitution of Romania in a national referendum.
Independence of Belarus
Russia, Byelorussia and Ukraine declare the Soviet national Government dead, forging a new alliance to be known as the Commonwealth of Independent States
National Government
Russia, Byelorussia and Ukraine declare the Soviet national Government dead, forging a new alliance to be known as the Commonwealth of Independent States
President Elected
Snegur wins Moldova's first direct presidential election
Second Galileo Earth Flyby
Galileo makes a second Earth gravity assist, completing the planetary slingshot sequence that sends it toward Jupiter.
Hubble Orbit Boost
Bowersox pilots orbital maneuvers that raise Endeavour and Hubble into a higher orbit, extending the telescope's orbital lifetime.
Hubble Solar Array Electronics Repair
Musgrave helps replace solar-array drive electronics and complete magnetometer and electrical work during the mission's final spacewalk.
North American Free Trade Agreement
Clinton signs legislation implementing free trade with Canada and Mexico.
Budget
Increases tax on petrol, cigarettes & alcohol
Large Hadron Collider International Participation
Signs an agreement establishing major United States participation in construction of the Large Hadron Collider and its experiments.
Beef
France refuses to lift its ban on British beef
Russia-Belarus Union State Treaty
Signs the Treaty on the Creation of a Union State with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
Invasion of Iraq
After Iraq denied weapons of mass destruction to the United Nations, Rice wries an editorial for The New York Times entitled "Why We Know Iraq Is Lying"
Invasion of Iraq
States regarding Iraqi WMD: "The problem here is that there will always be some uncertainty about how quickly he can acquire nuclear weapons. But we don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud". After Iraq denied weapons of mass destruction to the United Nations, Rice writes an editorial for The New York Times entitled "Why We Know Iraq Is Lying"
Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
After Iraq denied weapons of mass destruction to the United Nations, Rice writes an editorial for The New York Times entitled "Why We Know Iraq Is Lying. After Iraq denied weapons of mass destruction to the United Nations, Rice writes an editorial for The New York Times entitled "Why We Know Iraq Is Lying"
Election
Bhutto meets Nawaz Sharif to publicize their demand that Musharraf fulfill his promise to lift the state of emergency before Januarys Parliamentary elections, threatening to boycott the vote if he failed to comply
State of Emergency
Bhutto meets Nawaz Sharif to publicize their demand that Musharraf fulfill his promise to lift the state of emergency before Januarys Parliamentary elections, threatening to boycott the vote if he failed to comply
Al-Qaeda
Five bombs kill at least 120 people and wound some 400 at or near Government buildings in Baghdad, the Islamic State of Iraq al-Qaeda says it carried out the attacks
Al-Qaeda
Five bombs kill at least 120 people and wound some 400 at or near Government buildings in Baghdad, the Islamic State of Iraq al-Qaeda says it carried out the attacks
Bombing of Baghdad
Five bombs kill at least 120 people and wound some 400 at or near Government buildings in Baghdad, the Islamic State of Iraq al-Qaeda says it carried out the attacks
Bombing of Baghdad
Five bombs kill at least 120 people and wound some 400 at or near Government buildings in Baghdad, the Islamic State of Iraq al-Qaeda says it carried out the attacks
Brexit
Agrees the phase one joint report with the European Union.
Brexit
The UK and EU publish a joint report on phase one of Brexit negotiations.
Brittney Griner Exchange
Announces Brittney Griner's release from Russia.
Before and After
Releases Before and After, reworking older songs in a continuous solo acoustic sequence.
Revised Peace Plan
Says Ukraine will share a revised twenty-point peace plan with the United States after talks with European leaders.
Births on December 8
Birth of Mary of Scots
Is born at Linlithgow Palace to James V and Mary of Guise.
Birth of Mary Queen of Scots
Gives birth at Linlithgow Palace to Mary, the future Queen of Scots and heir to the Scottish crown.
Birth of David Pieter de Villiers Graaff
Birth of David Pieter de Villiers Graaff
Birth of Geoffrey Charles Hurst
Birth of Geoffrey Charles Hurst
Birth of James Douglas Jim
Birth of James Douglas "Jim", Melbourne, Florida, son of Admiral George Stephen Morrison
Birth of Jim Morrison
Birth of Doors vocalist Jim Morrison.
Deaths on December 8
Death at Derby House
Pym dies at Derby House in Westminster after serving as one of Parliament's most influential wartime political leaders.
Death of Maximilian Johannes Hubert von Spee
Death of Maximilian Johannes Hubert von Spee
Death of Golda Meir
Death of Golda Meir (80), PM of Israel from 1969 to 1974, dies of cancer in Jerusalem
Death of John Winston Lennon
Death of John Lennon, Lennon is shot dead by Mark David Chapman, in front of his apartment block in New York City
Battles on December 8
Battle of Loncomilla
Leads the government when loyalist forces defeat the principal armed challenge to his newly inaugurated presidency.
Battle of Falkland Islands
The Royal Navy destroys most of Admiral von Spee's East Asia Squadron, reversing the shock of the Coronel defeat.
Battle of Falklands
The German Navys South American commerce raiding force is destroyed. Sturdee sinks Spees flagship, SMS Scharnhorst, together with SMS Gneisenau, SMS Nurnberg & SMS Leipzig. Spee attempts a raid on the coaling station at Stanley in the Falkland Islands, unaware the British had sent reinforcements. British reversal of the defeat at Coronel
Battle of Falklands
The Scharnhorst is sunk & von Spee drowns. Bombards the Falkland Islands not knowing of the presence of Admiral Sturdee
Battle of Falklands
Sturdee sinks Spees cruisers the Scharnhorst & Gneisenau. Destroys the German Navys South American commerce raiding force. A Reversal of the Battle of Coronel
Battle of River Plate
The Graf Spee has sunk 9 merchant ships, not a single life had been lost
Battle of Guadalcanal
Given command of all US forces in the campaign in Guadalcanal
Battle of Montelungo
Leads the First Motorized Group in its first major combat action against German forces at Montelungo.