8th December: Today In History

Today is 8th December,  the 342 day of 2015. There are 23, days left in the year.

Today's Highlight In History;


Birthdays:

1542	Mary Queen Of Scots, Scottish Queen who ascended to the throne aged seven
1865	Jean Sibelius, Finnish composer; 'Finlandia' and 'Valse Triste'
1894	James Thurber, American writer, humorist and cartoonist
1925	Sammy Davis Jr., US singer, dancer and actor
1939	James Galway, Popular Irish flautist
1941	Geoff Hurst, Former West Ham footballer
1943	Jim Morrison, American lead singer with the Pop group 'Doors'

Events:

1841	Prince Albert Edward, later Edward VII, became the 'Prince of Wales'
1863	Boxer Tom King of England beat American John Heenan, to become the first heavyweight champion of the world
1941	As a result of the attack on Pearl Harbour, Britain, the United States and Australia declared war on Japan
1952	Her Majesty the Queen, announced she would permit her coronation to be televised
1980	'Beatle' John Lennon was shot and killed, by Mark David Chapman
1981	Arthur Scargill became leader of 'The National Union Of Mineworkers'
1990	Elections into Local Government Councils are held.
1991	The Soviet Union came to an end, with the forming of a 'Commonwealth of Independent States'
1991	Elections for state governors were dominated by new breed politicians, but the presidential campaigns featured new and old breed politicians.
1993	Daisy Adams of Church Gresley, Derbyshire, thought to be Britains oldest person, died aged 113
1997	Major General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua dies in prison custody. He was convicted by Military Tribunal for coup plotting in June 1995 and sentenced to jail.