What happened on March 8

45 documented historical events happened on March 8, from antiquity to the present day. The best known is this: A Spanish colonial officer wrote a letter to King Philip II containing the first known mention of the Maya ruins of Copán in present-day Honduras. On the same day, in another year: The court of Northampton County, Virginia, issued a ruling that made John Casor the first person of African descent in the Thirteen Colonies to be declared a slave for life as a result of a civil suit. On Almanaccolo every event is listed in chronological order, grouped by century, and links to the Wikipedia article it comes from, so you can always read further or check the source. Alongside the events you find who was born and who died on this date, and which observances are celebrated around the world.

143 people with a Wikipedia article were born on March 8, including John of God, John Fothergill (physician), Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. The list spans every era and every field — art, science, politics, sport, entertainment — ordered by year of birth, from the earliest to the most recent. The six featured people are those most has been written about: the ordering uses the length of their Wikipedia article as an indicator of prominence. For each one you find their occupation, year of birth and a link to the full biography.

65 people with a Wikipedia article died on March 8, including Urraca of León and Castile, Adela of Normandy, Pope Celestine II. The list is in chronological order by year of death and spans all of documented history, from antiquity to the present day. For each person you find their occupation, the year and a link to the Wikipedia biography, where the full story and its sources can be read.

6 observances are celebrated on March 8 around the world: Christian feast day: Edward King (Church of England), Christian feast day: Felix of Burgundy, Christian feast day: John of God, Christian feast day: Philemon the actor, Christian feast day: March 8 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics), International Women's Day, and its related observances: International Women's Collaboration Brew Day. The list gathers national holidays, international days and religious or civil observances falling on this date in different countries, as recorded on Wikipedia. Some are fixed and recur on the same day every year; others depend on the local calendar. Each links to the article explaining its origin and meaning.