February 8 - The Day in History

February 8 : General Interest 1943: Americans secure Guadalcanal On this day in 1943, Japanese troops evacuate Guadalcanal, leaving the island in Allied possession after a prolonged campaign... read more American Revolution 1777 : Former POW Timothy Bigelow is named colonel http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/former-pow-timothy-bigelow-is-named-colonel Automotive 1985 : Jaguar founder dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jaguar-founder-dies Civil War 1862 : Yankees capture Roanoke Island http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-roanoke-island Cold War 1949 : Cardinal Mindszenty of Hungary sentenced http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cardinal-mindszenty-of-hungary-sentenced Crime 1983 : Irish race horse stolen http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/irish-race-horse-stolen Disaster 1978 : New England digs out after blizzard http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/new-england-digs-out-after-blizzard General Interest 1587 : Mary Queen of Scots beheaded http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mary-queen-of-scots-beheaded 1725 : Peter the Great dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/peter-the-great-dies 1904 : The Russo-Japanese War begins http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-russo-japanese-war-begins 1915 : Birth of a Nation opens http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/birth-of-a-nation-opens 1924 : First execution by lethal gas http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-execution-by-lethal-gas Hollywood 1994 : Jack Nicholson smashes windshield in episode of road rage http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jack-nicholson-smashes-windshield-in-episode-of-road-rage Literary 1955 : John Grisham, author of legal thrillers, is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-grisham-author-of-legal-thrillers-is-born Music 1990 : Del Shannon dies of a self-inflicted gunshot wound http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/del-shannon-dies-of-a-self-inflicted-gunshot-wound Old West 1887 : Cleveland signs the Dawes Severalty Act http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cleveland-signs-the-dawes-severalty-act Presidential 1887 : Cleveland signs devastating Dawes Act into law http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cleveland-signs-devastating-dawes-act-into-law Sports 1986 : Spud Webb wins dunk contest http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/spud-webb-wins-dunk-contest Vietnam War 1962 : MACV established http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/macv-established 1971 : Operation Lam Son 719 begins http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-lam-son-719-begins World War I 1918 : U.S. Army resumes publication of Stars and Stripes http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-army-resumes-publication-of-stars-and-stripes World War II 1943 : Britain's Indian Brigade begins guerrilla operations in Burma http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/britains-indian-brigade-begins-guerrilla-operations-in-burma

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