AUGUST 8 ~ ON THiS DAY in History ~ birthdays & great events...

1786 – Mont Blanc was climbed for the first time by Jacques Balmat and Dr. Michel-Gabriel Paccard on the 8th day of August in 1786.

1876 – Thomas Edison received a patent for his mimeograph on the 8th day of August in 1876.

1879 – Bob Smith the American founder of Alcoholics Anonymous was born on the 8th day of August in 1879.

1908 – Wilbur Wright made his first flight at a racecourse at Le Mans, in France on the 8th day of August in 1908. This was the Wright Brothers’ first public flight.

1909 – Mary MacKillop the Australian Roman Catholic nun died on the 8th day of August in 1909 aged 67 (born in 1842). Mary MacKillop is the only Australian to be recognised by the Roman Catholic Church as a saint.

1929 – The Graf Zeppelin, German airship begun a round the world flight on the 8th day of August in 1929.

1929 ~ Ronnie Biggs the British criminal was born on the 8th day of August in 1929 (died 18th December 2013 aged 84).

1935 – John Laws the Australia radio personality was born on the 8th day of August in 1935.

1937 – Dustin Hoffman the American actor was born on the 8th day of August in 1937.

1940 – Dennis Tito the American businessman and space tourist was born on the 8th day of August in 1940.

1944 – John Holmes the American pornographic actor was born on the 8th day of August in 1944 (died in 1988 aged 43) .

1950 – Ken Kutaragi the Japanese creator of PlayStation was born on the 8th day of August in 1950.

1952 – Anton Fig the South African musician was born on the 8th day of August in 1952.

1956 – Chris Foreman the English guitarist from Madness was born on the 8th day of August in 1956.

1961 – The Edge the Irish guitarist from U2 was born on the 8th day of August in 1961.

1961 – Rikki Rockett the American drummer from Poison was born on the 8th day of August in 1961.

1963 – The Great Train Robbery was committed in England on the 8th day of August in 1963. The gang of 15 train robbers stole 2.6 million pounds in bank notes.

1965 – Kate Langbroek the Australian media personality was born on the 8th day of August in 1965. Kate Langbroek on Twitter: www.twitter.com/KateLangbroek

1967 – Sable the American wrestler was born on the 8th day of August in 1967.

1973 – Scott Stapp the American singer from Creed was born on the 8th day of August in 1973.

1976 – JC Chasez the American singer from ‘N Sync was born on the 8th day of August in 1976.

1981 – Vanessa Amorosi the Australian singer and songwriter was born on the 8th day of August in 1981.

1981 – Roger Federer the Swiss tennis player was born on the 8th day of August in 1981.

1988 – Princess Beatrice of York the British royal was born on the 8th day of August in 1988.

2012 ~ Australia won 3 gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics on the 8th day of August in 2012, making a total of 5 gold medals. Sally Pearson won a gold in the Women’s 100m Hurdles, Anna Meares won gold in the Women’s Sprint Cycling, and Nathan Outteridge & Iain Jensen won gold in the 49er skiff race.