On Aug. 8, 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte set sail for St. Helena to spend the remainder of his days in exile.
In 1844, after Joseph Smith, the founder and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormonism, and his brother, Hyrum, were murdered by an angry mob in an Illinois prison six weeks earlier, Elder Brigham Young is chosen to be the Church’s next leader.
In 1942, six German saboteurs who secretly entered the United States on a mission to attack its civil infrastructure are executed by the United States for spying.
In 1945, President Harry S. Truman signs the United Nations Charter and the United States becomes the first nation to complete the ratification process and join the new international organization.
In 1960, 16-year old Brian Hyland went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini’ it made No.8 in the UK.
In 1963, Britain’s “Great Train Robbery” took place as thieves made off with 2.6 million pounds in banknotes.
In 1973, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew branded reports he had taken kickbacks from government contracts in Maryland as “damned lies” and vowed not to resign. He resigned on October 10, 1973.
In 1974, in an evening televised address, President Richard M. Nixon announces his intention to become the first president in American history to resign.
In 2003, the Boston Roman Catholic archdiocese offered $55 million to settle more than 500 lawsuits stemming from alleged sex abuse by priests. (The archdiocese later settled for $85 million.)
In 2009, Sonia Sotomayor was sworn in as the U.S. Supreme Court’s first Hispanic justice.
In 2017, American singer, guitarist, songwriter, television host, and actor Glen Campbell died in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 81. Campbell released more than 70 studio albums and sold 45 million records worldwide. His hits include: ‘By the Time I Get to Phoenix’, ‘Wichita Lineman’, ‘Galveston’ and ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’. His guitar playing can be heard on ‘Strangers in the Night’ by Frank Sinatra, ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’‘ by The Righteous Brothers and ‘I’m a Believer’ by The Monkees.