Did you know
The following year, he caught the attention of artist manager Andrew Gertler and Island Records A&R Ziggy Chareton, which led to his signing a deal with the record label.
Famous Birthdays on August 8
1998 — Shawn Mendes
Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist
August 8 has 262 recorded notable births across history, from 422 to 2005. This focused page highlights 20 people with the strongest available profile context.
By thisDay.info Editorial Team · — Wikipedia
Famous Birthdays
262 source records
422 – 2005
Leo
Today in history
Major events on August 8
See what else happened on this day in history.
- -685 Spring and Autumn period: Battle of Qianshi: Upon the death of the previous Duke of Qi, Gongsun Wuzhi, Duke Zhuang of Lu sends an army into the Duchy of Qi to install the exiled Qi prince Gongzi Jiu as the new Duke of Qi – but is defeated at Qianshi by Jiu's brother and rival claimant, the newly inaugurated Duke Huan of Qi. Source
- 2000 Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley is raised to the surface after 136 years on the ocean floor and 30 years after its discovery by undersea explorer E. Lee Spence. Source
- 1863 American Civil War: Following his defeat in the Battle of Gettysburg, General Robert E. Lee sends a letter of resignation to Confederate President Jefferson Davis (which is refused upon receipt). Source
- 1863 Tennessee Military Governor Andrew Johnson frees his personal slaves in Greeneville, Tennessee despite them being exempt from the Emancipation Proclamation, now commemorated as Emancipation Day in the state. Source
Did you know
Unable to compete in the 1940 Summer Olympics because of the outbreak of World War II, she joined Billy Rose's Aquacade, where she took on the role vacated by Eleanor Holm after the show's move from New York City to San Francisco.
Did you know
Joshua Scott "JC" Chasez is an American singer, songwriter, actor, dancer, and record producer.
Did you know
Sir Roger Penrose is an English mathematician, mathematical physicist, and philosopher of science.
Did you know
Kane Williamson captained New Zealand to victory in the 2021 ICC World Test Championship final and to the finals of the 2019 Cricket World Cup and 2021 T20 World Cup.
More major people born on August 8
Notable people are ranked by substantive profile depth and public notability.
1921
Esther Williams
American swimmer and actress (died 2013)
Esther Jane Williams was an American competitive swimmer and actress. She set regional and national records in her late teens on the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team.
1976
JC Chasez
American singer and dancer
Joshua Scott "JC" Chasez is an American singer, songwriter, actor, dancer, and record producer.
1931
Roger Penrose
English physicist, mathematician, and philosopher, Nobel Prize laureate
Sir Roger Penrose is an English mathematician, mathematical physicist, and philosopher of science.
1990
Kane Williamson
New Zealand cricket captain
Kane Stuart Williamson is a former international cricketer who captained the New Zealand national cricket team in all formats of this game.
1947
Ken Dryden
Canadian ice hockey player, lawyer, and politician (died 2025)
Kenneth Wayne Dryden was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender, politician, lawyer, businessman and author.
1930
Jerry Tarkanian
American basketball player and coach (died 2015)
Jerry Tarkanian was an American basketball coach. He coached college basketball for 31 seasons over five decades at three schools.
1646
Godfrey Kneller
German-English painter (died 1723)
Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1st Baronet was a British painter of German origin.
1937
Sheila Varian
American horse breeder (died 2016)
Sheila Varian was an American breeder of Arabian horses who lived and worked at the Varian Arabians Ranch near Arroyo Grande, California.
1961
Bruce Matthews
American football player and coach
Bruce Rankin Matthews is an American former professional football guard, center, offensive tackle, and long snapper who played 19 seasons in the National Football League (NFL).
1977
Rocky Thompson
Canadian ice hockey player and coach
Rocky Lee Thompson is a Canadian former ice hockey right wing.
1961
Daniel House
American bass player and producer
Daniel House is an American business owner and former musician.
1973
Mark Wills
American singer-songwriter
Mark Wills is an American country music artist. Signed to Mercury Records between 1996 and 2003, he released five studio albums for the label – Mark Wills, Wish You Were Here, Permanently, Loving Every Minute, and And…
1990
Parker Kligerman
American race car driver
Parker Lindsley Kligerman is an American semi-retired professional stock car racing driver, color commentator for NASCAR on The CW, studio talent for NASCAR on TNT Sports, and pit reporter for NASCAR on NBC.
1966
John Hudek
American baseball player and coach
John Raymond Hudek is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played all or part of six seasons in the majors, from 1994 until 1999, for five different teams.
2000
Félix Auger-Aliassime
Canadian tennis player
Félix Auger-Aliassime, sometimes referred to as FAA, is a Canadian professional tennis player. He is currently ranked world No. 4 in singles achieved on 8 June 2026, and has been ranked No.
1951
Mamoru Oshii
Japanese director, producer, and screenwriter
Mamoru Oshii is a Japanese filmmaker, television director and writer.
1605
Cecil Calvert
2nd Baron Baltimore, English lawyer and politician, Governor of Newfoundland (died 1675)
Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore was an English politician and lawyer who was the first proprietor of Maryland.
1949
Keith Carradine
American actor
Keith Ian Carradine is an American actor. In film, he is known for his roles as Tom Frank in Robert Altman's Nashville, E. J. Bellocq in Louis Malle's Pretty Baby, and Mickey in Alan Rudolph's Choose Me.
1989
Anthony Rizzo
American baseball player
Anthony Vincent Rizzo is an American former professional baseball first baseman.