Did you know
John Hancock was the first and third governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Notable Deaths on October 8
1793 — John Hancock
American merchant and politician, 1st Governor of Massachusetts (born 1737)
October 8 has 107 recorded notable deaths across history, from 705 to 2025. This focused page highlights 20 people with the strongest available profile context.
By thisDay.info Editorial Team · — Wikipedia
Notable Deaths
107 source records
705 – 2025
Today in history
Major events on October 8
See what else happened on this day in history.
- 1821 The Peruvian Navy is established during the War of Independence. Source
- 2001 U.S. president George W. Bush announces the establishment of the Office of Homeland Security. Source
- 1912 The First Balkan War begins when Montenegro declares war against the Ottoman Empire. Source
- 1573 The Spanish siege of Alkmaar ends with the first Dutch victory in the Eighty Years' War. Source
Did you know
Joan Hackett played roles in The Group (1966), Will Penny (1968), Support Your Local Sheriff!
Did you know
Al Davis was the managing general partner, principal owner and de facto general manager for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL) for 39 years, from 1972 until his death in 2011.
Did you know
involvement in World War II, won the 1940 election with about 55% of the popular vote and took the electoral college vote by a wide margin.
Did you know
A member of the first generation of born Muslims, his early life in Medina was occupied with religious pursuits.
More major people who died on October 8
Notable people are ranked by substantive profile depth and public notability.
1983
Joan Hackett
American actress (born 1934)
Joan Ann Hackett was an American actress. in film, television, and theater. She played roles in The Group (1966), Will Penny (1968), Support Your Local Sheriff!
2011
Al Davis
American football coach, general manager, and NFL team owner (born 1929)
Allen R. Davis was an American professional football executive and coach.
1944
Wendell Willkie
American captain, lawyer, and politician (born 1892)
Wendell Lewis Willkie was an American lawyer, corporate executive and the 1940 Republican nominee for president of the United States.
705
Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan
Umayyad caliph (born 646)
Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan ibn al-Hakam, was the fifth Umayyad caliph, ruling from April 685 until his death in October 705.
2020
Whitey Ford
American professional baseball pitcher (born 1928)
Edward Charles "Whitey" Ford, nicknamed "the Chairman of the Board", was an American professional baseball pitcher who played his entire 16-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the New York Yankees.
1754
Henry Fielding
English novelist and playwright (born 1707)
Henry Fielding was an English writer and judge known for the use of humour and satire in his works.
2011
Mikey Welsh
American guitarist and painter (born 1971)
Michael Edward Welsh was an American artist and musician who played bass for several bands, including the rock band Weezer.
2013
Paul Desmarais
Canadian businessman and philanthropist (born 1927)
Paul Guy Desmarais Sr. was a Canadian financier and philanthropist, based in Montreal.
1879
Miguel Grau Seminario
Peruvian admiral (born 1834)
Miguel María Grau Seminario was a Peruvian Navy officer and politician renowned for his role in the War of the Pacific.
2002
Jacques Richard
Canadian ice hockey player (born 1952)
Joseph Alfred Gilles Jacques Richard was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Atlanta Flames, Buffalo Sabres, and Quebec Nordiques.
1928
Larry Semon
American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1889)
Lawrence Semon was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter during the silent film era.
2024
Tim Johnson
American lawyer and politician (born 1946)
Timothy Peter Johnson was an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States senator from South Dakota from 1997 to 2015.
1973
Gabriel Marcel
French philosopher, playwright, and critic (born 1889)
Gabriel Honoré Marcel was a French philosopher, playwright, music critic and leading Christian existentialist.
1886
Austin F. Pike
American lawyer and politician (born 1819)
Austin Franklin Pike was a United States representative and senator from New Hampshire. Born in Hebron, New Hampshire, he pursued an academic course, studied law, and was admitted to the bar of Merrimack County in 1845.
1992
Willy Brandt
German lawyer and politician, 4th Chancellor of Germany, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1913)
Willy Brandt was a German politician and statesman who was leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) from 1964 to 1987 and concurrently served as the chancellor of West Germany from 1969 to 1974.
1953
Kathleen Ferrier
English soprano (born 1912)
Kathleen Mary Ferrier was an English contralto singer who achieved an international reputation as a stage, concert and recording artist, with a repertoire extending from folksong and popular ballads to the classical…
1869
Franklin Pierce
American general, lawyer, and politician, 14th President of the United States (born 1804)
Franklin Pierce was the 14th president of the United States, serving from 1853 to 1857.
1979
Jayaprakash Narayan
Indian politician (born 1902)
Jayaprakash Narayan Srivastava, also known as JP and Lok Nayak, was an Indian politician, theorist and independence activist.
1967
Clement Attlee
English soldier, lawyer, and politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (born 1883)
Clement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee was a British statesman who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1935 to 1955.