January 8

January 8: This Day in History

• 1815— American forces under Andrew Jackson won the Battle of New Orleans, the last major battle of the War of 1812.
• 1918— U.S. President Woodrow Wilson outlined his Fourteen Points peace plan in an address to Congress.
• 1926— Ibn Saud was crowned King of Hejaz, later renaming the kingdom Saudi Arabia.
• 1973— The Watergate burglars went on trial in Washington D.C.

Famous Birthdays on January 8

• Elvis Presley (1935) — rock and roll legend known as the King
• Stephen Hawking (1942) — theoretical physicist and cosmologist
• David Bowie (1947) — pioneering rock musician and cultural icon
• R. Kelly (1967) — R&B singer and songwriter
• Soulja Boy (1990) — rapper known for Crank That

What Happens on January 8?

Did You Know? January 8 Fun Facts

• January 8 is remarkable for sharing the birthdays of both Elvis Presley and David Bowie, two of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.
• Stephen Hawking was born on January 8, 1942 — exactly 300 years after the death of Galileo, a coincidence he often noted.
• The Battle of New Orleans (January 8, 1815) was fought two weeks after the peace treaty ending the War of 1812 had already been signed, before news could reach the front.