June 8 birthdays and deaths:

Muhammad

Muhammad (570/571 CE) was a Prophet of God and the central figure of Islam. He was born in Mecca and received revelations from God through the Angel Gabriel, recited as the Quran. He united Arabia and spread a message of tolerance and peace.

Deathyear: 632

Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain was a renowned American chef, author, and television presenter who traversed the globe, exploring local cultures and cuisines through his shows "Parts Unknown" and "No Reservations." He was known for his witty humor, curiosity, and passion for storytelling.

Deathyear: 2018

Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson, the 7th President of the United States, was a pioneering figure in American history. A Tennessee state politician, judge, and general during the War of 1812, he served as president from 1829 to 1837, advocating for states' rights and Jacksonian democracy.

Deathyear: 1845

Elizabeth Woodville

Elizabeth Woodville, a beautiful and ambitious woman, married King Edward IV of England in 1464. As queen consort, she played a significant role in court politics, often acting as a mediator between her husband and his brothers. Despite controversy and exile, she remained loyal to her husband until his death in 1483.

Deathyear: 1492

Edward the Black Prince

Edward, the Black Prince, was the eldest son of Edward III of England and was born in 1330. He was known for his bravery and military prowess, particularly in the Hundred Years' War against France.

Deathyear: 1376

Pat Robertson

Pat Robertson is an American televangelist, businessman, and politician born in 1930. He is the founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) and has been a prominent figure in American evangelicalism, known for his charismatic preaching and conservative views on politics and social issues.

Deathyear: 2023

Harthacnut

Harthacnut (1018-1042) was a King of England and Denmark. He was the eldest son of King Cnut and Emma of Normandy. He succeeded his father in Denmark, but his short reign as King of England was marked by chaos and conflict with his cousin, Edward the Confessor.

Deathyear: 1042

Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine, a groundbreaking theorist and author, was born in 1737. He played a significant role in shaping the American Revolution with his influential writings, particularly "Common Sense" (1776) and "The Crisis" (1778), which advocated for independence and democratic values.

Deathyear: 1809

George Mallory

In 1922, the British Mount Everest Expedition, led by Commander Edward Norton, attempted to climb Mount Everest, but was forced to turn back due to treacherous conditions. The team reached 27,800 feet, the highest altitude reached by humans at that time.

Deathyear: 1924

Robert Taylor (American actor)

Robert Taylor, a dashing Hollywood heartthrob, charmed audiences with his piercing blue eyes and chiseled good looks. With a smooth voice and brooding intensity, he starred in classics like "Camille" and "Quo Vadis," earning a reputation as one of the most handsome and talented men of the Golden Age.

Deathyear: 1969

Louis XVII

Louis XVII, born Louis-Charles, was the son of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. Crowned Dauphin at birth, he became King of France in 1793 after the execution of his parents. His reign was short-lived, however, as he died in 1795 at the age of 10.

Deathyear: 1795

Abraham Maslow

Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist and academic, was born in 1908. He is best known for his theory of human motivation, which emphasizes the need for self-actualization.

Deathyear: 1970

Satchel Paige

Satchel Paige, an American baseball legend, was born in 1906. He played in the Negro Leagues and MLB, known for his impressive fastball, curveball, and control. Paige was an iconic figure in African American baseball, breaking color barriers in professional baseball.

Deathyear: 1982

George Sand

George Sand, born Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin, was a French novelist, playwright, and feminist. Known for her vivid portrayals of rustic life and strong female characters, she wrote over 60 novels, including "Indiana" and "The Countess de Rudolstadt."

Deathyear: 1876

Sophia of Hanover

Sophia of Hanover, born in 1630, was the granddaughter of James I of England and was first in line to the English throne after the death of King William III. She never married and died in 1714, aged 83, without inheriting the throne.

Deathyear: 1714

Sani Abacha

Sani Abacha was a Nigerian general and politician who served as the 10th President of Nigeria from 1993 until his death in 1998. He is infamous for his corruption and human rights abuses during his regime.

Deathyear: 1998

Emily Davison

Emily Davison was a pioneering English suffragette who dedicated her life to the cause of women's suffrage. Born in 1872, Davison was arrested multiple times for her activism, eventually sacrificing her life in 1913 to bring attention to the struggle for women's right to vote.

Deathyear: 1913

Cochise

Cochise was a prominent leader of the Chiricahua Apache tribe, born around 1805. He resisted Mexican and later American forces, leading raids and skirmishes. His leadership and bravery earned him a reputation as a skilled warrior and respected chief, earning the respect of both enemies and allies.

Deathyear: 1874

Andrew Irvine (mountaineer)

In 1921, a British Mount Everest expedition led by George Mallory and Andrew Irvine attempted to reach the summit. Tragedy struck when both climbers vanished while scaling the treacherous North Col route. The mystery of their disappearance remains one of the most enduring in mountaineering history.

Deathyear: 1924

Karen Wetterhahn

Karen Wetterhahn was a renowned American chemist and academic, born in 1948. She was a leading expert in bioinorganic chemistry, particularly in the areas of heavy metal toxicology and biomedical research.

Deathyear: 1997

Karl Hanke

Karl Hanke was a Polish-German soldier and politician who served as the Nazi Governor of Breslau during World War II. Born in 1903, he was killed in action in 1945. Despite his controversial legacy, Hanke remains a notable figure in German and Polish history.

Deathyear: 1945

Beatrice Portinari

Beatrice Portinari, the beautiful and pious daughter of a wealthy Florentine family, was the object of Dante Alighieri's lifelong devotion. Born in 1266, she married Simone Bardi, but her sudden death at age 24 in 1290 deepened Dante's sorrow and inspired his masterpiece, "The Divine Comedy".

Deathyear: 1290

Omar Bongo

Omar Bongo, the longest-serving head of state in Africa, ruled Gabon from 1967 until his death in 2009. A former captain in the French Foreign Legion, he took power after a military coup and maintained authoritarian control until his death. His 42-year reign was marked by economic instability and human rights abuses.

Deathyear: 2009

Gerard Manley Hopkins

Gerard Manley Hopkins, an English poet, born in 1844, was a pioneering figure in modernist poetry. His unique style, characterized by dense imagery and innovative use of language, made him a prominent figure in the literary scene in the late 19th century.

Deathyear: 1889

Hongzhi Emperor

Hongzhi Emperor (1470-1505) was the third emperor of the Ming dynasty, ruling from 1487 to 1505. Known for his austere lifestyle and strict adherence to Confucian teachings, he implemented administrative reforms and expanded the empire's borders, earning him a reputation as a wise and just ruler.

Deathyear: 1505

Oswald Pohl

Oswald Pohl was a German SS officer born in 1892. He served as the Chief of the Economic-Administrative Main Office of the SS from 1939-1945, overseeing the concentration camps and acquiring confiscated Jewish property. He was convicted of war crimes and hanged in 1951.

Deathyear: 1951

Tokugawa Iemitsu

Tokugawa Iemitsu was the third shōgun of the Tokugawa dynasty, ruling Japan from 1605 to 1605. He was the son of Tokugawa Hidetada and was known for his strict policies, including the imposition of isolationism and strict controls on Christianity.

Deathyear: 1651

Paula Rego

Paula Rego (1935-2022) was a Portuguese-British visual artist known for her provocative and imaginative works. She applied her mastery of drawing and printmaking to explore themes of childhood, memory, and the human condition, often with a touch of dark humor.

Deathyear: 2022

Johann Joachim Winckelmann

Johann Joachim Winckelmann (1717-1758) was a German archaeologist and scholar who made significant contributions to the field of classical archaeology. He was interested in the art and architecture of ancient Greece and Rome, and his works were influential in shaping the development of classical archaeology.

Deathyear: 1768

Andre Matos

Andre Matos was a Brazilian heavy metal vocalist, keyboardist, and songwriter, best known as the founder of Viper, Angra, and Shaman. He was known for his powerful vocals and composed guitar-driven melodies.

Deathyear: 2019

Sarah Siddons

Sarah Siddons was a renowned Welsh actress known for her captivating performances on the London stage. Born in 1755, she was considered the most celebrated British actress of her time, praised for her dramatic range and emotional depth in works by Shakespeare and other renowned playwrights.

Deathyear: 1831

Paul Cellucci

Paul Cellucci is a retired American soldier and politician who served as the 69th Governor of Massachusetts from 2001 to 2003. Born in 1948, he enlisted in the US Army Reserve in 1966 and later attended Tufts University and Boston College Law School.

Deathyear: 2013

Marie Laurencin

Marie Laurencin was a French painter and sculptor born in 1883. She was known for her delicate, dreamlike watercolors and sculptures that often featured women and children. Laurencin's work was influenced by Fauvism and Cubism, and she was a key figure in the development of Art Deco.

Deathyear: 1956