In History, Today on July 8

Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama set sail from Lisbon, Portugal, on a mission to reach India and open a sea route from Europe to the East.

The Battle of Poltava took place, marking a decisive victory for Peter the Great of Russia over Charles XII of Sweden in the Great Northern War.

The Liberty Bell rang out from the tower of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, summoning citizens to the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Commodore Matthew Perry sails into Tokyo Bay, Japan, with a squadron of four ships, seeking to re-establish trade between Japan and the Western world after over 200 years of Japanese isolation.

The first issue of The Wall Street Journal was published, becoming one of the most influential financial newspapers in the world.

Reports of a UFO crash in Roswell, New Mexico, were published, sparking widespread interest and conspiracy theories about extraterrestrial life.

Francis Gary Powers was charged with espionage by the Soviet Union after his U-2 spy plane was shot down over Soviet airspace.

The U.S. Patent Office issues a patent for the game Twister, which becomes a popular party game.

Kim Jong-il is confirmed as the Supreme Leader of North Korea following the death of his father, Kim Il-sung.

NASA's Space Shuttle Atlantis launched on the final mission of the U.S. Space Shuttle program, STS-135, marking the end of an era in American spaceflight.

Germany defeated Brazil 7-1 in the FIFA World Cup semi-final, a historic and shocking result in one of the most watched sporting events globally.

The United States women's national soccer team celebrated their victory in the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup with a ticker-tape parade in New York City.