Today in News History

On July 8, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1776, Church bells (possibly including the Liberty Bell) are rung after John Nixon delivers the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence of the United States. In 1830, Frederick W. Seward, American lawyer and politician, 6th United States Assistant Secretary of State (died 1915) was born. In 1836, Joseph Chamberlain, English businessman and politician, Secretary of State for the Colonies (died 1914) was born. In 1838, Eli Lilly, American soldier, chemist, and businessman, founded Eli Lilly and Company (died 1898) was born. In 1892, St. John's, Newfoundland is devastated in the Great Fire of 1892. In 1908, Nelson Rockefeller, American businessman and politician, 41st Vice President of the United States (died 1979) was born. In 1909, Alan Brown, English soldier (died 1971) was born. In 1947, Reports are broadcast that a UFO crash-landed in Roswell, New Mexico in what became known as the Roswell UFO incident. In 1965, Canadian Pacific Air Lines Flight 21 is destroyed by a bomb near 100 Mile House, Canada, killing 52. In 2011, Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched in the final mission of the U.S. Space Shuttle program. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.