Today in News History

On July 8, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1830, Frederick W. Seward, American lawyer and politician, 6th United States Assistant Secretary of State (died 1915) was born. In 1839, John D. Rockefeller, American businessman and philanthropist, founded the Standard Oil Company (died 1937) was born. In 1908, V. K. R. Varadaraja Rao, Indian economist, politician, professor and educator (died 1991) was born. In 1908, Nelson Rockefeller, American businessman and politician, 41st Vice President of the United States (died 1979) was born. In 1910, Carlos Betances Ramírez, Puerto Rican general (died 2001) was born. In 1918, Paul B. Fay, American businessman, soldier, and diplomat, 12th United States Secretary of the Navy (died 2009) was born. In 1949, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Indian politician, 14th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (died 2009) was born. In 1994, Kim Jong Il begins to assume supreme leadership of North Korea upon the death of his father, Kim Il Sung. In 2008, John Templeton, American-born British businessman and philanthropist (born 1912) passed away. 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.