8 February in history.

1575

A university as a gift to a city. William of Orange set up Leiden University, still the oldest in the Netherlands. The story goes that it was a thank-you to the city for holding out through a long siege.

Wikipedia: Leiden University

Photo: Leiden University / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

More from 8 February

1. 

   1693

   A royal charter for William & Mary

   King William III and Queen Mary II gave a charter to a college in Virginia named after them. It is the second-oldest college in the United States.

   Wikipedia: College of William & Mary

   Photo: MiguelYerena / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

2. 

   1879

   An idea for world time zones

   Engineer Sandford Fleming proposed one standard time for the whole world, divided into time zones, at a meeting in Toronto. His idea helped shape the time zones we use today.

   Wikipedia: Sandford FlemingWikipedia: Time zone

   Photo: John Wycliffe Lowes Forster (1850-1938) / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

3. 

   1960

   Work starts on the Walk of Fame

   Ground was broken for the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where stars on the pavement honour people from film, music, radio and television.

   Wikipedia: Hollywood Walk of Fame

   Photo: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

4. 

   1974

   Home after 84 days in space

   The three astronauts of Skylab 4 splashed down after living aboard the Skylab space station for 84 days, the longest human space flight at that time.

   Wikipedia: Skylab 4Wikipedia: Skylab

   Photo: NASA / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Moments chosen for discovery, creativity and courage. Each one links to a source where you can read more; photos are credited to their owners.