On this day

8 January in history.

5 moments from 1547 to 1994: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

Валерий Владимирович Поляков (род. 1942) — лётчик-космонавт СССР, Герой Советского Союза и Герой России

1994

437 days in space begin. Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov set off for the Mir space station. He stayed there until March 1995, the longest single trip into space anyone has ever made.

Wikipedia: Valeri Polyakov

Photo: Министерство обороны Российской Федерации / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

More from 8 January

  1. Martynas Mažvydas' book CATECHISMVSA PRAsty Szadei (in Lithuanian language ), published in Königsberg, 1547

    1547

    The first book in Lithuanian

    The Catechism of Martynas Mažvydas was printed in Königsberg, the first book ever published in the Lithuanian language.

    Wikipedia: Catechism of Martynas MažvydasWikipedia: Lithuanian language

    Photo: Martynas Mažvydas , who lived in 1510 (or 1520) – 1563. / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  2. George Frideric Handel

    1735

    Handel's Ariodante premieres

    George Frideric Handel's opera Ariodante was performed for the first time, at the Covent Garden theatre in London.

    Wikipedia: AriodanteWikipedia: George Frideric Handel

    Photo: Attributed to Balthasar Denner / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  3. Portrait of George Washington (1732–99)

    1790

    The first State of the Union

    In New York City, which was then serving as the temporary capital, President George Washington spoke to Congress in the very first State of the Union address.

    Wikipedia: State of the UnionWikipedia: George Washington

    Photo: Gilbert Stuart / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  4. Herman Hollerith , head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left (taken in Washington, D.C.)

    1889

    Counting with punched cards

    Herman Hollerith received a patent for his tabulating machine, which read information from holes punched in cards to count data quickly.

    Wikipedia: Herman HollerithWikipedia: Tabulating machineWikipedia: Punched card

    Photo: Charles Milton Bell / 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.