Tidbits of History, November 8

November 8 is:

Mid-term Election Day in 2022.

National Cappuccino Day

International Day of Radiology

Book Lovers Day. Put aside your Kindle or Nook…read a real book!

Dunce Day, the anniversary of the November 8, 1308 death of Duns Scotus, medieval scholar. He is generally considered to be one of the three most important philosopher-theologians of the High Middle Ages; the others being Thomas Aquinas and William of Ockham. Later philosophers in the sixteenth century were less complimentary about his work, and accused him of sophistry. This led to his name, “dunce” (which developed from the name “Dunse” given to his followers in the 1500s) to become synonymous for “somebody who is incapable of scholarship”.

Birthday of Edmund Halley (November 8, 1656), English astronomer for whom Halley’s comet is named.

Doc Holliday1887 –John Henry “Doc” Holliday, who fought on the side of the Earp brothers during the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral 6 years earlier, died of tuberculosis in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

Montana Glacier Montana Admission Day, 1889 forty-first state

  • Capital: Helena
  • Nickname: Treasure State
  • Bird: Western meadowlark
  • Flower: Bitterroot
  • Animal: Grizzly Bear
  • Tree: Ponderosa Pine
  • Motto: Gold and silver

See our page Montana for more interesting facts and trivia about Montana.

1892Grover Cleveland Former President Grover Cleveland beat incumbent Benjamin Harrison, becoming the only president to win non-consecutive terms.

While experimenting with electricity, Wilhelm Röntgen discovered the X-ray in 1895.

Birthday of Margaret Mitchell (November 8 1900), American novelist, author of “Gone With the Wind”. She died at age 49 after being stuck by a drunk driver while crossing Peachtree Street in Atlanta.

Donald J Trump, President2016 – United States Presidential Election: Republican candidate Donald J. Trump was elected as 45th president of the United States.

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