Today in History: WHO confirms the eradication of smallpox

The following is a chronological list of notable events that occurred on May 8 throughout history:

1373 – Julian of Norwich, a Christian mystic and anchoress, experiences the deathbed visions described in her Revelations of Divine Love.

1821 – Greek War of Independence: The Greeks defeat the Turks at the Battle of Gravia Inn.

1886 – Pharmacist John Pemberton first sells a carbonated beverage named “Coca-Cola” as a patent medicine.

1933 – Mohandas Gandhi begins a 21-day fast of self-purification and launched a one-year campaign to help the Harijan movement.

1945 – World War II: The German Instrument of Surrender signed at Berlin-Karlshorst comes into effect.

1950 – The Tollund Man was discovered in a peat bog near Silkeborg, Denmark.

1970 – The Beatles release their 12th and final studio album Let It Be.

1978 – The first ascent of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen, by Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler.

1980 – The World Health Organization confirms the eradication of smallpox.

2019 – British 17-year-old Isabelle Holdaway is reported to be the first patient ever to receive a genetically modified phage therapy to treat a drug-resistant infection.