French chemist Antoine Lavoisier guillotined
French revolutionaries guillotined chemist Antoine Lavoisier on May 8, 1794 over his investment in a private tax collecting company purchased 26 years prior. Learn more about the life of Antoine Lavoisier.
WHO declares smallpox eradicated
On May 8, 1980, the World Health Organization (WHO) passed Resolution WHA33.3, declaring the smallpox virus eradicated. Learn more about the smallpox virus and its eradication from the World Health Organization.
Massachusetts became first state to set 10-hour workday for women
On May 8, 1874, Massachusetts became the first US state to mandate a ten-hour-a-day work limit for women. Learn more about the Ten Hour Movement.
