8 July It Happened Today

1822  English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley drowns in the Bay of Spezia.

1838  Birth of Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin.

1839  Birth of American oil baron John D Rockefeller.

1889  In a bareknuckle world heavyweight boxing match, John L Sullivan beats Jake Kilrain in the 75th round.

1943  French Resistance leader Jean Moulin executed by Nazis.

1965  Starting gates for horse races are used for the first time at English racecourse in Newmarket.

1967  Death of English actress Vivien Leigh.

1990  West Germany win the football World Cup, beating Argentina 1-0.