Births on January 8

Benjamin Lees, Chinese-American soldier and composer (d. 2010)

Benjamin Lees (January 8, 1924 – May 31, 2010) was an American composer of classical music.

12 Feb

Rhapsody in Blue
George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue received its premiere in a concert titled "An Experiment in Modern Music", in Aeolian Hall, New York, by Paul Whiteman and his band, with Gershwin playing the piano.
25 Mar

Second Hellenic Republic
On the anniversary of Greek Independence, Alexandros Papanastasiou proclaims the Second Hellenic Republic.
8 Apr

Atatürk's Reforms
Sharia courts are abolished in Turkey, as part of Atatürk's Reforms.
4 Aug

Soviet Union
Diplomatic relations between Mexico and the Soviet Union are established.
23 Nov

Andromeda Galaxy
Edwin Hubble's discovery, that the Andromeda "nebula" is actually another island galaxy far outside of our own Milky Way, is first published in The New York Times.