This Day in History: April 8

1767: Ayutthaya kingdom falls to Burmese invaders

The Ayutthaya Kingdom was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767. It was one of the most prosperous and powerful kingdoms in Southeast Asia. However, in 1767, the kingdom fell to Burmese invaders, who razed the capital city of Ayutthaya to the ground. This event marked the end of the Ayutthaya Kingdom and the beginning of the Thonburi Kingdom, which was established by King Taksin.

1886: William Ewart Gladstone introduces the first Irish Home Rule Bill into the British House of Commons

The Irish Home Rule Bill was a proposal to give Ireland its own parliament and greater control over its own affairs. The bill was introduced by William Ewart Gladstone, who was the British Prime Minister at the time. The bill was controversial and faced strong opposition from many in the British establishment, including the House of Lords. Despite several attempts to pass the bill, it was ultimately defeated.

1898: Battle of Atbara River, Anglo-Egyptian forces crush 6,000 Sudanese

The Battle of Atbara River was a battle fought during the Sudan Campaign of the late 19th century. It was fought between the forces of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudanese army and the Sudanese Mahdist forces. The Anglo-Egyptian forces, led by General Horatio Kitchener, were able to defeat the Mahdist forces and capture the city of Khartoum. The battle was a significant victory for the Anglo-Egyptian forces and marked the beginning of the end of the Mahdist movement.

1904: France and the United Kingdom sign the Entente cordiale

The Entente cordiale was a series of agreements signed between France and the United Kingdom. The agreements were intended to resolve long-standing colonial disputes between the two countries and to create a general understanding between them. The Entente cordiale marked a significant shift in the relations between France and the United Kingdom and paved the way for greater cooperation between them in the years to come.

1913: Opening of China's 1st parliament takes place in Peking (now Beijing)

The opening of China's first parliament, known as the National Assembly, was a significant event in Chinese history. The parliament was created as part of the constitutional reforms initiated by the Qing dynasty in an attempt to modernize China. The National Assembly was meant to be a representative body, but it was dominated by the ruling elite and had limited powers. Nevertheless, its establishment was an important step towards a more democratic China.

1953: Jomo Kenyatta is sentenced to 7 years hard labor

Jomo Kenyatta was a Kenyan nationalist and the leader of the Kenya African Union. He was sentenced to seven years of hard labor by the British colonial authorities for his involvement in the Mau Mau uprising. The Mau Mau were a group of Kenyan nationalists who fought against British colonial rule. Kenyatta's imprisonment made him a symbol of the struggle for independence in Kenya. He later became the country's first President.

1959: One of the first modern programming languages is created

The Common Business-Oriented Language (COBOL) was one of the first high-level programming languages. It was primarily designed