On This Day for 2/8 - Mary, Queen of Scots is beheaded, Il Guercino is born, and more

Don't miss an issue of On This Day! Simply add [customerservice@eb.com]( to your address book. On This Day February 8 Discover the Fastest Route to Britannica - [EB.com]( Born This Day ['Abraham Driving Out Hagar and Ishmael' by Il Guercino]( [Il Guercino]( Italian painter [Il Guercino]( ("The Squinting One"), whose frescoes freshly exploited the illusionistic ceiling and made a profound impact on the evolution of 17th-century Roman High [Baroque art]( was born this day in 1591. Who else was born today? Find out with the newest version of [our best-selling software! >>]( On This Day [Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, woodcut from Adam Blackwood.…]( 1587: Mary, Queen of Scots, beheaded [Mary, Queen of Scots]( rival of Queen [Elizabeth I]( of England, was beheaded this day in 1587 at Fotheringhay Castle, her execution a chilling scene redeemed by the great personal dignity with which she met her fate. Explore more key moments in history for just $39.95 [Learn more >>]( [Sign up now]( for our monthly newsletter, showcasing articles hand-picked by our editors! More Events On This Day 2016: The French [ballerina]( and dance director [Violette Verdy]( who was known for her eloquent and buoyant dancing, died in Bloomington, Indiana. 2002: [Canadians Jamie Salé and David Pelletier and Russians Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze displaying the gold medals that both pairs were awarded following a judging scandal at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, Salt Lake City, Utah, February 17, 2002]( The [XIX Winter Olympic Games]( opened in [Salt Lake City]( Utah. 1999: [James Dean]( novelist and philosopher [Dame Iris Murdoch]( wrote more than 25 novels that were distinguished by a mixture of vivid storytelling, cultural allusions, and complex philosophical inquiry—died in Oxford, England. 1974: [U.S. space station Skylab (occupied 1973–74), shown with docked Apollo Command and Service …]( use of [Skylab]( a U.S. [space station]( came to an end after 171 days. 1931: [James Dean]( actor [James Dean]( who became a symbol of the confused, restless, and idealistic youth of the 1950s, was born. 1920/21: [Lana Turner]( actress [Lana Turner]( a sultry Hollywood glamour queen with a tumultuous private life, was born. 1915: [D.W. Griffith]( landmark film [The Birth of a Nation]( by [D.W. Griffith]( made its premiere at Clune's Auditorium in Los Angeles. 1887: [Henry L. Dawes, who sponsored the Dawes General Allotment Act.]( United States passed the [Dawes General Allotment Act]( providing for the distribution of American Indian reservation land among individual tribesmen. 1867: [Map showing the extent of Austria-Hungary, 1914.]( [Ausgleich]( (“Compromise”) established the Dual Monarchy of [Austria-Hungary](. 1820: [William Tecumseh Sherman…]( Civil War]( General [William Tecumseh Sherman]( was a major architect of modern warfare, especially known for leading Union forces in crushing campaigns through the South—was born. A Great Gift Idea from The Britannica Store [1768 Encyclopaedia Britannica Replica Set]( The handsome three-volume reproduction is so beautifully executed that it's almost indistinguishable from the 1768 original, right down to the natural age spots and watermarks on the pages. A must-have for collectors of history or vintage books, the set lends an unmistakable air of prestige to any home or office. [Get yours today]( Our Best-Selling Software! the world's most trusted and authoritative information for [only $39.95](. Britannica on Facebook a fan]( on Facebook and get updated Britannica content in your news feed! Britannica on Twitter @Britannica]( and enjoy daily tweets relating to the news stories of the day! [Home]( [Advocacy for Animals]( [Newsletters]( [Feedback]( [Help]( Please note that if you do not open or click on any On This Day email during any consecutive 14-day period, we reserve the right to remove your address from the active mailing list. This policy does not apply to RSS feeds. Share: Was this message forwarded to you? [Click here]( and we'll start sending you the On This Day newsletters. This message has been sent to {EMAIL}. To unsubscribe [click here](. To unsubscribe by postal mail, send your request to: Encyclopaedia Britannica 325 N. LaSalle St. - Suite 200 Chicago, IL 60654 US ATTN: Customer Service - On This Day © 2017 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. [Privacy Policy]( — [Help](