August 8, 1942

1942James Blanchard, American diplomat and politician, 45th Governor of Michigan^[†]

James Johnston Blanchard is an American attorney, diplomat, and politician who served as the 45th governor of Michigan from 1983 to 1991. A member of the Democratic Party, Blanchard previously served in the United States House of Representatives from 1975 to 1983, and later as the United States Ambassador to Canada from 1993 to 1996.

1942Dennis Canavan, Scottish educator and politician^[†]

Dennis Andrew Canavan is a Scottish politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Falkirk West from 1974 to 2000, first as a member of the Labour Party, and then as an independent. He then served as an independent member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Falkirk West from 1999 to 2007.

1942John Gustafson, English singer-songwriter and bass player (died 2014)^[†]

John Frederick "Johnny" Gustafson was an English bass guitar player and singer, who had a lengthy recording and live performance career. During his career, he was a member of the bands The Big Three, The Merseybeats, Quatermass, Roxy Music, The Pirates and Ian Gillan Band.

1942Vardo Rumessen, Estonian pianist and musicologist (died 2015)^[†]

Vardo Rumessen was an Estonian pianist, musicologist and politician for the Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica. He is best known for his work with Eduard Tubin's music. He was born in Pärnu. In his performances abroad, he played works by Estonian composed that were forbidden under the Soviet regime.

1942Quit India Movement is launched in India against the British rule in response to Mohandas Gandhi's call for swaraj or complete independence.^[†]

The Quit India Movement was a movement launched at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee by Mahatma Gandhi on 8 August 1942, during World War II, demanding an end to British rule in India. After Britain failed to secure Indian support for the British war effort with the Cripps Mission, Gandhi made a call to Do or Die in his Quit India speech delivered in Bombay on 8 August 1942 at the Gowalia Tank Maidan. Viceroy Linlithgow described the movement as "by far the most serious rebellion since 1857".