This Day in History: March 8

1531: Henry VIII recognised as supreme head of Church in England by the Convocation of Canterbury

After being denied a divorce by the Roman Catholic Church, King Henry VIII of England split from Rome and established the Church of England. This act granted him the power to appoint bishops and other clergy, and paved the way for the English Reformation.

1817: The New York Stock Exchange is founded

The NYSE, located at 11 Wall Street in New York City, is the world's largest stock exchange. It was founded by a group of stockbrokers who signed the Buttonwood Agreement, a document outlining the rules and regulations of the exchange.

1867: British North America Act is passed in the House of Commons, serves as Canada's constitution for more than 100 years

The British North America Act united the colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick into a single country, the Dominion of Canada. It also granted Canada the power to govern its own affairs and make laws, although it remained a part of the British Empire.

1910: Raymonde de Laroche becomes the first woman with a pilot's license

French aviatrix Raymonde de Laroche was the first woman to earn a pilot's license. She went on to set several records for altitude and distance flown by a woman, but tragically died in a plane crash at the age of 36.

1917: Russian "February Revolution" begins in earnest with protests celebrating International Woman's Day and riots in St Petersburg over food rations and conduct of the war [OS=Feb 23]

The February Revolution marked the beginning of the end of the Romanov dynasty in Russia. It was sparked by protests and strikes over food shortages, rising prices, and the government's handling of the war. The protests culminated in the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II and the establishment of a provisional government.

1948: US Supreme Court rules in McCollum v. Board of Education that religious instruction in public schools is unconstitutional

In a landmark decision, the US Supreme Court ruled that allowing religious instruction in public schools was a violation of the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion. The case was brought by Vashti McCollum, an Illinois mother who objected to her son being required to participate in religious classes.

1971: In the Fight of the Century, Joe Frazier triumphs over Muhammad Ali

After being stripped of his world heavyweight title for refusing to serve in the armed forces, Muhammad Ali faced Joe Frazier in what was billed as the Fight of the Century. Frazier won the fight in a unanimous decision, but Ali would go on to reclaim the title in a rematch three years later.

1973: The Provisional Irish Republican Army undertakes its first operation in Great Britain, planting four car bombs in London; 10 members of PIRA are arrested at Heathrow Airport while trying to leave the country

The Provisional Irish Republican Army, a paramilitary group seeking to end British rule in Northern Ireland, carried out its first operation on British soil by planting four car bombs in London. Ten members of the group were arrested while attempting to flee the country.

1978: The first episode of the