1. On April 8, 1665, Phillip Carteret arrived in New Jersey to become the first governor of the British colony. Carteret was sent by James, Duke of York, to establish British control over the territory.

2. In 1913, the New Jersey State Council of Defense was established to coordinate the state's efforts during World War I. The council was responsible for organizing fundraising campaigns, recruiting volunteers, and coordinating the distribution of vital resources like food and fuel.

3. On April 8, 1935, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) opened its first New Jersey camp in Wharton State Forest. The CCC was a federal program established during the Great Depression to provide work and job training for unemployed young men.

4. In 1964, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority announced plans to extend the turnpike southward to Cape May. The extension would eventually become the Garden State Parkway, which is now one of the busiest highways in the state.

5. On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruth's all-time record. Aaron's historic home run came against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium.