1. In 1733, the first English settlers arrived in Georgia, led by James Oglethorpe. The colony was established as a refuge for debtors and the poor, and was named in honor of King George II.

2. On February 8, 1861, Georgia held a state convention to decide whether to secede from the Union. The state voted overwhelmingly in favor of secession, becoming the fifth state to do so.

3. The first intercollegiate basketball game in Georgia history was played on February 8, 1906, between the University of Georgia and Mercer University. UGA won the game 16-10.

4. On February 8, 1925, John Pemberton, the inventor of Coca-Cola, died in Atlanta, Georgia. Pemberton first created the popular soft drink in 1886 as a tonic for headaches and other ailments.

5. Ray Charles, one of Georgia's most iconic musicians, was born on February 8, 1930 in Albany, Georgia. Known for hits like "Georgia On My Mind" and "Hit the Road Jack," Charles was a pioneer of soul music and a beloved figure in Georgia and beyond.