1. Governor William Aiken Jr. was born on January 8, 1806, in Charleston, South Carolina. He served as the governor of the state twice, from 1844 to 1846 and again from 1857 to 1860. Aiken was also a prominent businessman, owning a successful shipping and manufacturing company.

2. On January 8, 1861, South Carolina declared its secession from the United States, becoming the first state to do so. This act ultimately led to the Civil War and the eventual reintegration of the state back into the Union.

3. In 1912, the first baby born to a South Carolina governor in the Governor's Mansion was born on January 8. The baby girl was the daughter of Governor Cole Blease and his wife, and she was named Jean Blease.

4. On January 8, 1959, the Clemson Tigers won the Orange Bowl against the Miami Hurricanes. It was the first time that Clemson had won a major bowl game, and the victory is still remembered fondly by many football fans in the state.

5. In 1973, the state's first public broadcasting station, SCETV, began broadcasting on January 8. Today, SCETV is a well-respected network that provides educational programming and other content to viewers across the state.