Today in History - October 7th


  • 3761 BC - On this day in history, the epoch (origin) of the Modern Hebrew Calendar (Proleptic Julian Calendar) was established.
  • 1492 - Christopher Columbus missed Florida when he changed course, today in history.
  • 1542 - On this day in history, Explorer Cabrillo discovered Catalina Island off the California coast.
  • 1737 - Today in history, 40-foot waves sank 20,000 small craft & killed 300,000 in Bengal, India.
  • 1763 - On this day in history, King George III of Great Britain issued Proclamation of 1763, closing lands in North America north & west of Alleghenies to white settlement.
  • 1765 - Stamp-Act Congress convened in New York on this day in history.

  • 1777 - Americans defeated Brits in 2nd Battle of Saratoga & Battle of Bemis Heights, today in history.
  • 1780 - On this day in history, the British were defeated by American militia near King's Mountain, SC.
  • 1864 - Today in history, The Battle of Darbytown Road was fought between Union and Confederate forces. The Confederates were attempting to retake ground they had lost to Federal forces during battles near Richmond, Virginia. Their efforts failed.
  • 1868 - On this day in history, Cornell University in Ithaca, NY opened.
  • 1886 - Spain abolished slavery in Cuba, today in history.
  • 1913 - On this day in history, Henry Ford instituted the moving assembly line - a staple in most manufacturing facilities today.
  • 1919 - First in flight, today in history. The first London-Amsterdam airline service (Brit Aerial Transport & KLM) took place; KLM, Netherlands Airlines, was also established (oldest existing airline).
  • 1926 - On this day in history, the Italian Great Fascist Council formed.
  • 1935 - Himmler/Hess/Heydrich bezichtigen concentration camp in Dachau, Poland opened.
  • 1938 - Today in history, Germany demanded that all Jewish passports be stamped with the letter "J."
  • 1941 - German army occupied Viarma, USSR, on this day in history.
  • 1942 - Today in history, US & British governments announced the establishment of the United Nations.
  • 1944 - On this day in history, the Allies bombed sea dikes at Vlissingen.
  • 1944 - Today in history witnessed an uprising at Auschwitz death camp --Jews burned down the crematoriums.
  • 1944 - On this day in history, an uprising took place at Birkenau concentration camp.
  • 1950 - Today in history, US forces invaded Korea by crossing the 38th parallel.
  • 1951 - On this day in history, David Ben-Gurion formed the Israeli government.
  • 1985 - Today in history, PLO terrorists seized Italian cruise liner Achille Lauro. Many Jews perished as they were thrown overboard, including disable passengers in wheelchairs.
  • 1990 - Israel began handing out gas masks to its citizens, on this day in history.
  • 1994 - Today in history, China PR performed nuclear test at Lop Nor PRC.
  • 2001 - On this day in history, The U.S. invasion of Afghanistan started with an air assault and covert operations on the ground.

SCIENCE, INVENTION, PATENTS - Today in History, October 7th

  • 1806 - Carbon paper was patented in London by inventor Ralph Wedgewood, today in history.
  • 1931 - On this day in history, the 1st infra-red photograph was shot in Rochester, NY.
  • 1959 - Today in history, the far side of Moon was seen for the first time, compliments of USSR's Luna 3.

SPORTS - Today in History, October 7th

  • 1882 - On this day in history, the 1st World Series (game 2) took place and Chicago (NL) beat Cincinnati (AA) 2-0.
  • 1916 - Today in history, 222 points were scored in a football game between Georgia Tech & Cumberland University of Lebanon, Tennessee.
  • 1952 - On this day in history, the Yankees tied their own record of 4 consecutive World-Series victories.
  • 1957 - Louise Suggs won LPGA Heart-of-America Golf Invitational, today in history.
  • 1956 - More women winning in the sports arena: Mary Lena Faulk won LPGA Heart-of-America Golf Open, on this day in history.
  • 1962 - And even more: 8th LPGA Championship won by Judy Kimball, today in history.
  • 1985 - Today in history, Lynette Woodward was chosen as the first woman on Harlem Globetrotters team.

CULTURE, LIFESTYLE - Today in History, October 7th

  • 1955 - Today in history, Beat poet Allen Ginsberg read his poem "Howl" for the first time at a poetry reading in San Francisco.
  • 1957 - On this day in history, iconic "American Bandstand" premiered.
  • 1960 - Today in history, "Route 66" premiered on TV.
  • 1967 - On this day in history, The Beatles turned down $1 million NY concert offer by Sid Bernstein.
  • 1971 - Today in history, Disney World opened in Orlando
  • 1975 - On this day in history, the US decided that John Lennon won't be deported due to UK marihuana conviction.
  • 1982 - "Cats" opened at Winter Garden Theater in NYC for 5000+ performances, running for nearly 18 years.
  • 1991 - Today in history, Law Professor Anita Hill accused Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of making sexually-inappropriate comments to her.
  • 1993 - On this day in history, Nobel Prize for literature was awarded to Toni Morrison.
  • 1998 - Today in history, Matthew Shepard, a gay student at the University of Wyoming, was found tied to a fence, after having been savagely beaten by two young adults in Laramie, Wyoming.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS - October 7th

  • 1943 - On this day in history, Joy Behar, American television personality, was born.
  • 1952 - Today in history, Vladimir Putin, Russian President, was born.
  • 1955 - On this day in history, Yo-Yo Ma, world-famous cellist (2001 National Medal of Arts, 2011 Presidential Medal of Freedom) was born in Paris, France.
  • 1959 - Today in history, Simon Cowell was born in Lambeth, London, to become one of the great recording executives and television producers of our time (X-Factor, American Idol).