Historical Events on December 7

  • 1869: The legendary outlaw Jesse James robs his first bank in Gallatin, Missouri in the United States.
  • 1904: Trials to compare the fuel efficiency between the coal-powered HMS Peterel and the fuel-oil powered HMS Spiteful. The conclusions of these trial led to coal ships becoming obsolete in the Royal
  • 1912: Queen Nefertiti’s bust is discovered in Minya, Egypt. She was the wife of the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten.
  • 1917: The U.S issues a declaration of war against Austria-Hungary.
  • 1941: A surprise attack on the U.S Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii is conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy. This attack would bring the United States into World War II.
  • 1946: Almost 120 people are killed when a fire erupts at the Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s considered by many to be the deadliest hotel fire in United States history.
  • 1972: The last Apollo Moon mission – Apollo 17 – takes off. As the leave Earth’s atmosphere, the crew snaps a picture that would become known as “The Blue Marble.”
  • 1982: Charles Brooks, Jr. becomes the first person in the United States to be executed by lethal injection when he’s put to death in Texas.
  • 1995: After traveling for more than 6-years, the Galileo spacecraft finally makes it to Jupiter.

Famous Birthdays on December 7

  • American philosopher and linguist, Noam Chomsky is born in 1928.
  • American baseball player Hal Smith is born in 1930.
  • American actress Ellen Burstyn is born in 1932.
  • American journalist and author, Rosemary Rogers is born in 1932.
  • English comedian Stan Boardman is born in 1937.
  • American author and screenwriter, Susan Isaacs is born in 1943.
  • American singer-songwriter and actor, Tom Waits is born in 1949.
  • American basketball player and coach, Larry Bird is born in 1956.
  • English bass player Tim Butler is born in 1958.
  • American actor Patrick Fabian is born in 1964.
  • American actor Jeffrey Wright is born in 1965.
  • American actor, director and screenwriter, C. Thomas Howell is born in 1966.
  • Japanese actress Kazue Itoh is born in 1966.