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On This Day in History — October 7
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Highlights of October 7
- 2023 — In the October 7 attacks, Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups killed nearly 1,200 people in southern Israel and took 251 hostages, starting the Gaza war. Read more
- 2008 — 2008 TC3 exploded above the Nubian Desert in Sudan, in the first time that an asteroid impact had been predicted prior to atmospheric entry. Read more
- 2006 — Anna Politkovskaya (pictured), a Russian journalist and human-rights activist, was assassinated in the elevator of her apartment block in Moscow. Read more
- 1991 — Croatian War of Independence: The Yugoslav People's Army conducted an air strike on Banski Dvori, the official residence of the president of Croatia in Zagreb. Read more
- 1988 — Near Point Barrow in Alaska, an Iñupiat hunter discovered three gray whales trapped in pack ice, which resulted in an international effort to free them. Read more
- 1985 — About 130 people died as a result of severe floods in Puerto Rico. Read more
- 1944 — The Holocaust: Sonderkommando work-unit members in Auschwitz concentration camp revolted upon learning that they were due to be killed; although a few managed to escape, most were massacred on the same day. Read more
- 1916 — Georgia Tech defeated Cumberland University 222–0 in the most lopsided college football game in American history. Read more
- 1914 — Japan captured Pohnpei from Germany, eventually leading to large-scale Japanese immigration to Micronesia. Read more
- 1914 — Seven-year-old Theo Faiss, later memorialized in speeches by Rudolf Steiner and a sculpture (pictured) by Edith Maryon, was killed by an overturned wagon in Switzerland. Read more
- 1878 — The state funeral of Mindon Min (pictured), who ruled Myanmar for 25 years, took place; his death was reportedly preceded by strange omens, and his senior princes were unable to attend as they had all been arrested. Read more
- 1868 — Ōdate, the last castle of the Satake clan in Japan's Tōhoku region, was captured during the Boshin War. Read more
- 1849 — American writer Edgar Allan Poe died under mysterious circumstances at Washington Medical College four days after being found on the streets of Baltimore, Maryland, in a delirious and incoherent state. Read more
- 1840 — William II became King of the Netherlands after his father William I abdicated the throne. Read more
- 1800 — The French privateer Robert Surcouf led a 150-man crew to capture the 40-gun, 437-man East Indiaman Kent. Read more
- 1780 — American Revolutionary War: Patriots and Loyalist militias engaged each other at the Battle of Kings Mountain in South Carolina. Read more
- 1763 — King George III issued a royal proclamation that forbade British settlement of much of newly acquired French territory in North America, reserving the land for indigenous peoples. Read more
- 1571 — Ottoman–Habsburg wars: The Battle of Lepanto was fought near the Gulf of Corinth, a significant setback for the Ottoman Empire and the last major naval battle fought entirely with galleys. Read more
- 1513 — War of the League of Cambrai: A Venetian army under Bartolomeo d'Alviano was decisively defeated by the Spanish army commanded by Ramón de Cardona and Fernando d'Ávalos. Read more
Events
- 2023 — Hamas and several other Palestinian militant groups launch an attack into Israel, which results in the deaths of around 1,200, mostly civilians, and the taking of 251 hostages, including civilians and soldiers. Read more
- 2022 — Ten people are killed and eight are injured in an explosion at a petrol station in Creeslough, Ireland. Read more
- 2022 — Ales Bialiatski, along with two organisations, Memorial and Center for Civil Liberties, are awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Read more
- 2016 — In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, the death toll rises to over 800. Read more
- 2008 — Asteroid 2008 TC3 impacts the Earth over Sudan, the first time an asteroid impact is detected prior to its entry into Earth's atmosphere. Read more
- 2008 — Qantas Flight 72 experiences an in-flight upset near Exmouth, Western Australia, Australia, injuring 112. Read more
- 2007 — The battle of Mirali begins in which the Pakistan Armed Forces and Taliban militias clash for four days. Read more
- 2004 — Three bombs explode at Taba and Nuweiba in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, killing 34. Read more
- 2002 — The Space Shuttle Atlantis launches on STS-112 to continue assembly of the International Space Station. Read more
- 2001 — The U.S. invasion of Afghanistan begins with an air assault and covert operations on the ground, starting the longest war in American history. Read more
- 2000 — Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Hezbollah militants capture three Israeli Defense Force soldiers in a cross-border raid. Read more
- 1993 — The flood of '93 ends at St. Louis, Missouri, 103 days after it began, as the Mississippi River falls below flood stage. Read more
- 1991 — Croatian War of Independence: Bombing of the Banski Dvori in Zagreb, Croatia. Read more
- 1988 — A hunter discovers three gray whales trapped under the ice near Alaska; the situation becomes a multinational effort to free the whales. Read more
- 1987 — Sikh nationalists declare the independence of Khalistan from India; it is not internationally recognized. Read more
- 1985 — The Mameyes landslide kills almost 200 people in Puerto Rico. Read more
- 1985 — Four men from the Palestine Liberation Front hijack the MS Achille Lauro off the coast of Egypt. Read more
- 1979 — Swissair Flight 316 crashes at Ellinikon International Airport in Athens, Greece, killing 14. Read more
- 1978 — Aeroflot Flight 1080 crashes after takeoff from Koltsovo International Airport, killing 38. Read more
- 1977 — The Fourth Soviet Constitution is adopted. Read more
- 1963 — President Kennedy signs the ratification of the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Read more
- 1963 — Buddhist crisis: Amid worsening relations, outspoken South Vietnamese First Lady Madame Ngo Dinh Nhu arrives in the US for a speaking tour, continuing a flurry of attacks on the Kennedy administration. Read more
- 1961 — A Douglas Dakota IV operated by Derby Aviation (later renamed to British Midland International) crashes in Canigou, France, killing 34 people. Read more
- 1959 — The Soviet probe Luna 3 transmits the first-ever photographs of the far side of the Moon. Read more
- 1958 — The 1958 Pakistani coup d'état inaugurates a prolonged period of military rule. Read more
- 1958 — The U.S. crewed space-flight project is renamed to Project Mercury. Read more
- 1950 — Mother Teresa establishes the Missionaries of Charity. Read more
- 1949 — The communist German Democratic Republic (East Germany) is formed. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: The Sonderkommando Revolt in Auschwitz occurs with an uprising of prisoners (especially the Sonderkommando) at the Auschwitz concentration camp. Read more
- 1940 — World War II: The McCollum memo proposes bringing the United States into the war in Europe by provoking the Japanese to attack the United States. Read more
- 1929 — Photius II becomes Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. Read more
- 1924 — Andreas Michalakopoulos becomes prime minister of Greece for a short period of time. Read more
- 1919 — KLM, the flag carrier of the Netherlands, is founded. It is the oldest airline still operating under its original name. Read more
- 1916 — Georgia Tech defeats Cumberland University 222–0 in the most lopsided college football game in American history. Read more
- 1913 — Ford Motor Company introduces the first moving vehicle assembly line. Read more
- 1912 — The Helsinki Stock Exchange sees its first transaction. Read more
- 1879 — Germany and Austria-Hungary sign the "Twofold Covenant" and create the Dual Alliance. Read more
- 1870 — Franco-Prussian War: Léon Gambetta escapes the siege of Paris in a hot-air balloon. Read more
- 1868 — Cornell University holds opening day ceremonies; initial student enrollment is 412, the highest at any American university to that date. Read more
- 1864 — American Civil War: A US Navy ship captures a Confederate raider in a Brazilian seaport. Read more
- 1840 — Willem II becomes King of the Netherlands. Read more
- 1828 — Morea expedition: The city of Patras, Greece, is liberated by the French expeditionary force. Read more
- 1826 — Imperial Russia and the Ottoman Empire sign the Akkerman Convention, under which the Ottomans accept Russian territorial demands in the Balkans, Caucasus and the Danubian river basin. Read more
- 1826 — The Granite Railway begins operations as the first chartered railway in the U.S. Read more
- 1800 — French corsair Robert Surcouf, commander of the 18-gun ship La Confiance, captures the British 38-gun Kent. Read more
- 1780 — American Revolutionary War: American militia defeat royalist irregulars led by British major Patrick Ferguson at the Battle of Kings Mountain in South Carolina, often regarded as the turning point in the war's Southern theater. Read more
- 1777 — American Revolutionary War: The Americans defeat British forces under general John Burgoyne in the Second Battle of Saratoga, also known as the Battle of Bemis Heights, compelling Burgoyne's eventual surrender. Read more
- 1763 — King George III issues the Royal Proclamation of 1763, closing Indigenous lands in North America north and west of the Alleghenies to white settlements. Read more
- 1691 — The charter for the Province of Massachusetts Bay is issued. Read more
- 1571 — The Battle of Lepanto is fought, and the Ottoman Navy suffers its first defeat. Read more
- 1513 — War of the League of Cambrai: Spain defeats Venice. Read more
- 1477 — Uppsala University is inaugurated after receiving its corporate rights from Pope Sixtus IV in February the same year. Read more
- 1403 — Venetian–Genoese wars: The Genoese fleet under a French admiral is defeated by a Venetian fleet at the Battle of Modon. Read more
- 1130 — Fatimid Caliph al-Amir is assassinated. Read more
- 3761 BC — The epoch reference date (start) of the modern Hebrew calendar. Read more
Born on October 7
- 2002 — Joaquín Panichelli, Argentine footballer Read more
- 2001 — Princess Senate Seeiso, Princess of Lesotho Read more
- 1999 — Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Turkish footballer Read more
- 1998 — Ryan Trahan, American YouTuber Read more
- 1997 — Kira Kosarin, American actress and singer Read more
- 1997 — Nicole Maines, American actress, writer, and activist Read more
- 1996 — Lewis Capaldi, Scottish singer-songwriter Read more
- 1996 — Choi Jeong, South Korean Go player Read more
- 1996 — Guglielmo Vicario, Italian footballer Read more
- 1995 — Lyndon Dykes, Australian professional footballer Read more
- 1995 — Mathias Dyngeland, Norwegian footballer Read more
- 1995 — Bram van Vlerken, Dutch footballer Read more
- 1993 — Nic Stauskas, Canadian basketball player Read more
- 1992 — Mookie Betts, American baseball player Read more
- 1991 — Oscar Fantenberg, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
- 1991 — Mike Foltynewicz, American baseball player Read more
- 1991 — Nicole Jung, American singer Read more
- 1991 — Lay Zhang, Chinese singer-songwriter and actor Read more
- 1990 — Sebastián Coates, Uruguayan footballer Read more
- 1988 — Diego da Silva Costa, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 1987 — Jeremy Brockie, New Zealand footballer Read more
- 1987 — Alex Cobb, American baseball player Read more
- 1987 — Damion James, American basketball player Read more
- 1986 — Lee Nguyen, American soccer player Read more
- 1986 — Gunnar Nielsen, Faroese footballer Read more
- 1986 — Bree Olson, American actress, model, and former pornographic actress Read more
- 1986 — A. J. Price, American basketball player Read more
- 1986 — Holland Roden, American actress Read more
- 1986 — Amy Satterthwaite, New Zealand cricketer Read more
- 1986 — Amber Stevens West, American actress Read more
- 1985 — Evan Longoria, American baseball player Read more
- 1984 — Salman Butt, Pakistani cricketer Read more
- 1984 — Toma Ikuta, Japanese actor and singer Read more
- 1984 — Simon Poulsen, Danish footballer Read more
- 1983 — Dwayne Bravo, Trinidadian cricketer Read more
- 1983 — Flying Lotus, American rapper, DJ, and producer Read more
- 1982 — Madjid Bougherra, Algerian footballer Read more
- 1982 — Jermain Defoe, English footballer Read more
- 1982 — Jake McLaughlin, American actor Read more
- 1982 — Li Yundi, Chinese pianist Read more
Died on October 7
- 2024 — Cissy Houston, American singer (born 1933) Read more
- 2024 — Arie L. Kopelman, American businessman (born 1938) Read more
- 2024 — Zaw Myint Maung, Burmese politician, physician and former political prisoner (born 1951) Read more
- 2024 — Lore Segal, American novelist (born 1928) Read more
- 2023 — Israelis murdered or fell in the line of duty during the October 7 attacks Read more
- 2023 — Israelis murdered or fell in the line of duty during the October 7 attacks Read more
- 2023 — Israelis murdered or fell in the line of duty during the October 7 attacks Read more
- 2023 — Israelis murdered or fell in the line of duty during the October 7 attacks Read more
- 2023 — Israelis murdered or fell in the line of duty during the October 7 attacks Read more
- 2023 — Israelis murdered or fell in the line of duty during the October 7 attacks Read more
- 2023 — Israelis murdered or fell in the line of duty during the October 7 attacks Read more
- 2023 — Israelis murdered or fell in the line of duty during the October 7 attacks Read more
- 2023 — Israelis murdered or fell in the line of duty during the October 7 attacks Read more
- 2023 — Israelis murdered or fell in the line of duty during the October 7 attacks Read more
- 2023 — Israelis murdered or fell in the line of duty during the October 7 attacks Read more
- 2023 — Israelis murdered or fell in the line of duty during the October 7 attacks Read more
- 2023 — Israelis murdered or fell in the line of duty during the October 7 attacks Read more
- 2023 — Terence Davies, English filmmaker Read more
- 2022 — Arun Bali, Indian actor (born 1942) Read more
- 2020 — Mario Molina, Mexican chemist (born 1943) Read more
- 2016 — Ross Higgins, Australian actor, comedian (born 1930) Read more
- 2015 — Harry Gallatin, American basketball player and coach (born 1927) Read more
- 2015 — Hossein Hamadani, Iranian general (born 1951) Read more
- 2015 — Jurelang Zedkaia, Marshallese politician, 5th President of the Marshall Islands (born 1950) Read more
- 2014 — Nika Kiladze, Georgian footballer (born 1988) Read more
- 2014 — Siegfried Lenz, Polish-German author and playwright (born 1926) Read more
- 2014 — Iva Withers, Canadian-American actress and singer (born 1917) Read more
- 2013 — Terry Burnham, American actress (born 1949) Read more
- 2013 — Patrice Chéreau, French actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1944) Read more
- 2013 — Leandro Mendoza, Filipino police officer and politician, 36th Executive Secretary of the Philippines (born 1946) Read more
- 2012 — Mervyn M. Dymally, Trinidadian-American politician, 41st Lieutenant Governor of California (born 1926) Read more
- 2012 — Ivo Michiels, Belgian-French author and poet (born 1923) Read more
- 2011 — Ramiz Alia, Albanian politician, 1st President of Albania (born 1925) Read more
- 2011 — Andrew Laszlo, Hungarian-American cinematographer (born 1926) Read more
- 2010 — Milka Planinc, Croatian lawyer and politician, 7th Prime Minister of Yugoslavia (born 1924) Read more
- 2009 — Irving Penn, American photographer (born 1917) Read more
- 2007 — Norifumi Abe, Japanese motorcycle racer (born 1975) Read more
- 2006 — Julen Goikoetxea, Spanish cyclist (born 1985) Read more
- 2006 — Anna Politkovskaya, American-Russian journalist and activist (born 1958) Read more
- 2004 — Miki Matsubara, Japanese composer, lyricist, and singer (born 1959) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Justina of Padua; Christian feast day:
Henry Muhlenberg (some Lutheran Churches, Episcopal Church of the USA); Christian feast day:
Osgyth; Christian feast day:
Our Lady of the Rosary; Christian feast day:
Pope Mark; Christian feast day:
Sergius and Bacchus; Christian feast day:
October 7 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Teachers' Day (Laos)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “October 7”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.