August 7th What Happened on the day you were born on This day in History
1947 Polynesia Kon-Tiki Expedition
7th August 1947 : The Kon-Tiki expedition headed by Thor Heyerdahl, which had carried a six-man crew aboard a balsa wood raft from Peru 3,770 nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean, crashed into a reef in at Raroia in the Tuamotu Islands on a Polynesian archipelago after being at sea for 101 days since 28th April .
7th August 1947 : The Kon-Tiki expedition headed by Thor Heyerdahl, which had carried a six-man crew aboard a balsa wood raft from Peru 3,770 nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean, crashed into a reef in at Raroia in the Tuamotu Islands on a Polynesian archipelago after being at sea for 101 days since 28th April .
1935 England Flying Ant Plaque
7th August 1935 : Flying ants were plaguing London, England, even stopping a tennis tournament. Heaps of the noxious insects were invading pantries and piling up on doorsteps. Authorities claim that this was the worst attack of pestilence in a quarter of a century.
7th August 1935 : Flying ants were plaguing London, England, even stopping a tennis tournament. Heaps of the noxious insects were invading pantries and piling up on doorsteps. Authorities claim that this was the worst attack of pestilence in a quarter of a century.
1945 Japan Nuclear Bomb Comment
7th August 1945 : Japanese imperial headquarters stated a few new type bombs had been dropped, causing considerable damage. The US confirmed it was a single bomb which later is confirmed to have destroyed 60 percent of the City of Hiroshima including practically all living things, human and animal burned to death by the tremendous heat and pressure engendered by the blast.
7th August 1945 : Japanese imperial headquarters stated a few new type bombs had been dropped, causing considerable damage. The US confirmed it was a single bomb which later is confirmed to have destroyed 60 percent of the City of Hiroshima including practically all living things, human and animal burned to death by the tremendous heat and pressure engendered by the blast.
1948 U.S.A. Truman Government Accused Of Un-American Activities
7th August 1948 : Representative, McDowell a member of the House Committee on Un-American Activities, claimed that the Truman government shipped 1,300 tons of uranium to the Soviet Union in 1945. McDowell thought that the Soviets had a spy ring sabotaging the United States government and that the uranium was going to be used for military purposes. He also accused Canada of shipping 500 pounds of uranium nitrate and 500 pounds of black uranium to Moscow. The Soviets claimed the radio-active material was for medical and research purposes.
7th August 1948 : Representative, McDowell a member of the House Committee on Un-American Activities, claimed that the Truman government shipped 1,300 tons of uranium to the Soviet Union in 1945. McDowell thought that the Soviets had a spy ring sabotaging the United States government and that the uranium was going to be used for military purposes. He also accused Canada of shipping 500 pounds of uranium nitrate and 500 pounds of black uranium to Moscow. The Soviets claimed the radio-active material was for medical and research purposes.
1959 Space First Pictures Of Earth From Space Taken
7th August 1959 : The first ever pictures of earth taken from a US unmanned spacecraft Explorer 6 later released to the worlds press by NASA in September, It was Mexico, captured by Explorer 6 as it raced westward over the earth at speeds in excess of 20,000 miles an hour
7th August 1959 : The first ever pictures of earth taken from a US unmanned spacecraft Explorer 6 later released to the worlds press by NASA in September, It was Mexico, captured by Explorer 6 as it raced westward over the earth at speeds in excess of 20,000 miles an hour
1957 U.S.A. Laurel and Hardy
7th August 1957 : For twenty years the Laurel and Hardy comedy team was wildly popular, doing over 200 slap stick comedy routines. Oliver Hardy passed away today in North Hollywood at the home of his mother-in-law. He was 65 years old and had been paralyzed by a stroke since last September 12. The stroke left him unable to speak. Hardy was described as “an elephant on tippy-toe.”
7th August 1957 : For twenty years the Laurel and Hardy comedy team was wildly popular, doing over 200 slap stick comedy routines. Oliver Hardy passed away today in North Hollywood at the home of his mother-in-law. He was 65 years old and had been paralyzed by a stroke since last September 12. The stroke left him unable to speak. Hardy was described as “an elephant on tippy-toe.”
1958 U.S.A. Arthur Miller
7th August 1958 : The playwright Arthur Miller has been cleared of contempt of court by the Court of Appeals for refusing to provide the names of alleged Communist writers with whom he had attended meetings with in New York in 1947 to the House of Un-American Activities Committee.
7th August 1958 : The playwright Arthur Miller has been cleared of contempt of court by the Court of Appeals for refusing to provide the names of alleged Communist writers with whom he had attended meetings with in New York in 1947 to the House of Un-American Activities Committee.
1960 U.S.A. Protests Over White Only Restaurants
7th August 1960 : In Oklahoma city more than 200 black protestors had a sit-in to protest the ban on blacks eating at white-only restaurants. The protestors marched from Calvary Baptist Church to the downtown area in 90 degree temperatures. Although the group maintained a policy of non-violence, the leader Mrs. Luper decided that if the sit-in failed the next step would be a boycott of Oklahoma city businesses.
7th August 1960 : In Oklahoma city more than 200 black protestors had a sit-in to protest the ban on blacks eating at white-only restaurants. The protestors marched from Calvary Baptist Church to the downtown area in 90 degree temperatures. Although the group maintained a policy of non-violence, the leader Mrs. Luper decided that if the sit-in failed the next step would be a boycott of Oklahoma city businesses.
1963 U.S.A. President John F. Kennedy Baby
7th August 1963 : Jacqueline Kennedy, wife of President John F. Kennedy, gave birth to a son today named Patrick Bouvier Kennedy.
7th August 1963 : Jacqueline Kennedy, wife of President John F. Kennedy, gave birth to a son today named Patrick Bouvier Kennedy.
1964 U.S.A. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
7th August 1964 : Gulf of Tonkin Resolution is passed which will allow President Lyndon B. Johnson authorization for increased use of military force in Southeast Asia, without a formal declaration of war by Congress.
The resolution is in response to the attack by three North Vietnamese torpedo boats on the US Destroyer Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin on August 2.
7th August 1964 : Gulf of Tonkin Resolution is passed which will allow President Lyndon B. Johnson authorization for increased use of military force in Southeast Asia, without a formal declaration of war by Congress.
The resolution is in response to the attack by three North Vietnamese torpedo boats on the US Destroyer Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin on August 2.
1972 Uganda Expels Asians From Country
7th August 1972 : The Ugandan leader, Idi Amin, has ordered most Asians ( estimated to be 60,000 ) to leave the country of Uganda within 90 days or face the consequences. Most Asians in Uganda are British Passport Holders and are expected to move to the UK many have been in the country for two generations and are the backbone to the Ugandan economy running local shops and other businesses, the reasons for the expulsions are the resentment by the black majority over their success.
When the Asians were thrown out 30,000 did emigrate to Britain but arrived with no money as they were not compensated for their businesses .
7th August 1972 : The Ugandan leader, Idi Amin, has ordered most Asians ( estimated to be 60,000 ) to leave the country of Uganda within 90 days or face the consequences. Most Asians in Uganda are British Passport Holders and are expected to move to the UK many have been in the country for two generations and are the backbone to the Ugandan economy running local shops and other businesses, the reasons for the expulsions are the resentment by the black majority over their success.
When the Asians were thrown out 30,000 did emigrate to Britain but arrived with no money as they were not compensated for their businesses .
1974 U.S.A. Philippe Petit
7th August 1974 : French stunt man Philippe Petit walked a tightrope between the twin towers of the nearly completed New York's World Trade Center. The stunt was illegal and when he went to court because of the news coverage and public appreciation he was ordered "to perform a show for the children of New York City" and later was also presented with a lifetime pass to the Twin Towers' Observation Deck by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
7th August 1974 : French stunt man Philippe Petit walked a tightrope between the twin towers of the nearly completed New York's World Trade Center. The stunt was illegal and when he went to court because of the news coverage and public appreciation he was ordered "to perform a show for the children of New York City" and later was also presented with a lifetime pass to the Twin Towers' Observation Deck by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
1978 Vatican Pope Paul VI Dies
7th August 1978 : Pope Paul VI died at the age of 80. He had been the pontiff for the last 15 years, guiding over 500 million Catholics. His body will be transported to the Vatican and nine days of mourning will be observed. The pope will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica.
7th August 1978 : Pope Paul VI died at the age of 80. He had been the pontiff for the last 15 years, guiding over 500 million Catholics. His body will be transported to the Vatican and nine days of mourning will be observed. The pope will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica.
1990 Kuwait Operation Desert Shield
7th August 1990 : Following the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq troops President George Herbert Walker Bush orders the organization of Operation Desert Shield with American troops becoming part of an international coalition in the war against Iraq .
7th August 1990 : Following the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq troops President George Herbert Walker Bush orders the organization of Operation Desert Shield with American troops becoming part of an international coalition in the war against Iraq .
1998 Africa US Embassies Bombed
7th August 1998 : The Islamic fundamentalist terrorist organization al-Qaeda ( run by Osama bin Laden ) is believed responsible for the bombings today of two United States Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania where at least 200 people have been killed and more than 5,000 injured . US President Bill Clinton is shocked and has made a statement "We will use all the means at our disposal to bring those responsible to justice,".
7th August 1998 : The Islamic fundamentalist terrorist organization al-Qaeda ( run by Osama bin Laden ) is believed responsible for the bombings today of two United States Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania where at least 200 people have been killed and more than 5,000 injured . US President Bill Clinton is shocked and has made a statement "We will use all the means at our disposal to bring those responsible to justice,".
2004 U.S.A. Iraq Prisoners Abuse
7th August 2004 : Sgt. Joseph Darby agonized for a month before he reported that his fellow soldiers were abusing Iraqi prisoners. He turned in two CD’s of photos that revealed inmates hooded and naked being led around on a leash like dogs. Darby found it hard to submit the photos, because the soldiers who committed the dishonorable acts were his friends.
7th August 2004 : Sgt. Joseph Darby agonized for a month before he reported that his fellow soldiers were abusing Iraqi prisoners. He turned in two CD’s of photos that revealed inmates hooded and naked being led around on a leash like dogs. Darby found it hard to submit the photos, because the soldiers who committed the dishonorable acts were his friends.
2005 Pacific Ocean Sub Rescued
7th August 2005 : A Russian Priz AS-28 mini-submarine, with seven crew members on board, is rescued from deep in the Pacific Ocean by a British Scorpio-45 rescue sub .
7th August 2005 : A Russian Priz AS-28 mini-submarine, with seven crew members on board, is rescued from deep in the Pacific Ocean by a British Scorpio-45 rescue sub .
1911 U.S.A. Anna Boyd
7th August 1911 : Two men and a woman were charged in Fulton, MO with poisoning children with strychnine-laced chewing gum. The children belonged to families who had testified against Anna Boyd in her lawsuit against prominent doctor, W.B. Boyd. Boyd was suing the physician with defamation of her character and wanted $10,000 in damages.
7th August 1911 : Two men and a woman were charged in Fulton, MO with poisoning children with strychnine-laced chewing gum. The children belonged to families who had testified against Anna Boyd in her lawsuit against prominent doctor, W.B. Boyd. Boyd was suing the physician with defamation of her character and wanted $10,000 in damages.
1924 U.S.A. Dr. Robert Grier LaConte
7th August 1924 : In Philadelphia, prominent surgeon, Dr. Robert Grier LaConte, an internationally acclaimed doctor shot himself in the head. His suicide note indicated that he killed himself because of financial difficulties. Dr. LaConte served as lieutenant commander and was on a medical advisory board in World War I. He was decorated with many military honours and served on many prestigious scientific committees.
7th August 1924 : In Philadelphia, prominent surgeon, Dr. Robert Grier LaConte, an internationally acclaimed doctor shot himself in the head. His suicide note indicated that he killed himself because of financial difficulties. Dr. LaConte served as lieutenant commander and was on a medical advisory board in World War I. He was decorated with many military honours and served on many prestigious scientific committees.
1983 U.S.A. Medicare Mix Up
7th August 1983 : Zenie Finkelstein was a 72 year old Holocaust survivor who had endured the horrors of Auschwitz. However, a bureaucratic blunder in June declared that she was deceased and cancelled her Medicare records. However, Finkelstein has been resurrected again by the Social Security Administration and her doctor’s efforts. She exclaimed, “I was in six concentration camps and I never had as much trouble as this.”
7th August 1983 : Zenie Finkelstein was a 72 year old Holocaust survivor who had endured the horrors of Auschwitz. However, a bureaucratic blunder in June declared that she was deceased and cancelled her Medicare records. However, Finkelstein has been resurrected again by the Social Security Administration and her doctor’s efforts. She exclaimed, “I was in six concentration camps and I never had as much trouble as this.”
1995 U.S.A. Interactive Television
7th August 1995 : Interactive television is the buzz word in technology this year. It would allow people to order groceries, do banking, or get movies without leaving home. A few test sites have sprung up but interactive television is unlikely to go main stream soon. The Daily Herald explains, “Ameritech aimed to deliver the technology to 1 million people in 1996, but now is working to deliver just regular cable service to 200,000 households.”
7th August 1995 : Interactive television is the buzz word in technology this year. It would allow people to order groceries, do banking, or get movies without leaving home. A few test sites have sprung up but interactive television is unlikely to go main stream soon. The Daily Herald explains, “Ameritech aimed to deliver the technology to 1 million people in 1996, but now is working to deliver just regular cable service to 200,000 households.”
