1741
Law
Vow to abolish capital punishment during her reign
Immediately after seizing the throne, Elizabeth reportedly vowed never to sign a death warrant, effectively suspending capital punishment for her entire reign.
View detailsThis Day
07December
23 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1873
Literature
Birth of Willa Cather
Willa Sibert Cather was born on December 7, 1873, in Virginia.
View details1893
Activism
Birth in Pensacola, Florida
Paula Herskovitz (later Ackerman) was born in Pensacola, Florida, United States.
View details1900
Science
Arrival in Cape Town to inspect concentration camps
Hobhouse sailed to Cape Town, arriving 7 December 1900, to investigate British concentration camps holding Boer women and children.
View details1902
1907
Medicine
First national U.S. Christmas Seal drive inspired by Emily Bissell
First national U.S. Christmas Seal drive launched, crediting Emily Bissell as originator of the American Christmas Seal campaign.
View details1913
Literature
Birth of Kersti Merilaas
Kersti Merilaas was born on December 7, 1913, in Narva, Estonia.
View details1934
Arts
Release of the film 'Zouzou'
The French film 'Zouzou,' starring Josephine Baker, was released in France.
View details1934
Politics
First woman Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
Sworn in as the first woman Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, then the highest‑ranking woman in the department.
View details1941
Medicine
Chief nurse leadership during the Pearl Harbor attack
As chief nurse at Hickam Field, Annie G. Fox led emergency medical response during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
View details1941
Science
Heroism during the attack on Pearl Harbor aboard USS West Virginia
During the Pearl Harbor attack, Miller carried wounded sailors to safety and manned an anti-aircraft gun despite no weapons training, becoming a national hero.
View details1941
Medicine
Pearl Harbor attack and wartime service
On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, drawing Bradley into WWII service.
View details1944
Aviation
Public recognition by Gen. Hap Arnold of her jet‑flight first
Gen. Hap Arnold publicly cites Ann Baumgartner Carl as the first woman to fly a U.S. jet fighter when addressing the final WASP class.
View details1951
Arts
Official La Scala debut in I Vespri Siciliani
Official contracted La Scala debut as Princess Elena in Verdi’s I Vespri Siciliani, beginning her dominant decade at the theater.
View details1960
1979
Science
Death of Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin passed away from lung cancer in Tewksbury, Massachusetts.
View details1981
Science
Death of Ava Helen Pauling
Ava Helen Pauling died of stomach cancer on December 7, 1981, in Portola Valley, California, at age 77.
View details1984
Arts
Cecil B. DeMille Award
Lucille Ball received the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in motion pictures.
View details1987
Politics
Inaugurated as 63rd Mayor of Hartford
Perry was sworn in as Hartford's 63rd mayor, formally beginning her historic tenure as the city's first Black woman mayor.
View details2006
Politics
Death in Bethesda, Maryland
Jeane J. Kirkpatrick died at age 80 in Bethesda, Maryland, ending a career as a scholar, diplomat, and pioneering woman in U.S. foreign policy.
View details2009
Science
Elizabeth Blackburn’s Nobel Lecture
Elizabeth Blackburn presents her Nobel Lecture on telomeres and telomerase at Karolinska Institutet.
View details2015
2021
Sports
Retirement from international judo competition
Kelmendi announces her retirement from competitive judo, closing a career highlighted by Olympic gold and multiple world titles.
View details