On This Day August 7

1998
Al-Qaeda: Two US embassies in in Kenya and Tanzania, Africa are bombed by the terrorist organization. The attack in Nairobi, Kenya, kills 213 people, including 12 US nationals, and injures more than 4,500. The attack in Tanzania, kills 11 and injures 85.

1993
Buckingham Palace opens to the public: For $12 visitors can view the palace while Queen Elizabeth II and family are on vacation.

1992
The ship Queen Elizabeth II discovers an uncharted rock off of Cape Cod, causing a 74-foot gash forcing the evacuation of 1,815 people.

1992
New lawn mowers for old: The EPA announces it will swap your old gas powered mower for a new cordless electric mower (valued at $400).

1990
Gulf War: In response to Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait days earlier, the U.S. announces it will provide land, air, and naval support to Saudi Arabia.

1978
Love Canal: The area, near Niagara Falls, is declared a national disaster due to toxic waste.

1959
First photograph of Earth taken from space: The U.S. satellite Explorer VI is launched. It took its historic photo on August 14, showing a sun-lighted area of the Central Pacific ocean and its cloud cover.

1946
First U.S. coin to depict a black American: A 50¢ commemorative coin featuring Booker T. Washington is authorized. (Source: Famous First Facts)

1888
Jack the Ripper: The famous serial killer claims his first known victim. For three months he murdered and mutilated prostitutes in London's East End. He was never caught.

1794
Whiskey Rebellion: Pres. Washington orders the rebelling western Pennsylvania farmers to go home and calls for 15,000 militia. They were protesting an excise duty placed on stills and spirits distilled in the U.S.

1789
Congress gives the president the power to remove any U.S. officer, except judges.

1782
Purple Heart: General George Washington orders the creation of the Badge of Military Merit, which later became known as the Purple Heart.

1942
Garrison Keillor, American humorist. Radio: A Prairie Home Companion (host).

1929
Don Larsen, American baseball pitcher. He pitched the first perfect no-hitter World Series game (1956).

1928
James Randi (Randall James Hamilton Zwinge), Canadian magician, skeptic, pseudoscience debunker. His One Million Dollar Challenge offers a $1,000,000 prize (USD) to anyone who is able to demonstrate any paranormal, supernatural, or occult power or event, under test conditions agreed to by both parties.

1927 d. 1959
Carl Switzer, American actor. Film: Alfalfa of The Little Rascals, It's a Wonderful Life (1946, Freddie Othello). He was shot to death, after attacking a man with a knife, during an argument over $50.

1926
Stan Freberg, American satirist, recorded the #1 hit St. George and the Dragonet (1953) a parody of the TV show Dragnet. It opened with "The legend you are about to here is true; only the needle should be changed to protect the record."

1903 d. 1972
Louis S.B. Leaky, British anthropologist. He discovered the oldest-known manlike remains (1960), those of a 1,750,000-year-old juvenile.

1885 d. 1970
Billie Burke, American actress. Film: The Wizard of Oz (1939, the Good Witch Glinda).

1876 d. 1917
Mata Hari (Margaret Gertrude Zelle), Dutch dancer, world's most famous spy. She refused a blind fold and blew a kiss to the firing squad before her execution.

1795 d. 1820
Joseph Rodman Drake, American poet. Writings: The Culprit Fay (1816) and The American Flag (1819).

1783 d. 1861
John Heathcoat, English manufacturer. He invented a lacemaking machine (1808) which was considered by far to be the most complicated machine of its time.

2005 b. 1938
Peter Charles Jennings, Canadian-born TV news reporter. He scored 100 out of 100 on the U.S. citizenship exam. He was a high school drop out.

1999 b. 1925
Wally Albright (Walton Algernon Albright, Jr.), American actor, one of the Little Rascals, appeared in six Our Gang films (1934, Wally). Won the Men's National Track and Ski Championship (1957).

1957 b. 1892
Oliver Hardy (Oliver Norvell Hardy), American comedian, actor. He made over 100 films with partner Stan Laurel.

1929 b. 1860
Victor Louis Berger, Transylvanian-born American politician. He was the first socialist elected to the U.S. Congress (1910, House of Representatives for Wisconsin) and was one of the founders of the Socialist Party (1900).

1905 b. 1819
Alexander Melville Bell, American teacher, inventor of visual speech for the hearing impaired.

1834 b. 1752
Joseph Marie Jacquard, French inventor. He invented the first programmable loom capable of weaving figured patterns (1801).

August 7

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