34 fun facts for October, 7
Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
Summary
October 7 is a day filled with groundbreaking events, remarkable achievements, and significant milestones in diverse fields like space exploration, literature, athletics, and technology. From Al Jolson revolutionizing the movies to the start of the war in Afghanistan, the date has seen both triumph and tragedy. Celebrate the day by learning something new, broadening your horizons, or simply enjoying your favorite frappe with a smile.
34 Fun facts
- October 7, 1776: Crown Prince Paul of Russia marries his first wife Wilhelmina Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt in a lavish ceremony in St. Petersburg. The union was politically motivated and the couple was not happy together, eventually separating.
- October 7, 1868: Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, opened its doors for the first time. The prestigious American university is part of the esteemed Ivy League and was founded by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White.
- October 7, 1886: The City of Anaheim, California, held its first annual Anaheim District Agricultural Fair. The Fair has grown over the years and now features a variety of exhibits and entertainment options for the whole community.
- October 7, 1916: Georgia Tech football team recorded the highest score in college football history, with a staggering 222-0 win against Cumberland College. Coach John Heisman led the team to victory, and the Heisman Trophy was later named in his honor.
- October 7, 1927: The first "talkie," "The Jazz Singer," starring Al Jolson, premiered. This film was a groundbreaking achievement, as it was the first feature-length movie with synchronized dialogue, singing, and music.
- October 7, 1931: American gangster Al Capone was convicted of tax evasion, leading to an 11-year prison sentence. He served part of his sentence in the infamous Alcatraz prison, located on an island off the coast of San Francisco.
- October 7, 1940: The United States established its first peacetime military draft with the passage of the Selective Service and Training Act. The draft aimed to bolster the country's armed forces in the face of the ongoing conflict in Europe during World War II.
- October 7, 1950: Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun and missionary, founded the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, India. The organization dedicated itself to serving the impoverished and ill, with Mother Teresa later being canonized as a saint.
- October 7, 1952: The popular children's book "Charlotte's Web" by E. B. White was published. This heartwarming story of friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a spider named Charlotte continues to captivate readers of all ages.
- October 7, 1959: Luna 3, a Soviet spacecraft, transmitted the first-ever photographs of the far side of the Moon. This feat greatly expanded human understanding of Earth's celestial neighbor.
- October 7, 1975: American novelist John Grisham, known for his legal thrillers, was born. His best-selling books include "A Time to Kill," "The Firm," and "The Pelican Brief."
- October 7, 1982: The musical "Cats" opened on Broadway, starting its record-setting run of 7,485 performances. The show by Andrew Lloyd Webber was based on T.S. Eliot's collection of poems, "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats."
- October 7, 1985: The passenger ship Achille Lauro was hijacked by Palestinian terrorists. The hijacking ended two days later when the terrorists surrendered, but the event sparked an international controversy when one of the hostages, Leon Klinghoffer, was killed during the ordeal.
- October 7, 1993: Toni Morrison became the first African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. Morrison's work includes the critically acclaimed novels "The Bluest Eye," "Song of Solomon," and "Beloved."
- October 7, 1996: The Fox News Channel, a cable news network, debuted in the United States. Founded by media mogul Rupert Murdoch, it has since become a major source of news and political commentary for many people across the country.
- October 7, 2001: The United States launched Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, marking the start of the U.S.-led war on terrorism following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
- October 7, 2003: Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California in a special recall election. The famous actor and former bodybuilder served as the state's governor until 2011.
- October 7, 2006: Jason Lewis completed his self-powered circumnavigation of the world, the first-ever recorded. He traveled over 45,000 miles by bike, rollerblades, kayak, and pedal-powered boat in the name of promoting sustainability and environmental awareness.
- October 7, 2008: Spotify, the popular music streaming service, was publicly launched. Since then, Spotify has become a dominant force in the music industry, with millions of subscribers and a vast library of songs.
- October 7, 2010: The Chilean mining accident ended as all 33 trapped miners were finally safely rescued after 69 days underground. The successful mission captivated worldwide attention.
- October 7, 2011: The iPhone 4S, Apple's fifth-generation smartphone, was unveiled. This iPhone model introduced the now-iconic voice assistant, Siri, to millions of users worldwide.
- October 7, 2014: Physician Craig Spencer became the first person in New York City diagnosed with the deadly Ebola virus. Dr. Spencer later recovered, and his case marked the end of the largest epidemic of Ebola in history.
- October 7, 2015 – Astronomers announced the discovery of LHS 1140b, a super-Earth exoplanet located 39 light-years away from Earth in the constellation of Cetus. The planet is believed to be rocky and potentially habitable.
- October 7 is the National Day of the Republic of China, also known as Taiwan. The day commemorates the start of the Wuchang Uprising in 1911, which eventually led to the fall of the Qing Dynasty and the founding of the Republic of China.
- October 7 is the official Battle of Angamos Day in Peru, which commemorates the country's naval victory over Chile during the War of the Pacific in 1879.
- October 7, 1998: Matthew Shepard, a student at the University of Wyoming, was beaten and left to die due to his sexual orientation. His death sparked a nationwide conversation about hate crimes and led to the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2009.
- October 7 is World Smile Day, a day dedicated to spreading happiness and acts of kindness with the goal of making people smile.
- October 7 is also National Frappe Day in the United States, which celebrates the beverage, usually made with coffee, milk, ice cream, or whipped cream, and sometimes a splash of flavored syrup.
- October 7 is National LED Light Day in the United States. This day aims to promote energy efficiency by replacing traditional light bulbs with more efficient LED bulbs, which use less energy and last longer.
- October 7 is also Bald and Free Day, where people celebrate the confidence and freedom of living without hair.
- October 7, 2006: The comedy film "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," starring Sacha Baron Cohen, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film became a box office success and received widespread critical acclaim.
- October 7, 2016: Musician Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the first and only songwriter to win the prestigious award.
- October 7, 2018: Running event The Kaveri Trail Marathon, took place in Srirangapatna, India. The marathon showcased the beautiful scenery along the banks of the Kaveri River, attracting runners from across India and the world.
- October 7, 2019: The 2019 Nobel Prize winners in Physiology or Medicine were announced. The prize was awarded jointly to William G. Kaelin Jr., Sir Peter J. Ratcliffe, and Gregg L. Semenza for their discoveries of how cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability.