This day in history: 7 december

43 BC: Marcus Tullius Cicero, the famed Roman orator and statesman, was assassinated in Formia on orders of Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony).
574: Byzantine Emperor Justin II, suffering from recurring insanity, adopted his general Tiberius and proclaimed him as Caesar, marking an important moment in Byzantine succession.
1724: The Tumult of Thorn (Toruń) occurred in Poland, where religious unrest led to the execution of nine Protestant citizens and the mayor by Polish authorities—an event reflecting the period’s religious tensions in Central Europe.
1431: In Paris, Henry VI of England was crowned King of France, a major event in the Hundred Years’ War and the complex dynastic politics between England and France.
1703: The Great Storm of 1703, considered the greatest windstorm ever recorded in southern Great Britain, made landfall, causing winds up to 120 mph and resulting in the deaths of 9,000 people.
1732: The Royal Opera House opened at Covent Garden, London, England, which would become a major center for the performing arts in Europe.
1642: The Battle of Tadcaster took place during the First English Civil War, with Royalist forces attacking the Parliamentarian garrison in Yorkshire.

Pearl Harbor Attack (1941)
The most significant event in American history on December 7 is the attack on Pearl Harbor. On the morning of December 7, 1941, Japanese aircraft launched a surprise assault on the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack killed over 2,400 Americans, wounded more than 1,100, destroyed or damaged 21 ships, and devastated more than 300 aircraft. This event directly led to the United States’ entry into World War II, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared war on Japan the following day.
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
December 7 is commemorated annually as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day in the United States. Ceremonies are held at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial and across the country to honor the memory of those who lost their lives during the attack.
1787: Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, earning its nickname “The First State”.
1837: The Battle of Montgomery’s Tavern, the only battle of the Upper Canada Rebellion, occurred in Toronto (then part of British North America).
1946: The deadliest hotel fire in U.S. history occurred at the Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, killing 119 people.

Attack on Pearl Harbor and the Wider Asian Theater (1941)
On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise aerial attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, marking a turning point in global and Asian history.
1782: Hyder Ali, ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore and a key figure in Indian resistance against British colonialism, died in Chittoor, India.
1825: The first steam-powered ship of the East India Company, the Enterprise, docked at Kolkata, marking a milestone in Indian maritime history.
1856: India saw its first officially organized Hindu widow remarriage, a significant social reform.
1949: India began observing Armed Forces Flag Day on December 7 to honor its military personnel, a tradition that continues to this day.
1995: The South Asian Preferential Trade Agreement (SAPTA) came into effect, boosting regional economic cooperation.
2004: Hamid Karzai was sworn in as Afghanistan’s first elected president, marking a new era in Afghan governance.

Berlin Conference and the “Scramble for Africa”
One of the most consequential events in African history associated with early December is the Berlin Conference (1884–1885), which began in mid-November and continued through February. While December 7 is not the exact start date, the conference was in full session on this day in 1884. European powers, under the leadership of German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, convened in Berlin to formalize rules for the partition of Africa, focusing especially on the Congo River basin. The conference accelerated the “Scramble for Africa,” leading to the division of the continent among European colonial powers, with little to no regard for existing African societies or boundaries.
Modern African Events on December 7
South Africa (1988): Nelson Mandela, then the imprisoned leader of the African National Congress (ANC), was transferred from Constantiaberg clinic to Victor Verster Prison. This move was a step toward his eventual release and the end of apartheid in South Africa.
South Africa (1973): Robert Resha, an ANC activist, journalist, and anti-apartheid campaigner, died on this day.
Ghana: December 7 is notable as the date for general elections in Ghana, which has become a hallmark of the country’s democratic process in the Fourth Republic.