On this day, September 7 - Know what happened today in history

On 7 September, history witnessed the tragic assassination of Bulgarian dissenter Georgi Markov, the signing of a landmark treaty over the Panama Canal, and the start of the devastating Blitz in London.

Sheetal Kumari

September 07, 2024 / 06:01 IST

Today in history, September 7

1978: The Umbrella Murder of Georgi Markov
On this day in 1978, Bulgarian writer and political dissenter, Georgi Markov, met a tragic and mysterious end in London. Having fled Bulgaria in 1969, Markov was working with the BBC when he was fatally attacked while crossing Waterloo Bridge. His assassin, infamously known as "Piccadilly," used a cleverly disguised umbrella to inject a ricin-laced pellet into Markov’s leg. The poison took its toll, and Markov succumbed to ricin poisoning four days later, on 11 September. This brazen act of political assassination remains one of the most notorious killings of the Cold War era.

1977: Treaty to Transfer the Panama Canal to Panama Signed
A significant shift in global maritime power occurred on this day in 1977 when the United States and Panama signed the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. These two pivotal agreements, negotiated between U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian leader General Omar Torrijos, granted Panama control over the Panama Canal, a critical shipping route that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The canal, initially constructed by the United States and under its control since 1904, marked a major turning point in Panama’s sovereignty and international relations.

1940: The Blitz Begins
London Under Siege On this day in 1940, Londoners awoke to the beginning of the Blitz, as the German Luftwaffe launched a relentless bombing campaign over the United Kingdom. The devastating air raids specifically targeted London for 57 consecutive nights, killing over 20,000 people and destroying more than a million homes. Despite the destruction, the British spirit remained unbroken. The Blitz continued until May 1941, but by then, German focus had shifted towards an invasion of the Soviet Union, sparing London further immediate bombardment.

1936: The Extinction of the Tasmanian Tiger
A somber moment in natural history occurred on 7 September 1936, as the last known Tasmanian Tiger, a carnivorous marsupial native to Australia and New Guinea, died in captivity at Hobart Zoo, Tasmania. The thylacine, as it was scientifically known, named Benjamin, succumbed to the harsh conditions of captivity and neglect. The species had been driven to extinction due to excessive hunting and the introduction of invasive species such as dingoes, marking a tragic loss in biodiversity.

Births on This Day – 7 September