September 7 in history — What Happened Today in History

Desmond Tutu becomes the first black man to lead the Anglican Diocese of Cape Town.

Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet survives an assassination attempt by the FPMR; five of Pinochet's bodyguards are killed.

An explosion on board a Maltese patrol boat disposing of illegal fireworks at sea off Gozo kills seven soldiers and policemen.

The Chrysler Corporation asks the United States government for US$1.5 billion to avoid bankruptcy.

While walking across Waterloo Bridge in London, Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov is assassinated by Bulgarian secret police agent Francesco Gullino by means of a ricin pellet fired from a specially designed umbrella.

The Torrijos–Carter Treaties between Panama and the United States on the status of the Panama Canal are signed. The United States agrees to transfer control of the canal to Panama at the end of the 20th century.

The 300-metre (980 ft) tall CKVR-DT transmission tower in Barrie, Ontario, Canada, is hit by a light aircraft in a fog, causing it to collapse. All aboard the aircraft are killed.

Fighting begins between Arab guerrillas and government forces in Jordan.

Vietnam Television is established.

During an Indo-Pakistani War, China announces that it will reinforce its troops on the Indian border.

Vietnam War: In a follow-up to August's Operation Starlite, United States Marines and South Vietnamese forces initiate Operation Piranha on the Batangan Peninsula.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame opens in Canton, Ohio with 17 charter members.

Nikita Khrushchev is elected first secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

World War II: Japanese forces on Wake Island, which they had held since December 1941, surrender to U.S. Marines.

The Berlin Victory Parade of 1945 is held.

A fire at the Gulf Hotel in Houston kills 55 people.

World War II: The German 17th Army begins its evacuation of the Kuban bridgehead (Taman Peninsula) in southern Russia and moves across the Strait of Kerch to the Crimea.

World War II: Japanese marines are forced to withdraw during the Battle of Milne Bay.

Romania returns Southern Dobruja to Bulgaria under the Treaty of Craiova.

World War II: The German Luftwaffe begins the Blitz, bombing London and other British cities for over 50 consecutive nights.

The last thylacine, a carnivorous marsupial, dies alone in its cage at the Hobart Zoo in Tasmania.

The Battle of Boquerón, the first major battle of the Chaco War, commences.

Steamer Kuru capsizes and sinks on Lake Näsijärvi near Tampere in Finland. One hundred thirty-six lives are lost.

The first fully electronic television system is achieved by Philo Farnsworth.

The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) is formed.

In Atlantic City, New Jersey, the first Miss America Pageant, a two-day event, is held.

The Legion of Mary, the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church, is founded in Dublin, Ireland.

Two newly purchased Savoia flying boats crash in the Swiss Alps en route to Finland where they were to serve with the Finnish Air Force, killing both crews.

Jenna McCormick, Australian soccer and Australian Rules Football player

Isel Suñiga, Guatemalan politician

Eva Buurman, Dutch professional racing cyclist

Irina Fetisova, Russian volleyball player

Herman Ese'ese, New Zealand rugby league player

Tom Opacic, Australian rugby league player

Kento Yamazaki, Japanese actor

Miniminter, English YouTuber

Dale Finucane, Australian rugby league player

Amar Garibović, Serbian skier (died 2010)

Lee Jung-hwan, South Korean professional golfe

Libor Hudáček, Slovak ice hockey player

Fedor Klimov, Russian figure skater

Ilja Hurník, Czech playwright and composer (born 1922)

César Fernández Ardavín, Spanish director and screenwriter (born 1923)

Aleksandr Maksimenkov, Russian footballer and manager (born 1952)

Victims of the 2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash:

Amar Garibović, Serbian skier (born 1991)

William H. Goetzmann, American historian and author (born 1930)

John Kluge, German-American businessman (born 1914)

Glenn Shadix, American actor (born 1952)

Ilarion Ciobanu, Romanian rugby player and actor (born 1931)

Nagi Noda, Japanese director and producer (born 1973)

Warren Zevon, American singer-songwriter (born 1947)

Uziel Gal, German-Israeli colonel and gun designer, designed the Uzi (born 1923)

Igor Buketoff, American conductor and educator (born 1915)