September 7th, 2008

Today in History

1988:
Abdul Ahad Mohmand, the first Afghan in space, returns aboard the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz TM-5 after 9 days on the Mir space station

1977:
The Torrijos-Carter Treaties between Panama and the United States on the status of the Panama Canal are signed. The US agrees to transfer control of the canal to Panama at the end of the 20th century.

1953:
Nikita Khrushchev becomes head of the Soviet Central Committee.

1812:
Napoleon defeats the Russian army of Alexander I near the village of Borodino.

1776:
World's first submarine attack. The American submersible craft Turtle attempts to attach a time bomb to the hull of British Admiral Richard Howe's flagship Eagle in New York Harbor.