Today in History for Sept. 7, 2015

Joe Cronin in 1937.

Sept. 7, 1776 – During the American Revolutionary War, according to American colonial reports, Ezra Lee made the world's first submarine attack in the Turtle, attempting to attach a time bomb to the hull of British Admiral Richard Howe’s flagship, the HMS Eagle, in New York Harbor (no British records of this attack exist). The bomb exploded but did not do damage to either craft. This is considered the first use of a submarine in warfare.

Sept. 7, 1778 – During the American Revolutionary War, France invaded Dominica in the British West Indies, before Britain was even aware of France's involvement in the war.

Sept. 7, 1813 - The nickname "Uncle Sam" was first used as a symbolic reference to the United States when a reference to is appeared in an editorial in the New York's Troy Post. Samuel Wilson, a meat packer in New York, supplied barrels of beef to the US Army during the War of 1812, and marked them with the initials "U.S." for United States. Soldiers began referring to the food as "Uncle Sam's," and a local newspaper picked up the story.

Sept. 7, 1815 – Scottish explorer and surveyor John McDouall Stuart was born in Dysart, Fife, Scotland. He became one of the most accomplished of all Australia's inland explorers and led the first successful expedition to traverse the Australian mainland from south to north and return, through the centre of the continent. The explorations of Stuart eventually resulted in the 1863 annexation of a huge area of country to the Government of South Australia, an area that became known as the Northern Territory.

Sept. 7, 1825 – Benjamin Hunt was commissioned as Monroe County, Alabama’s Sheriff.

Sept. 7, 1825 – During his tour of the United Sates, the Marquis de Lafayette left Washington D.C. and returned to France on the frigate USS Brandywine.

Sept. 7, 1831 – Samuel McColl was commissioned for his second of three terms as Monroe County, Alabama’s Circuit Court Clerk, and George Medlock was commissioned as Monroe County’s Sheriff.

Sept. 7, 1863 – Confederates evacuated Battery Wagner on Morris Island near Charleston, S.C.

Sept. 7, 1863 - Union forces arrived at Sabine Pass, Texas. The next day their attack was thwarted by a small Confederate force.

Sept. 7, 1863 – During the Civil War, a skirmish occurred at Stevenson in Jackson County, Alabama.

Sept. 7, 1864 – During the Civil War, in preparation for his “March to the Sea,” Union General William T. Sherman ordered the residents of Atlanta, Ga., to evacuate the city. Between September 11 and 16 about 446 families (about 1,600 people) left their homes and possessions. Sherman wrote, "I have deemed it to the interest of the United States that the citizens now residing in Atlanta should remove, those who prefer it to go South, and the rest North."

Sept. 7, 1870 – Russian pilot, explorer, and author Aleksandr Kuprin was born in Narovchat, Penza, Governorate, Russian Empire. In addition to being an explorer, he was also a writer, pilot and adventurer, who is perhaps best known for his 1905 story, “The Duel.”

Sept. 7, 1876 – In Huntsville, Ala., legend says that Jesse James robbed the First National Bank of $10,000 at two o’clock in the afternoon. This robbery was never committed or even attempted, but the legend persists.

Sept. 7, 1881 - Alabama author Sidney Lanier passed away from complications from tuberculosis at the age of 39 in Lynn, N.C.

Sept. 7, 1887 – Modernist poet Edith Sitwell was born in Scarborough, England.

Sept. 7, 1903 – Writer and missionary Margaret Landon was born in Somers, Wisc.

Sept. 7, 1909 – Evergreen, Alabama’s Second District Agricultural School and City School opened with a “fairly good enrollment of pupils.” Henry T. Lile was the president of the Agricultural School.

Sept. 7, 1914 - The Monroe County Teachers Institute convened in the Monroe County High School auditorium with 73 teachers enrolled.

Sept. 7, 1914 – Charlie Howard shot L&N Railroad bridgeman J.L. Andress four times, and Andress was rushed to Century, Fla. for surgery. Andress, 23, passed away two days later around 9 a.m.

Sept. 7, 1925 – The 1925-26 school year opened at the Conecuh County High School in Castleberry, Ala. with J.B. Murphy as principal.

Sept. 7, 1927 - Inventor Philo T. Farnsworth and assistants successfully transmitted the first all-electronic television image.

Sept. 7, 1931 – Both of Evergreen, Alabama’s schools – the Agricultural School and City School -  opened the 1931-32 school year with a joint program held in the City School auditorium at 9 a.m.

Sept. 7, 1931 – Conecuh County High School at Castleberry, Ala. opened for the 1931-32 school year, the school’s 18th session, with a new principal, William English of Elba. English was the school’s seventh principal since its establishment in 1914. The principals, and years served, up to that point, were as follows: 1914-18, Sarah E. Luther; 1918-19, Lewey Dorman; 1919-22, Sellers Stough; 1922-26, J.B. Murphy; 1926-28, L.C. Kersh; 1928-31, Geo. M. Veazey; 1931- William English.

Sept. 7-9, 1933 – “Under Cover Man,” starring Nancy Carroll and Geo. Raft, and “Blue of the Night,” starring Bing Crosby, were scheduled to be shown at the Evergreen Theatre in Evergreen, Ala.

Sept. 7, 1939 – The Monroe Journal newspaper in Monroeville, Ala. reported that Mr. and Mrs. Joe Capote and Seaborn Faulk had returned to New York, after spending a week with Misses Nannie and Jennie Faulk. They were accompanied home by Truman Capote, who had spent the summer in Monroeville.

Sept. 7, 1939 – In the first game of the Interstate Baseball League championship series, Flomaton beat Evergreen, 10-5.

Sept. 7, 1962 - Author Elizabeth Dewberry was born in Birmingham, Ala.

Sept. 7, 1963 – The Pro Football Hall of Fame opened in Canton, Ohio with 17 charter members.

Sept. 7, 1965 – The first full day of classes in Monroe County schools for the 1965-66 school year took place, following registration for students at all schools on Sept. 3. R.H. Vickery was county superintendent of education.

Sept. 7, 1977 - The Panama Canal treaties were signed by U.S. President Carter and General Omar Torrijos Herrera. The treaties called for the U.S. to turn over control of the canal's waterway to Panama in the year 2000.

Sept. 7, 1978 – The Evergreen Courant reported that the finishing touches were being made to complete the improvements of the ‘home side’ bleachers at Sparta Academy’s Stuart-McGehee Field in Evergreen, Ala. The splintered, wooden seats were being covered with concrete.

  

Sept. 7, 1979 - ESPN, the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, made its debut on cable TV.

Sept. 7, 1984 – National Baseball Hall of Fame short stop and manager Joe Cronin passed away at the age of 77 in Osterville, Mass. During his career, he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Washington Senators and the Boston Red Sox and he went on to manage the Senators and Red Sox. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1956.

Sept. 7, 1986 - Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins threw his 100th career touchdown pass, in only his 44th NFL game, which set a NFL record.

Sept. 7, 1998 - Mark McGwire set a new Major League Baseball record for most home runs hit in a single season. The previous record was 61 set in 1961.

Sept. 7, 2001 - Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants became the only the fifth player in Major League Baseball history to hit 60 home runs in a season.

Sept. 7, 2004 – Hurricane Ivan, a Category 5 hurricane hit Grenada, killing 39 and damaging 90 percent of its buildings.