On This Day: December 7th

Marcus Tullius Cicero is assassinated in Formia on orders of Marcus Antonius.

First concert of the New York Philharmonic, founded by Ureli Corelli Hill.

The Battle of Montgomery's Tavern, the only battle of the Upper Canada Rebellion, takes place in Toronto, where the rebels are quickly defeated.

Delaware becomes the first state to ratify the United States Constitution.

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, arranges to enter the American military as a major general.

The Royal Opera House opens at Covent Garden, London, England.

Tumult of Thorn: Religious unrest is followed by the execution of nine Protestant citizens and the mayor of Thorn (Toruń) by Polish authorities.

The Great Storm of 1703, the greatest windstorm ever recorded in the southern part of Great Britain, makes landfall. Winds gust up to 120 mph, and 9,000 people die.

The Sajid emir of Adharbayjan, Yusuf ibn Abi'l-Saj is defeated and captured by the Qarmatians near Kufa.

Byzantine Emperor Justin II, suffering recurring seizures of insanity, adopts his general Tiberius and proclaims him as Caesar.