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On This Day in History — February 7
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Highlights of February 7
- 2014 — An inquiry report of the United Nations Human Rights Council found systematic and wide-ranging violations of human rights in North Korea. Read more
- 2014 — Researchers announced the discovery of the Happisburgh footprints in Norfolk, England, the oldest known hominid footprints outside Africa, at more than 800,000 years old. Read more
- 2005 — President Ilham Aliyev issued a decree on the redenomination of Azerbaijan's currency, with 1 new manat equal to 5000 old manats. Read more
- 1999 — Abdullah II became the reigning King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan following the death of his father King Hussein. Read more
- 1997 — Steve Jobs returned to Apple Inc. as a consultant after the company's acquisition of his technology startup NeXT. Read more
- 1995 — Ramzi Yousef, one of the main perpetrators of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the bombing of Philippine Airlines Flight 434, was arrested in Islamabad, Pakistan. Read more
- 1994 — Having retired four months earlier, American basketball player Michael Jordan signed a contract with the Chicago White Sox to play baseball. Read more
- 1992 — The Maastricht Treaty, which led to the formation of the European Union, was signed by the member states of the European Communities. Read more
- 1991 — The Troubles: The Provisional Irish Republican Army shelled 10 Downing Street with mortars in a failed attempt to assassinate British prime minister John Major. Read more
- 1986 — President of Haiti Jean-Claude Duvalier fled the country after a popular uprising, ending 28 years of one-family rule in the nation. Read more
- 1984 — During the Space Shuttle Challenger mission STS-41-B, astronauts Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart performed the first untethered spacewalk (pictured). Read more
- 1948 — Neil Harvey became the youngest Australian to score a century in Test cricket. Read more
- 1943 — World War II: Japan successfully withdrew its troops from Guadalcanal. Read more
- 1941 — Soviet border guards opened fire on civilians attempting to cross the border from the Soviet Union to Romania near Lunca, killing several hundred people. Read more
- 1940 — Walt Disney's Pinocchio, the first animated feature to win a competitive Academy Award, debuted at the Center Theatre in New York City. Read more
- 1914 — Kid Auto Races at Venice, featuring the first appearance of comedy actor Charlie Chaplin's character the Tramp, was released. Read more
- 1900 — A Chinese immigrant in San Francisco fell ill with the bubonic plague in the first epidemic of the disease in the continental United States. Read more
- 1900 — Second Boer War: British troops made a third unsuccessful attempt to lift the siege of Ladysmith in the Battle of Vaal Krantz. Read more
- 1865 — The trustees of Seattle enacted an ordinance that expelled Native Americans from the newly incorporated town. Read more
- 1813 — Napoleonic Wars: Two evenly matched frigates, the French Aréthuse and the British Amelia, battled to a stalemate (pictured) at the Îles de Los off the Guinean coast. Read more
- 1795 — The Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution, limiting the ability of U.S. citizens and foreign nationals to sue U.S. states in federal courts, was ratified. Read more
- 1783 — American Revolutionary War: After three years and seven months, Spain and France abandoned their attempt (pictured) to capture Gibraltar from the British. Read more
- 1497 — Supporters of the Dominican preacher Girolamo Savonarola collected and publicly burned thousands of vanity items such as cosmetics, art and books in Florence, Italy. Read more
- 1365 — Albert, King of Sweden, granted a charter to the town of Ulvila, the third-oldest city in Finland. Read more
- 457 — Leo I (pictured), who ruled for nearly 20 years, was crowned Byzantine emperor. Read more
Events
- 2024 — Pakistan election offices are hit by twin bombings, killing at least 24 people a day before general elections. Read more
- 2021 — The 2021 Uttarakhand flood begins. Read more
- 2016 — North Korea launches Kwangmyŏngsŏng-4 into outer space violating multiple UN treaties and prompting condemnation from around the world. Read more
- 2014 — Scientists announce that the Happisburgh footprints in Norfolk, England, date back to more than 800,000 years ago, making them the oldest known hominid footprints outside Africa. Read more
- 2013 — The U.S. state of Mississippi officially certifies the Thirteenth Amendment, becoming the last state to approve the abolition of slavery. The Thirteenth Amendment was formally ratified by Mississippi in 1995. Read more
- 2012 — President Mohamed Nasheed of the Republic of Maldives resigns, after 23 days of anti-governmental protests calling for the release of the Chief Judge unlawfully arrested by the military. Read more
- 2009 — Bushfires in Victoria leave 173 dead in the worst natural disaster in Australia's history. Read more
- 2001 — Space Shuttle program: Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on mission STS-98, carrying the Destiny laboratory module to the International Space Station. Read more
- 1999 — Crown Prince Abdullah becomes the King of Jordan on the death of his father, King Hussein. Read more
- 1995 — Ramzi Yousef, the mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, is arrested in Islamabad, Pakistan. Read more
- 1992 — The Maastricht Treaty is signed, leading to the creation of the European Union. Read more
- 1991 — Haiti's first democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, is sworn in. Read more
- 1991 — The Troubles: The Provisional IRA launches a mortar attack on 10 Downing Street in London, the headquarters of the British government. Read more
- 1990 — Dissolution of the Soviet Union: The Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party agrees to give up its monopoly on power. Read more
- 1986 — Twenty-eight years of one-family rule end in Haiti, when President Jean-Claude Duvalier flees the Caribbean nation. Read more
- 1984 — Space Shuttle program: STS-41-B Mission: astronauts Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart make the first untethered space walk using the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU). Read more
- 1981 — A plane crash at Pushkin Airport kills 50 people, including 16 members of the Pacific Fleet. Read more
- 1979 — Pluto moves inside Neptune's orbit for the first time since either was discovered. Read more
- 1974 — Grenada gains independence from the United Kingdom. Read more
- 1966 — The Great Fire of Iloilo breaks out in a lumber yard in Iznart Street and burns for almost half a day destroying nearly three-quarters of the City Proper area and Php 50 million pesos in total properties' damage. Read more
- 1964 — The Beatles land in the United States for the first time, at the newly renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport. Read more
- 1962 — The United States bans all Cuban imports and exports. Read more
- 1951 — Korean War: More than 700 suspected communist sympathizers are massacred by South Korean forces. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: In Anzio, Italy, German forces launch a counteroffensive during the Allied Operation Shingle. Read more
- 1943 — World War II: Imperial Japanese Navy forces complete the evacuation of Imperial Japanese Army troops from Guadalcanal during Operation Ke, ending Japanese attempts to retake the island from Allied forces in the Guadalcanal campaign. Read more
- 1940 — The second full-length animated Walt Disney film, Pinocchio, premieres. Read more
- 1904 — The Great Baltimore Fire begins in Baltimore, Maryland; it destroys over 1,500 buildings in 30 hours. Read more
- 1900 — Second Boer War: British troops fail in their third attempt to lift the Siege of Ladysmith. Read more
- 1900 — A Chinese immigrant in San Francisco falls ill to bubonic plague in the first plague epidemic in the continental United States. Read more
- 1898 — Dreyfus affair: Émile Zola is brought to trial for libel for publishing J'Accuse...! Read more
- 1894 — The Cripple Creek miner's strike, led by the Western Federation of Miners, begins in Cripple Creek, Colorado, United States. Read more
- 1863 — HMS Orpheus sinks off the coast of Auckland, New Zealand, killing 189. Read more
- 1854 — A law is approved to found the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. Lectures started October 16, 1855. Read more
- 1842 — Battle of Debre Tabor: Ras Ali Alula, Regent of the Emperor of Ethiopia defeats warlord Wube Haile Maryam of Semien. Read more
- 1819 — Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles leaves Singapore after just taking it over, leaving it in the hands of William Farquhar. Read more
- 1813 — In the action of 7 February 1813 near the Îles de Los, the frigates Aréthuse and Amelia batter each other, but neither can gain the upper hand. Read more
- 1812 — The strongest in a series of earthquakes strikes New Madrid, Missouri. Read more
- 1807 — Napoleonic Wars: Napoleon finds Bennigsen's Russian forces taking a stand at Eylau. After bitter fighting, the French take the town, but the Russians resume the battle the next day. Read more
- 1795 — The 11th Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified. Read more
- 1783 — American Revolutionary War: French and Spanish forces lift the Great Siege of Gibraltar. Read more
- 1756 — Guaraní War: The leader of the Guaraní rebels, Sepé Tiaraju, is killed in a skirmish with Spanish and Portuguese troops. Read more
- 1497 — In Florence, Italy, supporters of Girolamo Savonarola burn cosmetics, art, and books, in a "Bonfire of the vanities". Read more
- 1365 — Albert III of Mecklenburg (King Albert of Sweden) grants city rights to Ulvila (Swedish: Ulvsby). Read more
- 1313 — King Thihathu founds the Pinya Kingdom as the de jure successor state of the Pagan Kingdom. Read more
- 1301 — Edward of Caernarvon (later King Edward II of England) becomes the first English Prince of Wales. Read more
- 1285 — A synod at Blachernae convened by anti-Unionist Greek clergy condemns the former pro-Unionist patriarch John XI of Constantinople. Read more
- 987 — Bardas Phokas the Younger and Bardas Skleros, Byzantine generals of the military elite, begin a wide-scale rebellion against Emperor Basil II. Read more
- 457 — Leo I becomes the Eastern Roman emperor. Read more
Born on February 7
- 2007 — Diego Aguado, Spanish footballer Read more
- 2003 — Alessandro Fontanarosa, Italian footballer Read more
- 2002 — Shedeur Sanders, American football player Read more
- 2001 — R. J. Hampton, American basketball player Read more
- 2000 — Jayden Campbell, Australian rugby league player Read more
- 1999 — Omar Marmoush, Egyptian footballer Read more
- 1997 — Nicolò Barella, Italian footballer Read more
- 1997 — Anhelina Kalinina, Ukrainian tennis player Read more
- 1996 — Aaron Ekblad, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1996 — Pierre Gasly, French racing driver Read more
- 1995 — Tom Glynn-Carney, English actor and musician Read more
- 1995 — Roberto Osuna, Mexican baseball player Read more
- 1994 — Riley Barber, American ice hockey player Read more
- 1994 — Nathan Walker, Welsh-Australian ice hockey player Read more
- 1993 — Javon Hargrave, American football player Read more
- 1993 — Chris Mears, English diver Read more
- 1992 — Sergi Roberto, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1992 — Ksenia Stolbova, Russian figure skater Read more
- 1992 — Maimi Yajima, Japanese singer and actress Read more
- 1991 — Gabbie Hanna, American Internet personality and singer-songwriter Read more
- 1991 — Ryan O'Reilly, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1991 — Richard Pánik, Slovak ice hockey player Read more
- 1990 — Morris Claiborne, American football player Read more
- 1990 — Jacksepticeye, Irish YouTuber Read more
- 1990 — Gianluca Lapadula, Italian footballer Read more
- 1990 — Dalilah Muhammad, American hurdler Read more
- 1990 — Steven Stamkos, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1989 — Nick Calathes, American-Greek basketball player Read more
- 1989 — Isaiah Thomas, American basketball player Read more
- 1989 — Elia Viviani, Italian cyclist Read more
- 1988 — Ai Kago, Japanese singer and actress Read more
- 1988 — Matthew Stafford, American football player Read more
- 1987 — Joel Freeland, English basketball player Read more
- 1985 — Josh Hennessy, American ice hockey player Read more
- 1985 — Bernard James, American basketball player Read more
- 1985 — Tina Majorino, American actress Read more
- 1985 — Deborah Ann Woll, American actress Read more
- 1984 — Trey Hardee, American decathlete Read more
- 1984 — Jeremy Meeks, American model and actor Read more
- 1983 — Scott Feldman, American baseball player Read more
Died on February 7
- 2025 — Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Welsh academic and politician (born 1946) Read more
- 2025 — Tony Roberts, American actor and singer (born 1939) Read more
- 2020 — Li Wenliang, Chinese ophthalmologist who initially warned about COVID-19 (born 1985) Read more
- 2019 — John Dingell, American politician (born 1926) Read more
- 2019 — Albert Finney, English actor (born 1936) Read more
- 2019 — Jan Olszewski, Polish politician, 3rd Prime Minister (born 1930) Read more
- 2019 — Frank Robinson, American baseball player, coach, and manager (born 1935) Read more
- 2017 — Richard Hatch, American actor (born 1945) Read more
- 2017 — Hans Rosling, Swedish academic (born 1948) Read more
- 2017 — Tzvetan Todorov, Bulgarian philosopher (born 1939) Read more
- 2015 — Billy Casper, American golfer (born 1931) Read more
- 2015 — Marshall Rosenberg, American psychologist and author (born 1934) Read more
- 2015 — Dean Smith, American basketball player and coach (born 1931) Read more
- 2015 — John C. Whitehead, American banker and politician, 9th United States Deputy Secretary of State (born 1922) Read more
- 2014 — Doug Mohns, Canadian-American ice hockey player (born 1933) Read more
- 2013 — Krsto Papić, Croatian director and screenwriter (born 1933) Read more
- 2012 — Harry Keough, American soccer player and coach (born 1927) Read more
- 2010 — Franco Ballerini, Italian cyclist and coach (born 1964) Read more
- 2009 — Blossom Dearie, American singer and pianist (born 1924) Read more
- 2006 — Princess Durru Shehvar of the Ottoman Empire (born 1914) Read more
- 2005 — Atli Dam, Faroese engineer and politician, 5th Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands (born 1932) Read more
- 2003 — Augusto Monterroso, Guatemalan author (born 1921) Read more
- 2001 — Anne Morrow Lindbergh, American author and pilot (born 1906) Read more
- 2000 — Doug Henning, Canadian magician and politician (born 1947) Read more
- 1999 — King Hussein of Jordan (born 1935) Read more
- 1999 — Bobby Troup, American actor, pianist, and composer (born 1918) Read more
- 1994 — Witold Lutosławski, Polish composer and conductor (born 1913) Read more
- 1991 — Amos Yarkoni, Israeli colonel (born 1920) Read more
- 1990 — Alan Perlis, American computer scientist and academic (born 1922) Read more
- 1990 — Alfredo M. Santos, Filipino general (born 1905) Read more
- 1986 — Cheikh Anta Diop, Senegalese historian, anthropologist, and physicist (born 1923) Read more
- 1979 — Josef Mengele, German SS officer and physician (born 1911) Read more
- 1972 — Walter Lang, American director and screenwriter (born 1896) Read more
- 1968 — Nick Adams, American actor and screenwriter (born 1931) Read more
- 1964 — Sofoklis Venizelos, Greek captain and politician, 133rd Prime Minister of Greece (born 1894) Read more
- 1963 — Learco Guerra, Italian cyclist and manager (born 1902) Read more
- 1960 — Igor Kurchatov, Russian physicist and academic (born 1903) Read more
- 1959 — Nap Lajoie, American baseball player and manager (born 1874) Read more
- 1959 — Daniel François Malan, South African minister and politician, 5th Prime Minister of South Africa (born 1874) Read more
- 1959 — Guitar Slim, American singer and guitarist (born 1926) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Richard the Pilgrim; Christian feast day:
Blessed Eugénie Smet; Christian feast day:
John of Triora; Christian feast day:
Luke of Steiris; Christian feast day:
Blessed Petro Verhun; Christian feast day:
Blessed Pope Pius IX; Christian feast day:
Rosalie Rendu; Christian feast day:
Egidio Maria of Saint Joseph; Christian feast day:
February 7 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Christian feast day:
New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Orthodox Church Typically observed on the Sunday closest to January 25 (O.S.)/February 7 (N.S.); Independence Day (Grenada), celebrates the independence of Grenada from the United Kingdom in 1974.; National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (United States)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “February 7”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.