April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 268 days remain until the end of the year.
We have some interesting facts & historic events all about April 7th, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.
Keep reading for more interesting facts about April 7th in history!
Table of Contents
Global Celebrations
- World Health Day
- International Beaver Day
- National Beer Day
- National No Housework Day
- National DIY Day
Historic Events
What Happened On This Day – April 7
1990: An arson attack on the passenger ferry, Scandinavian Star, kills 159
Insurance fraud is today considered the most likely motive for the attack. According to a 2013 report, 9 crew members started the fire and sabotaged the fire crew’s attempts to extinguish the blaze.
1969: The internet is born
The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) awarded a contract to build a precursor of today’s world wide web to BBN Technologies. The date is widely considered as the internet’s symbolic birthday.
1948: The World Health Organization is established
The WHO is a United Nations agency concerned with fighting disease and epidemics worldwide, building up national health services, and improving health education in its 194 member states.
1827: The first friction match is soldEnglish chemist John Walker produced and sold the first operable matches. They were soon banned in France and Germany because burning fragments would sometimes fall to the floor and start fires.
1724 Johann Sebastian Bach’s St. John Passion is premiered
The sacred oratorio is the oldest extant Passion by the German composer. The highly popular work is a dramatization of the final days of Jesus Christ, according to the Gospel of John.
1991: USAF aircraft fly over burning Kuwaiti oil wells (1991)

1952, Connaught Place, Delhi

1939: Battle of Khalkin Gol, 1939. Where Soviets drove Imperial Japanese forces out of Mongolia.

Adolf Hitler and Helga Goebbels – 1935

1827: English chemist John Walker invents wooden matches in 1827.
1805: Premiere of Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Eroica”, in Vienna, conducted by the composer in 1805.
1795: France adopts the metre as the basic measure of length in 1795.
Famous Birthdays
Births On This Day, April 7
1964: Russell Crowe, New Zealand/Australian actor, singer, producer
1954: Jackie Chan, Chinese actor, martial artist, director, producer, screenwriter
1939: Francis Ford Coppola, American director, producer, screenwriter
1920: Ravi Shankar, Indian/American sitar player, composer
1915: Billie Holiday, American singer-songwriter, actress
Jackie Chan was born.
Ravi Shankar was born.
Anne Marie was born.
Heartbreaking Deaths
Deaths On This Day, April 7
1947: Henry Ford, American businessman, founded the Ford Motor Company
1891: P. T. Barnum, American businessman, founded Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus
1804: Toussaint Louverture, Haitian general
1782: Taksin, Thai king
1614: El Greco, Greek painter, sculptor
Henry Ford died.
Toussaint Louverture died.
Jacques Charles died.