✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 7th day of the year

January 7

A look at January 7 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Caster Semenya and Joseph Bonaparte, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♑ZodiacCapricorn ◈BirthstoneGarnet ❀Birth flowerCarnation
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2012

    Hot air balloon

    A hot air balloon crashes near Carterton, New Zealand, killing all 11 people on board.

    Lighter-than-air aircraft
  2. 1993

    History of Ghana

    The Fourth Republic of Ghana is inaugurated with Jerry Rawlings as president.

    History
  3. 1984

    Brunei

    Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

    Country in Southeast Asia
  4. 1959

    Cuba

    The United States recognizes the new Cuban government of Fidel Castro.

    Country in the Caribbean
  5. 1955

    Marian Anderson

    Contralto Marian Anderson becomes the first person of color to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in Giuseppe Verdi's Un ballo in maschera.

    African-American contralto (1897–1993)
  6. 1948

    Kentucky Air National Guard

    Kentucky Air National Guard pilot Thomas Mantell crashes while in pursuit of a supposed UFO.

    Unit of the US
  7. 1931

    Guy Menzies

    Guy Menzies flies the first solo non-stop trans-Tasman flight (from Australia to New Zealand) in 11 hours and 45 minutes, crash-landing on New Zealand's west coast.

    Australian aviator (1909–1940)
  8. 1919

    Montenegro

    Montenegrin guerrilla fighters rebel against the planned annexation of Montenegro by Serbia, but fail.

    Country in Southeast Europe
  9. 1782

    Bank of North America

    The first American commercial bank, the Bank of North America, opens.

    American bank established in
  10. 1610

    Galileo Galilei

    Galileo Galilei makes his first observation of the four Galilean moons: Ganymede, Callisto, Io and Europa, although he is not able to distinguish the last two until the following night.

    Italian physicist and astronomer
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Famous birthday twins

Born on January 7

Caster Semenya

b. 1991

South African sprinter

Joseph Bonaparte

b. 1768

Italian king

Lewis Hamilton

b. 1985

English racing driver

Millard Fillmore

b. 1800

American politician, 13th President of the United States

Jeremy Renner

b. 1971

American actor

Stefan Babović

b. 1987

Serbian footballer

Sandford Fleming

b. 1827

Scottish-Canadian engineer, created Universal Standard Time

Nicolas Cage

b. 1964

American actor

Deaths

  • 2025Jean-Marie Le Pen, French intelligence officer and politician
  • 2024Franz Beckenbauer, German footballer and manager
  • 1989Hirohito, Japanese emperor
  • 1943Nikola Tesla, Serbian-American inventor and engineer
  • 1920Edmund Barton, Australian judge and politician, 1st Prime Minister of Australia
  • 1893Josef Stefan, Slovenian physicist and mathematician

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian Feast Day: André Bessette (Canada)
  • —Christian Feast Day: Blessed Marie Thérèse Haze
  • —Christian Feast Day: Canute Lavard
  • —Christian Feast Day: Felix and Januarius
  • —Christian Feast Day: Lucian of Antioch
  • —Christian Feast Day: Raymond of Penyafort
  • —Christian Feast Day: Synaxis of John the Forerunner & Baptist (Julian calendar)
  • —Christian Feast Day: January 7 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

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