Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
April 7 Tuesday, April 7, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on April 7 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
3
Holidays
War 236 years ago
Russo-Turkish war (1787-1792): Greek privateer Lambros Katsonis loses three of his ships in the Battle of Andros.
Greek privateer Lambros Katsonis, fighting for Russia against the Ottoman Empire, loses three of his ships in the Battle of Andros.
History
What happened on April 7
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 451War
Attila the Hun captures Metz in France, killing most of its inhabitants and burning the town.
Attila the Hun captures Metz, killing most of its inhabitants and burning the town.
- 529World history
First Corpus Juris Civilis, a fundamental work in jurisprudence, is issued by Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I.
Justinian I issues the Corpus Juris Civilis, a foundational text in legal scholarship.
- 1141UK history
Empress Matilda becomes the first female ruler of England, adopting the title "Lady of the English".
Empress Matilda becomes the first female ruler of England, adopting the title "Lady of the English."
- 1348European history
Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV charters Prague University.
Charles IV grants a charter for Prague University, establishing the first university in Central Europe and marking the beginning of higher education in Bohemia.
- 1449Religion
Felix V abdicates his claim to the papacy, ending the reign of the final Antipope.
Felix V abdicates as pope, ending the Western Schism and closing the final chapter of rival claimants to the papacy.
- 1521World history
Ferdinand Magellan arrives at Cebu.
Ferdinand Magellan reaches Cebu, becoming the first European to encounter the islands of what is now the Philippines.
- 1541Religion
Francis Xavier leaves Lisbon on a mission to the Portuguese East Indies.
Francis Xavier sets sail from Lisbon for the Portuguese East Indies, beginning his missionary work in Asia.
- 1790War
Russo-Turkish war (1787-1792): Greek privateer Lambros Katsonis loses three of his ships in the Battle of Andros.
Greek privateer Lambros Katsonis, fighting for Russia against the Ottoman Empire, loses three of his ships in the Battle of Andros.
- 1795Science
The French First Republic adopts the kilogram and gram as its primary unit of mass.
The French First Republic adopts the kilogram and gram as its standard units of mass.
- 1805US history
Lewis and Clark Expedition: The Corps of Discovery breaks camp among the Mandan tribe and resumes its journey West along the Missouri River.
The Corps of Discovery leaves the Mandan tribe and continues westward along the Missouri River.
- 1868Canadian history
Thomas D'Arcy McGee, one of the Canadian Fathers of Confederation, is assassinated by a Fenian activist.
Thomas D'Arcy McGee, a key figure in Canadian Confederation, is killed by a Fenian activist.
- 1972War
Vietnam War: Communist forces overrun the South Vietnamese town of Loc Ninh.
Communist forces capture the South Vietnamese town of Loc Ninh, marking a significant advance in the Vietnam War.
Born today
Famous birthdays on April 7
7 this date All birthdays
Domenico Dragonetti
Italian bassist and composer
Domenico Dragonetti, the Italian double bass virtuoso and composer who performed on a three-string instrument, was born today in 1763.
Born
1763
Died
1846
William Ellery Channing
American preacher and theologian
1780 – 1842
Gabriela Mistral
Chilean poet and educator, Nobel Prize laureate
1889 – 1957
Erich Löwenhardt
Polish-German lieutenant and pilot
1897 – 1918
Stanley Adams
American actor and screenwriter
1915 – 1977
Dave Johnson
American decathlete and educator
b. 1963 · 63
Ichinojō Takashi
Mongolian sumo wrestler
b. 1993 · 33
Music
The number one songs on April 7
Across the years Full chart history
Also #1 on this day
- 2026"Rein Me In"— Sam Fender and Olivia Dean
- 2025"Ordinary"— Alex Warren
- 2024"Beautiful Things"— Benson Boone
- 2023"Eyes Closed"— Ed Sheeran
- 2022"Starlight"— Dave
- 2021"Wellerman"— Nathan Evans , 220 Kid and Billen Ted
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport April 7, 1968
Two-time Formula One British World Champion Jim Clark dies in an accident during a Formula Two race in Hockenheim.
Jim Clark, a two-time Formula One world champion, died in a racing accident at the Hockenheim circuit.
Read the story
🔬 Science April 7, 1982
Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Sadegh Ghotbzadeh is arrested.
Sadegh Ghotbzadeh, Iran's foreign affairs minister, is arrested.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
3 celebrated today
Flag Day (Slovenia)
International
A flag day is a flag-related holiday, a day designated for flying a certain flag or a day set aside to celebrate a historical event such as a nation's adoption of its flag
Women's Day (Mozambique)
International
World Health Day (International observance)
International
World Health Day is a global health awareness day celebrated every year on 7 April, under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as other related organizations
❝
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
— World Health Organization Constitution · born April 7, 1948