On This Day

Discover events that happened On This Day including famous birthdays and notable deaths. Each day we highlight famous people, past and present, who have impacted our world. Browse sections by selecting the links below or click the calendar to view events on another day.

» EVENTS ON THIS DAY
» BORN ON THIS DAY
» DIED ON THIS DAY

January 7

January 7

Events on This Day

1785

228 years ago
Jean-Pierre-François Blanchard and John Jeffries make the first trip across the English Channel in a hot-air balloon.

Read more at History.com
1851

162 years ago
Jean Foucault uses the first direct visual evidence that the Earth rotates on its axis: a pendulum.
1970

43 years ago
Lou Rawls sings the ABCs on the first season of Sesame Street.
2006

7 years ago
Pop star Pink, born Alecia Moore, says "I do" to motocross racer Cary Hart in Costa Rica.

January 7

Born on This Day

- In these groups:
- U.N. Goodwill Ambassadors
- Onscreen Superheroes
- Best Actor Oscar Winners
Nicolas Cage

Film Actor / 1964 -

Actor Nicolas Cage, star of such films as Moonstruck and The Rock, is known for his intense on- and off-screen personality, as well as his passion for method acting.

See full bio
Nicolas Cage
Born: January 7, 1964
Age: 49 years old
Birthplace: Long Beach, California, United States
Occupation: Film Actor
- In these groups:
- Female Talk Show Hosts
- Girl Scouts
- Guests on Glee
Katie Couric

Talk Show Host, News Anchor / 1957 -

Television journalist Katie Couric, formerly of the Today show, signed a deal with CBS in 2006 to become the first woman to anchor CBS Evening News alone.

See full bio
Katie Couric
1957 | 56 years old
Talk Show Host, News Anchor
- In these groups:
- Aviation Accident Victims
- The Kennedy Family
- Famous People Who Died in Accidents
Carolyn Bessette Kennedy

1966 - 1999

Carolyn Bessette Kennedy married John F. Kennedy Jr. and was considered a trendsetter and fashion icon. She died in a small plane crash in 1999.

See full bio
Carolyn Bessette Kennedy
1966 | 33 years old
- In these groups:
- Famous Harlem Residents
- Famous Lookalikes
- Famous Black Writers
Zora Neale Hurston

Civil Rights Activist, Author / 1891 - 1960

Anthropologist and novelist Zora Neale Hurston was a fixture of the Harlem Renaissance before writing her masterwork, Their Eyes Were Watching God.

See full bio
Zora Neale Hurston
Born: January 7, 1891
Birthplace: Notasulga, Alabama, United States
Occupation: Civil Rights Activist, Author
- In these groups:
- Onscreen Superheroes
- Famous Capricorns
- Famous Actors
Jeremy Renner

Actor / 1971 -

Actor Jeremy Renner played a recurring character on the television series Angel, and starred in the movies Dahmer, North Country and The Hurt Locker.

See full bio
Jeremy Renner
1971 | 42 years old
Actor
- In these groups:
- 2012 Potential Republican Vice Presidential Candidates
- Famous Capricorns
- Famous Activists
Rand Paul

Activist, Medical Professional, U.S. Representative / 1963 -

Senator Rand Paul, son of Congressman Ron Paul of Texas, is best known for his support of the Tea Party movement and his controversial comments on the Civil Rights Act.

See full bio
Rand Paul
1963 | 50 years old
Activist, Medical Professional, ...

See everyone born on this day

January 7

Died on This Day

- In these groups:
- Famous Taureans
- Famous Emperors
- Famous Royalty
Hirohito

Emperor / 1901 - 1989

Hirohito is best known for being Japan's longest-reigning emperor. His reign lasted from 1926 until his death in 1989. He was a controversial leader who led Japan's military to surrender to the Allied Forces in 1945.

See full bio
Hirohito
Died: January 7, 1989
Age: 87 years old
Place: Tokyo , Japan
Occupation: Emperor
- In these groups:
- Famous Sagittarians
- Famous Queens
- Famous Princesses
Catherine of Aragon

Queen, Princess / 1485 - 1536

Of Spanish descent, the devout, learned Catherine of Aragon was the 16th-century Queen of England due to her marriage to Henry VIII.

See full bio
Catherine of Aragon
1536 | 50 years old
Queen, Princess
- In these groups:
- Famous Cancerians
- Famous Inventors
- Famous Engineers
Nikola Tesla

Engineer, Inventor / 1856 - 1943

Serbian-American inventor Nikola Telsa developed the alternating-current electrical system that's widely used today, and discovered the rotating magnetic field (the basis of most AC machinery).

See full bio | Watch video
Nikola Tesla
1943 | 86 years old
Engineer, Inventor

See everyone who died on this day

Email Updates

- Get On This Day directly to your inbox. Sign up for the On This Day daily email update.
Sign Up
Privacy Policy and Terms of Use

Quiz

Think you know
about Biography?

Answer questions and see how you rank against other players.

Play Now

Shop Bio

Buy Now

Your Connections

Sign in with Facebook to see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons.

Hi,

settings

See More Bio Connections

Your Friends' Connections

Upcoming Birthdays

- In these groups:
- Blacklisted
- Actors Turned Directors
- Best Actor Oscar Winners
José Ferrer

Film Actor, Theater Actor, Television Actor, Director / 1912 - 1992

American actor and director José Ferrer was perhaps best known for his Academy Award-winning performance in the title role of the film Cyrano de Bergerac.

See full bio
José Ferrer
January 8, 1912
Television Actor
- In these groups:
- Famous Capricorns
- Famous Psychologists
- Famous People Named John
John B. Watson

Psychologist, Academic Author / 1878 - 1958

Psychologist John B. Watson is remembered for codifying and publicizing behaviorism with his article “Psychology as a Behaviorist Views It” and other research.

See full bio
John B. Watson
January 9, 1878
Psychologist
- In these groups:
- Influential Female Musicians of the 1970s
- Rock of Ages Artists
- Famous Capricorns
Pat Benatar

Singer / 1953 -

Pat Benatar's strong vocals and rock sound, as well as hits like "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and "Love Is A Battlefield," made her an early MTV star in the 1980s.

See full bio | Watch video
Pat Benatar
January 10, 1953
Singer
- In these groups:
- Female Music Icons of the 1990s and New Millennium
- Rags to Riches
- Soul Train Guests
Mary J. Blige

Singer / 1971 -

"Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" Mary J. Blige has influenced a generation of artists with hits like "Real Love" and "Be Without You." She has also been seen on screen, including as Betty Shabazz in the TV movie Betty & Coretta.

See full bio | Watch video
Mary J. Blige
January 11, 1971
Singer

Famous Capricorns

- In these groups:
- Famous Capricorns
- Famous Photographers
- Famous Film Directors
Larry Clark

Photographer, Director / 1943 -

American photographer and film director Larry Clark is known for his images and movies, like Kids, that graphically depict unconventional teenage activities.

See full bio
Larry Clark
January 19, 1943
Photographer, Director
- In these groups:
- Famous Capricorns
- Famous Coaches
- Famous People Named Don
Don Shula

Coach / 1930 -

Don Shula was the head coach of the NFL's Miami Dolphins from 1970 to 1996, leading the team to a Super Bowl championship and an undefeated season.

See full bio
Don Shula
January 4, 1930
Coach

See other Capricorns