The People History Home

May 7th Major News Events

  1. 1915 The Lusitania, a British ocean liner, was sunk by a German torpedo in WWI.
  2. 1945 Germany surrendered to the Allies, ending World War II.
  3. 1977 Seattle Slew won the Kentucky Derby, the first of his Triple Crown victories.
  4. 1992 The Space Shuttle Endeavour is launched on its maiden voyage.

Find More Details for What happened 7th May This Day in History on your birthday

7 May, 2008 Oil Price Could Reach $200.00 per barrel in 6 months

2008 : Argun Murti the Goldman Sachs energy strategist has warned oil price 'may hit $200 a barrel' in 6 months due to the available supply to demand needs. Oil peaked at just under $150.00 per barrel July 2008 -- ( current price May 5thth 2021 -- $60.97 )

7 May, 1915 World War I Lusitania Sunk By Torpedo

1915 : A German torpedo sinks the British Ocean liner Lusitania off the Irish coast, killing nearly 1,200 people.

1945 Germany Surrenders

1945 : Germany signs unconditional surrender at Rheims in France bringing to an end six years of war in Europe.

7 May, 1941 U.S.A. "Chattanooga Choo Choo"

1941 : Glenn Miller and His Orchestra recorded "Chattanooga Choo Choo." The song was first featured in the 1941 movie "Sun Valley Serenade," a movie that starred many of the biggest names of the day. It became one of the most popular hits from the era and even has its own website.

1971 France The Concorde

1971 : The Concorde, the worlds first faster than sound passenger plane, took off for a 75 minute publicity flight to Toulouse carrying the french president on board.

1956 UK Health Minister Rejects Call for Smoking Bans

1956 : The British Health Minister RH Turton, rejects calls for a government campaign against smoking, saying no ill-effects have actually been proven from smoking and the link between smoking and lung Cancer has not been proved.

7 May, 1921 Ireland Starving

1921 : Over 5000 people have already starved to death in Ireland in 1921 and it is feared many more will follow.

7 May, 1931 U.S.A. Pay Cuts

1931 : A survey of Employers has revealed that those companies who are surviving since the stock market crash have drastically cut their work force and implemented wide ranging pay cuts among those employees who are still employed by up to 40% during the 1930s great depression.

Born This Day In History 7th May

Celebrating Birthdays Today

Thelma Houston

Born: May 7th, 1946 Leland, Mississippi

Known For : The talented recording artist signed with Motown in 1971. Thelma Houston dabbled in television in film before gaining fame for her most well-known 1977 number one hit song, "Don't Leave Me This Way." She won the Grammy for Best Female R&B Performance for her rendition of the song. While she was never able to recreate the success of "Don't Leave Me This Way," Houston continued to create music and made occasional television and film appearances.

1934 Philippines World's largest Pearl Found

1934 : The 9.45-inch, 14.1 lb "Pearl of Lao Tzu" is found by a diver in a giant clam in the Palawan Sea. Gemologists do not consider this to be a true pearl, as it does not have the mother of pearl, i.e. it does not have the iridescence that true pearls (which come from pearl oysters and pearl characteristics ). Clam pearls have no intrinsic value as a "gemstone", but only as a curiosity.

1941 Germany Bombing UK Cities

1941 : Germany continues to send large numbers of Bombers laden with bombs targeting Liverpool, North East, North West, Bristol and London, and each night British fighters go out trying to stop the destruction to towns and cities around the country , during last nights raids some 40 + German bombers were downed by British fighter pilots.

1947 U.S.A. Levittown, New York

1947 : Levitt and Sons, Builders announce a 2,000 home rental community at Island Trees later becoming Levittown, Hempstead, Long Island, New York ideal for GI's returning home following the end of World War II, the project used a new type of construction based on mass-production housing never used before, due to the prefabricated design they could build 30 houses a day. Following the success of the project they announced a further 4,000 homes which would be for sale not rental, offering ownership on a 30-year mortgage with no down payment and monthly costs the same as rental. After two years they began offering a larger home "a ranch house" 32 feet by 25 feet ( 800 Sq Ft ) for $7,990. The concept was copied all over the United States and modern suburbia was born.

1950 U.S.A. Major Storm

1950 : A major storm on the East Coast has caused a number of deaths and major flooding between New York and Boston with winds reaching 65 MPH.

1962 U.S.A. Wage Restraint Urged

1962 : JFK has warned unions to show responsible wage restraint or inflation could damage the US Economy the UAW was a big supporter for the JFK presidency.

1965 Rhodesia Ian Smith Wins

1965 : White voters in Rhodesia have overwhelmingly backed Prime Minister Ian Smith's Rhodesian Front which will unilaterally declare independence from the UK.

1977 U.S.A. Seattle Slew

1977 : Seattle Slew won the Kentucky Derby, the first of his Triple Crown victories for three-year-old thoroughbred horses. The Three Races for the Triple Crown in the US are (1) The Kentucky Derby, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky; (2) The Preakness Stakes, at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland; (3) The Belmont Stakes, at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.

1992 U.S.A. Space Shuttle Endeavour

1992 : The space shuttle Endeavour, was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

From 1920s Fashions Page

Pea Petal Turban 1925 Pea Petal Turban
Price: $3.45

A new idea, and very striking, too. Snug fitting turban with fitted crown of good quality Rayon taffeta. Entire brim is of narrow, picot edge ombre (shaded) ribbon, shirred cleverly to resemble a mass of sweet pea petals. High grade workmanship.


1998 U.S.A. Chrysler

1998 : Daimler-Benz AG agreed to buy Chrysler Corp. for more than $37 billion.

2001 UK Cattle Slaughter

2001 : The Ministry of Agriculture (Maff) says it will press ahead with the slaughter of 1,600 cattle on two farms near Exmoor, after four new cases of foot-and-mouth confirmed around the village of Wiveliscombe, near Taunton. Maff officials are concerned that the disease could spread further into Exmoor itself and affect wild deer and the pony population.

2001 UK Ronnie Biggs Returns To Finish Sentence

2001 : Ronnie Biggs, one of the "Great Train Robbers" who had eluded capture and settled in Brazil following his prison escape in on July 8th 1965, voluntarily returned to Britain, where he was arrested and jailed to complete the 28 remaining years of his sentence. He is currently still in Norwich prison.

2006 UK Arsenal Plays Last Game at Highbury

2006 : The British football club Arsenal played its last game at its ninety-three year old stadium and beat Wigan 4 to 2.

2007 Queen Elizabeth II Meets President Bush on Visit

2007 : Queen Elizabeth II met with President George W. Bush near the end of their visit to the United States. The two addressed the friendship between the United States and the United Kingdom in their respective speeches and the White House held a banquet to honor the Queen later in the evening. The trip marked her fifth visit to the United States, with her previous trip taking place in 1991 when George Bush Sr. was president.

Born This Day In History 7th May

Celebrating Birthday Today

Michael Rosen

Born: May 7th, Harrow, United Kingdom

Michael Rosen is a British children's author and poet who has written 140 books. He served as Children's Laureate from June 2007 to June 2009 . His best known works include Wouldn't You Like to Know (a volume of children's poetry) and Michael Rosen's Sad Book (an illustrated book for young children on the topics of death and grief)

From 1920s Fashions Page

Sport Costume 1925

Sport Costume

Price: $5.95

Of sturdy, fine quality all wool tweed, will add to the joy of all outdoor activities through the spring and summer season. Knickers are neatly tailored, have separate belt, two pockets and buttoned cuffs. Choose from tan or gray.


2013 North Korea Moves Missiles

2013 : North Korea has moved two medium-range missiles away from their coastal launch site. The move is seen as a lowing of tension in the region. In recent months, North Korea had been threatening attacks in the region and increasing tension between itself and the West. Moving the missiles is seen as the first step in backing away from previous threats.

2008 California Students in Drug Raid

2008 : Twenty-nine people were arrested after a drug raid in California. Many of those arrested were students at San Diego State University and were members of fraternities involved in an organized drug ring. The police found firearms, large amounts of money, over four pounds of cocaine, and over fifty pounds of marijuana. The investigation was year-long and conducted by undercover drug enforcement administration agents.

2012 Google Found to Have Violated Oracle Copyright

2012 : A jury in the United States found major internet corporation Google to be guilty of violating Oracle's Java copyright. However, the jury was unable to decide whether or not the use of the Oracle's programming language fell under "fair use" in terms of copyright law.

Born This Day In History 7th May

Celebrating Birthday Today

Robbie Knievel

Born: May 7th, 1962, Butte, Montana

The son of Evel Knievel, Robbie has forged a career on the same path. He rode in his first show when he was eight, and was performing jumps by the age of twelve. He left school in 1976 and has made a career of motorcycle jumps. His home site lists over 250 successful jumps and 20 world records. His promised jump of sixteen buses is still being arranged in London, and his desire to complete it is because of his father's inability to perform it.