What Happened On
Roswell UFO Incident
July 7, 1947
Major Jesse Marcel and head of the Roswell Army Counterintelligence Corps, Sheridan Cavitt, go to William "Mack" Brazel's ranch and retrieve what they believe is debris from a UFO crash. The following day, a report would appear in the Roswell Daily Record announcing "RAAF Captures Flying Saucer On Ranch in Roswell Region."
Sliced Bread
July 7, 1928
The first machine-sliced bread is sold, by the Chillicothe Baking Company of Chillicothe, Missouri. The bread slicing machine was invented by Otto Frederick Rohwedder. His bread slicer also wrapped the bread.
In 1930 Continental Baking Company introduced Wonder Bread as a sliced bread, which was a hit and soon other major companies followed.
Sliced bread was briefly banned during World War II to conserve wrapping paper ("the ready-sliced loaf must have a heavier wrapping than an unsliced one if it is not to dry out") and the steel used in the slicing machines. The ban was quickly rescinded due to the large public outcry.
Lincoln Assassination Conspirators Hanged
July 7, 1865
Four conspirators in U.S. President Abraham Lincoln's assassination are hanged in Washington D.C. The condemned included Mary E. Surratt, making her the First Woman Executed by the U.S. Federal Government. It was believed she provided assistance to Lincoln's killer John Wilkes Booth.
Obsessed Letterman Fan
July 7, 1993
Margaret Ray is arrested for the 8th time after trespassing on David Letterman's property. She had previously been arrested for breaking into his home, sleeping in his bedroom, and stealing his Porsche.
First Woman to Serve on the U.S. Supreme Court
July 7, 1981
Sandra Day O'Connor is nominated by U.S. President Ronald Reagan. She was sworn in the following September.
First Solar-Powered Flight Across the English Channel
July 7, 1981
By Stephen R. Ptacek flying the Solar Challenger designed by Paul MacCready.
First American Saint
July 7, 1946
Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850-1917) is declared a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. She is the Patron Saint of Emigrants. She founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Born in the Austrian empire, she was a naturalized American citizen.
Hawaii
July 7, 1898
A joint congressional resolution is passed providing for the annexation of the island territory of Hawaii. It would become a U.S. territory in 1900 and a state in 1959.
Birthdays
Ringo Starr (Richard Starkey)
Born July 7, 1940
British Hall of Fame musician, drummer. He became one of The Beatles in August of 1962, replacing drummer Pete Best right before the group's rise to fame. He wrote and sang the Beatles' songs Don't Pass Me By and Octopus's Garden.
At age six, Starkey developed appendicitis and contracted peritonitis from the appendectomy surgery, putting him in a coma. His recovery took a year causing him to fall behind in school. In 1953, he contracted tuberculosis and spent two years in a sanatorium. As part of hospital therapy, the medical staff encouraged patients to participate in the hospital band, where Starkey developed an interest in drums. Due to Starkey's extended hospital stays, he fell behind in his education and failed his grammar school entrance exam, then choosing to drop out of school and stay home to practice drumming.
TV: Thomas & Friends (UK 1984-86 / US 1989-90, narrator) and Shining Time Station (1989-90, Mr. Conductor).
Robert A. Heinlein (Robert Anson Heinlein)
Born July 7, 1907 d. 1988
American science fiction author. He won an unprecedented four Hugo awards. He was he was one of the first to emphasize scientific accuracy in his fiction, making him a pioneer of the "hard science fiction" subgenre.
Writings: Starship Troopers (1959) and Stranger in a Strange Land (1961).
Satchel Paige (Leroy Robert Paige)
Born July 7, 1906 d. 1982
American baseball player, the greatest baseball pitcher of the Negro Leagues. He became the oldest rookie ever in the major-leagues when he joined the Cleveland Indians in 1948. They went on to win both the pennant and the World Series.
Jacquard loom on display at the Manchester museum of science and industry
Jacquard loom on display at the Manchester museum of science and industry
Joseph Marie Jacquard
Born July 7, 1752 d. 1834
French inventor. He invented the first programmable loom capable of weaving figured patterns (1801). His "Jacquard loom" played an important role in the development of other programmable machines, such as an early version of a digital compiler used by IBM to develop the modern day computer.
Jessica Hahn
Born July 7, 1959
American secretary. She claimed that televangelist Jim Bakker and preacher John Wesley Fletcher had drugged and raped her.
Shelley Duvall (Shelley Alexis Duvall)
Born July 7, 1949 d. 2024
American actress. Film: The Shining (1979), Nashville (1975), 3 Women (1977), and Annie Hall (1977). TV: Faerie Tale Theater (1982-87, host, narrator).
Doc Severinsen (Carl Severinsen)
Born July 7, 1927
American orchestra leader. Band leader for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show (1967-92).
Deaths
See Full Lyrics
Yo-ho-ho and a Bottle of Rum
Young E. Allison
Died July 7, 1932 b. 1853
American poet, editor. His poem Derelict (1891) featured the famous line "Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum." He wrote "Derelict" to complete the famous verse, "Fifteen Men on the Dead Man's Chest," from Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island.
Fifteen men on the Dead Man's Chest
Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum!
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum!
Creator of Sherlock Holmes
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Died July 7, 1930 b. 1859
Scottish physician, author. Creator of Sherlock Holmes (1887). His belief in Spiritualism and the existence of fairies put him at odds with his one-time friend Harry Houdini. Houdini's debunking of mediums and psychics, including debunking Doyle's wife, ended their friendship.
Doyle was also a judge at the world's first bodybuilding contest in 1901.
Eduard Shevardnadze
Died July 7, 2014 b. 1928
Soviet Union Minister of Foreign Affairs (1985-90, 1991), head of state of Georgia (1992-2003).
Cameron Mitchell
Died July 7, 1994 b. 1918
American actor. TV: High Chaparral (Buck Cannon).
Roy Crane
Died July 7, 1977 b. 1901
American cartoonist. Creator of Captain Easy (1929) and Buz Sawyer (1943). He pioneered the use of sound effects in comics, such as "bam," "pow," and "wham" and was a pioneer of the adventure comic strip.
Veronica Lake (Constance Ockelman)
Died July 7, 1973 b. 1922
American actress. Known for her peek-a-boo hairstyle with her long blonde hair covering one eye. She died at age 50 from acute hepatitis and acute kidney injury.
Film: Sullivan's Travels (1941) and Hold That Blonde (1945).
Ub Iwerks (Ubbe Eert Iwerks)
Died July 7, 1971 b. 1901
American Oscar-winning animator. One of the original artists for Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse (1928). He supervised the animation and special effects of numerous Disney films. He was the first employee hired by Walt Disney for his new animation studio.
Sir Allen Lane
Died July 7, 1970 b. 1902
British publisher. He founded Penguin Books (1935), which introduced low-priced paperbacks to the world.
Calvin Coolidge Jr.
Died July 7, 1924 b. 1908
American Presidential Son. The youngest son of U.S. President Calvin Coolidge. He died at the age of 16 from blood poisoning he got from a blister on his toe he received while playing tennis on the White House courts.
Sigismund II
Died July 7, 1572 b. 1520
King of Poland (1548-72).
Edward I
Died July 7, 1307 b. 1239
King of England (1272-1307).
Benedict XI
Died July 7, 1304 b. 1240
Italian religious leader, 194th Pope (1303-04).