This Day In History : April 7

2001 Uruguay

Mars Odyssey Launched

In 2001, NASA launched the Mars Odyssey spacecraft, designed to orbit Mars and gather data on the planet's climate and geology. The mission has provided crucial information about Mars' surface and potential water resources.

Also on This Day in History April 7

Discover what happened on April 7 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, April 7
  • 1817 Francesco Selmi

    Italian chemist and toxicologist who is considered one of the founders of colloid chemistry.

  • 1775 Francis Cabot Lowell

    American manufacturer who was the principal founder of a textile mill carrying out all operations involved to process raw cotton into finished cloth.

  • 1767 Henry Bell

    Scottish engineer who began Europe's first successful steamship service, with his paddle steamboat, Comet, on the River Clyde in Scotland.

  • 1727 Michel Adanson

    French botanist who established natural classification as a fundamental aim of biology.

  • 1866 Ivar Fredholm

    Swedish mathematician who is remembered for Fredholm integral equations with applications in mathematical physics and actuarial science.

  • 1901 Jean Prouvé

    French engineer and builder known particularly for his contributions to the art and technology of prefabricated metal construction.

Deaths on This Day, April 7
  • 1986 Leonid Vitalyevich Kantorovich

    Soviet mathematician and economist who shared the 1975 Nobel Prize for Economics with Tjalling Koopmans for their work on the optimal allocation of scarce resources.

  • 1823 Jacques-Alexandre-César Charles

    French mathematician, physicist, and inventor. When Benjamin Franklin visited France in 1779, Charles was inspired to study physics.

  • 1816 Christian Konrad Sprengel

    German botanist and teacher whose studies of sex in plants led him to a general theory of fertilization which, basically, is accepted today.

  • 1947 Henry Ford

    American inventor and automobile manufacturer who first experimented with internal combustion engines while he was an engineer with the Edison Illuminating Company.

  • 2001 Gopalasamudram Narayanan Ramachandran

    Indian biophysicist who discovered the triple helical “coiled coil” structure of the collagen molecule, among other remarkable contributions to structural biology.

1959

Radar signal bounced off Sun

In 1959, the first distinguishable echo was recorded of a radar signal bounced off the Sun—considered a milestone in the emerging field of radar astronomy.
1827

Friction match

In 1827, John Walker, an English pharmacist, recorded his first sale of the friction matches he invented the previous year.
1948

The World Health Organization Established

On April 7, 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) was established. The WHO is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. It aims to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable.
1978

President Carter Cancels Production of the Neutron Bomb

On April 7, 1978, President Jimmy Carter announced the cancellation of the production of the neutron bomb. This decision was part of a broader effort to reduce the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The neutron bomb, a controversial type of nuclear weapon, was designed to maximize radiation while minimizing blast effects.
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