What Happened on February 7?

All

events

births

deaths

holidays

EVENTS ON FEBRUARY 7

Explore the most important historical events that happened on February 7, featuring key moments that shaped the world.

Dreyfus affair

Year: 1898

Dreyfus affair: Émile Zola is brought to trial for libel for publishing J'Accuse...!

Cripple Creek miners' strike of 1894

Year: 1894

The Cripple Creek miner's strike, led by the Western Federation of Miners, begins in Cripple Creek, Colorado, United States.

HMS Orpheus (1860)

Year: 1863

HMS Orpheus sinks off the coast of Auckland, New Zealand, killing 189.

ETH Zurich

Year: 1854

A law is approved to found the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. Lectures started October 16, 1855.

Bubonic plague

Year: 1900

A Chinese immigrant in San Francisco falls ill to bubonic plague in the first plague epidemic in the continental United States.

Second Boer War

Year: 1900

Second Boer War: British troops fail in their third attempt to lift the Siege of Ladysmith.

World War II

Year: 1943

World War II: Imperial Japanese Navy forces complete the evacuation of Imperial Japanese Army troops from Guadalcanal during Operation Ke, ending Japanese attempts to retake the island from Allied forces in the Guadalcanal campaign.

Walt Disney

Year: 1940

The second full-length animated Walt Disney film, Pinocchio, premieres.

BIRTHS ON FEBRUARY 7

Discover famous people and historical figures born on February 7, including leaders, artists, scientists, and cultural icons.

Vladimir Kuts

Year of birth: 1927

Vladimir Kuts, Ukrainian-Russian runner and coach (died 1975)

Lalo Ríos

Year of birth: 1927

Lalo Ríos, Mexican actor (died 1973)

Konstantin Feoktistov

Year of birth: 1926

Konstantin Feoktistov, Russian engineer and astronaut (died 2009)

Hans Schmidt (wrestler)

Year of birth: 1925

Hans Schmidt, Canadian wrestler (died 2012)

Juliette Gréco

Year of birth: 1927

Juliette Gréco, French singer and actress (died 2020)

Lincoln D. Faurer

Year of birth: 1928

Lincoln D. Faurer, American general (died 2014)

K. N. Choksy

Year of birth: 1933

K. N. Choksy, Sri Lankan lawyer and politician, Sri Lankan Minister of Finance (died 2015)

Gay Talese

Year of birth: 1932

Gay Talese, American journalist and memoirist

DEATHS ON FEBRUARY 7

Look back at notable individuals who passed away on February 7, and learn about their lasting influences on history.

Marie Louise Andrews

Year of death: 1891

Marie Louise Andrews, American story writer and journalist (born 1849)

Galileo Ferraris

Year of death: 1897

Galileo Ferraris, Italian physicist and engineer (born 1847)

William Halford

Year of death: 1919

William Halford, English-American lieutenant, Medal of Honor recipient (born 1841)

Pope Pius IX

Year of death: 1878

Pope Pius IX (born 1792)

Sheridan Le Fanu

Year of death: 1873

Sheridan Le Fanu, Irish author (born 1814)

Francisco Martínez de la Rosa

Year of death: 1862

Francisco de Paula Martínez de la Rosa y Berdejo, Spanish playwright and politician, Prime Minister of Spain (born 1787)

Vuk Karadžić

Year of death: 1864

Vuk Karadžić, Serbian philologist and linguist (born 1787)

Henry E. Steinway

Year of death: 1871

Henry E. Steinway, German-American businessman, founded Steinway & Sons (born 1797)

HOLIDAYS ON FEBRUARY 7

See which holidays, observances, and special celebrations take place on February 7 around the world.

February 7 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

Christian feast day: February 7 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Orthodox Church

Christian feast day: New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Orthodox Church Typically observed on the Sunday closest to January 25 (O.S.)/February 7 (N.S.)