Leo I becomes the Byzantine Emperor on February 7, 457 following the death of his predecessor Marcian, on January 27, 457. Leo I was the first Eastern emperor to be crowned by a patriarch (Anatolios), a shift from the previous Roman tradition of the legions acclaiming the emperor, setting a precedent for later coronations.
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On This Day in History: February 7
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on February 7th. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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The Prussian Confederation is established on February 21, 1440, in Kwidzyn (Marienwerder) by 53 nobles/clergy and 19 cities to oppose the the high taxes and authoritarian rule of the Teutonic Knights and seek autonomy within the Kingdom of Poland.
The Prussian Confederation requested incorporation into the Kingdom of Poland in 1454, triggering the Thirteen Years' War (1454–1466). The 1466 treaty resulted in the division of Prussia, creating "Royal Prussia" (under Polish sovereignty) and leaving the remaining Teutonic Order land as a Polish fief.
Pope Julius III, born Giovanni Maria Ciocchi del Monte, is elected on February 7, 1550, after a contentious 10-week conclave after Paul III's death. His reign was marked by limited reform efforts, luxurious, pursuits and for nepotism, notably his scandalous elevation of his adoptive nephew, Innocenzo del Monte, to Cardinal.
The Spanish and French blockade of Gibraltar ends on February 7, 1783, after nearly 3.5 years of conflict resulting in a British victory as they retain the crucial Mediterranean naval base of Gibraltar.
The Anchor Line passenger Scottish ship, SS California, homeward-bound and approaching Ireland at full steam, is attacked on February 7, 1917 by the German U-boat SM U-85 and sank in nine minutes, 38 miles off the coast of Ireland. 43 people perished. More
President John F. Kennedy proclaims an embargo on trade between the United States and Cuba effective on February 7, 1962, in response to certain actions taken by the Cuban Government Kennedy directed the Departments of Commerce and the Treasury to implement and manage the embargo, which still remains in place today. More
The Beatles land at John F. Kennedy International Airport tin New York, and were he United States for the first time on February 7, 1964, starting the "British Invasion" of music. Their visit included an Ed Sullivan Show appearance on February 9 which was watched by a record breaking 73 million people, marking the official start of "Beatlemania" in the United States and the "British Invasion" of music
U.S Navy captain Bruce McCandless II, on the NASA Space Shuttle Challenger’s STS 41-B mission, becomes the first human being to do a spacewalk without a safety tether linked to a spacecraft on February 7, 1984.
McCandless donned a backpack mobility device—the Manned Maneuvering Unit—and ventured about 320 ft (98 m) away from the vehicle, becoming the first human satellite. His solo ride lasted 1 hour and 22 minutes. More
The Treaty of Maastricht is signed on February 7, 1992, formally establishing the European Union, effective on November 1, 1993 with the EEC becoming the European Community (EC) "first pillar" of the newly formed EU, which encompassed the EC alongside other areas like foreign policy and justice.
In 2009, the Lisbon Treaty merged the EC into the EU, creating a unified legal framework and giving the EU a single legal personality as the EC formally ceased to exist. The six founding nations of the EU's predecessors, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and the European Economic Community (EEC), were Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. These nations signed treaties in the 1950s to create the ECSC (1951) and the EEC (1957) with the goal of fostering peace and economic integration, laying the groundwork for the modern European Union. More
1998, February 10-22
The 1998 Winter Olympics are held in Nagano, Japan, from February 7 -22. Seventy two nations and 2,176 athletes participated..
Australian wildfires, known as "Black Saturday," claim the lives of 173 people injured over 400 and destroy thousands of homes on February 7, 2009. The fires which burned over 1.1 million acres, were caused by extreme heat and drought conditions, resulting in a state of emergency and subsequent government investigations
2014, February 7-23
The 2014 Winter Olympics are held in Sochi, Russia from February 7 to 23, 2014