Henry I of England's daughter, Matilda (Maud), marries Holy Roman Emperor Henry V on January 7, 1114, strengthening Anglo-German relations. The marriage took place in Worms, Germany, when she was 12 years old.
View Historical Events by Day:
On This Day in History: January 7
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on January 7th. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
Note: Sources for the historical content shown, include research and reviews of relevant Online History Resources or printed material. When possible, we show a link to a source which provides additional or unique perspective about the event.
We do our best to provide accurate information but would appreciate being notified if any incorrect information is found. You may do so by using our Feedback link.
c.1377, January 7
John Wycliffe presents his views on church reform to Parliament in England, c. January 7, 1377
John Montacute, Earl of Salisbury, and Thomas Holland, Duke of Surrey, are executed around January 7, 1400 for their involvement in a plot against King Henry IV of England.
The Medici Bank in Florence suffers a financial crisis, leading to its restructuring. The restructuring helped consolidate power and wealth setting the stage for the bank's heyday under Giovanni's son, Cosimo de' Medici, who took over management in 1429 and expanded the model into a vast, powerful financial network across Europe.
Calais, the last English possession on mainland France, falls to the French on January 7, 1558, ending English territorial claims in France.
The original Theatre Royal opens in London on December 7, 1732.
The Theater burned down in 1808 and a second theater opens in 1809. In 1856, the second theater also burns down. The current building opened on May 15 1858 and it is officially renamed the "Royal Opera House" in 1892.
French balloonist Jean-Pierre Blanchard and American John Jeffries make the first aerial crossing of the English Channel in a hydrogen balloon on January 7, 1785. More
The first U.S. presidential election is held, resulting in George Washington's unanimous election as the nation's first president.
Ernest Shackleton's expedition reaches the magnetic South Pole.
The first commercial transatlantic telephone service is established between New York and London. on January 7, 1927. The serviced used radio waves for communication, not cables. It opened real-time voice communication across the Atlantic although it was subject to atmospheric interference and was also very expensive to use. (around $6 per minute (equivalent to hundreds today)
The inaugural call was between AT&T President Walter S. Gifford in New York and Sir Evelyn P. Murray of Britain's General Post Office. The first permanent undersea cable (TAT-1) in 1956, significantly improved service quality.
American troops land on the main Philippine Island of Luzon, after the capture the Philippine islands of Leyte and Mindoro to the south in late December 1944, where two airfields were established to assist in the landings on Luzon.
Mexican and Australian troops also participated in the battle for Luzon, as well as a very large number of Filipino fighters. Japanese losses were 217,000 dead, with 9,050 taken prisoners. U.S. losses were 8,310 killed and 29,560 wounded. Civilian casualties are estimated at 120,000 to 140,000 dead. More
President Harry S. Truman announced in his last State of the Union message to Congress that the United States had developed a hydrogen bomb. More
Marian Anderson, made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York Cityas Ulrica in Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera. She was the first African American to perform with the company.
The United States recognizes the new Cuban government headed by Manuel Urrutia Lleó after a general strike in early January forced the military Junta Government, left by Batista, to relinquish power to the 26th of July Movement. Fidel Castro arrived in Havana on January 8.
The following month, on February 16, 1959, Castro was sworn in as Prime Minister of Cuba, and accepted the position on the condition that the Prime Minister's powers be increased. In later July, Urrutia tendered his resignation as President. More
The employees of the French satirical weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo were targeted in a terrorist shooting attack by two French-born Algerian Muslim brothers on January 7, 2015.
The shooting occurs in Paris, on the satirical magazine's office. Twelve people were killed in the attack on the satirical magazine's office. The attackers identified themselves as members of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which claimed responsibility for the attack.