Today In History [7th February, 2015]

A chronological timetable of historical events that occurred on this day in history. Historical facts of the day in the areas of military, politics, science, music, sports, arts, entertainment and more. Discover what happened today in history.

February 7

457           A Thracian officer by the name of Leo is proclaimed as emperor of the East by the army general, Aspar, on the death of the Emperor Marcian.
1668           The Netherlands, England and Sweden conclude an alliance directed against Louis XIV of France.
1783           The Siege of Gibraltar, which was pursued by the Spanish and the French since July 24, 1779, is finally lifted.
1818           The first successful U.S. educational magazine, Academician, begins publication in New York City.
1882           American pugilist John L. Sullivan becomes the last of the bare-knuckle world heavyweight champions with his defeat of Patty Ryan in Mississippi City.
1913           The Turks lose 5,000 men in a battle with the Bulgarian army in Gallipoli.
1915           Fieldmarshal Paul von Hindenburg moves on Russians at Masurian Lakes.
1917           The British steamer California is sunk off the coast of Ireland by a German U-boat.
1926           Negro History Week, originated by Carter G. Woodson, is observed for the first time.
1928           The United States signs an arbitration treaty with France.
1931           Amelia Earhart weds George Putnam in Connecticut.
1944           The Germans launch a second attack against the Allied beachead at Anzio, Italy. They hoped to push the Allies back into the sea.
1950           The United States recognizes Vietnam under the leadership of Emperor Bao Dai, not Ho Chi Minh who is recognized by the Soviets.
1963           The Mona Lisa is put on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
1964           The British band The Beatles are greeted by 25,000 fans upon their arrival in the United States at JFK Airport.
1965           U.S. jets hit Don Hoi guerrilla base in reprisal for the Viet Cong raids.
1968           North Vietnamese use 11 Soviet-built light tanks to overrun the U.S. Special Forces camp at Lang Vei at the end of an 18-hour long siege.
1978           Ethiopia mounts a counter attack against Somalia.
1983           Iran opens an invasion in the southeast of Iraq.

Born on February 7
1477           Sir Thomas More, English statesman and writer, famous for Utopia, later executed for refusing to accept Henry VIII as the head of the church.
1804           John Deere, farm equipment manufacturer
1812           Charles Dickens, prolific English novelist whose stories reflected life in Victorian England. Some of his more famous works include Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol and A Tale of Two Cities.
1837           Sir James Murray, Scottish lexicographer and editor.
1867           Laura Ingalls Wilder, author whose works were the basis for television's Little House on the Prairie.
1885           Sinclair Lewis, novelist of satire and realism. (Arrowsmith, Elmer Gantry).
1905           Ulf Svante von Euler-Chelpin, Swedish physiologist.