1711 ~ DAViD HUME the Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist, best known for his philosophical empiricism and skepticism was born on the 7th day of May in 1711 (died 1776 aged 65). David Hume was one of the most important figures in the history of Western philosophy and the Scottish Enlightenment. 

1824 ~ LUDWiG VAN BEETHOVEN had his World premiere with his Ninth Symphony in Vienna, Austria on the 7th day of May in 1824. The performance is conducted by Michael Umlauf under the composer’s supervision.

1840 ~ TCHAiKOVSKY the Russian composer was born on the 7th day of May in 1840 (died in 1893 aged 53).

1846 ~ The CAMBRiDGE CHRONiCLE, America’s oldest surviving weekly newspaper, was published for the first time in Cambridge, Massachusetts on the 7th day of May in 1846.

1901 ~ GARY COOPER the American actor was born on the 7th day of May in 1901 (died in 1961 aged 60).

1909 ~ EDWiN H. LAND the American scientist and inventor of the Polaroid instant camera was born on the 7th day of May in 1909 (died in 1991 aged 81) Edwin H. Land was best known as the co-founder of the Polaroid Corporation. He also invented inexpensive filters for polarizing light and the retinex theory of color vision. Edwin’s Polaroid instant camera went on sale in 1948, and made it possible for a picture to be taken and developed in 60 seconds or less. The photo below is of the Polaroid Square Shooter 2 195X Land Camera, owned by my late grandfather, Norman Clarke…

1927 ~ JiM LOWE the American singer was born on the 7th day of May in 1927. Jim Lowe is best known for his 1956 number one hit record Green Door. YouTube video: Jim Lowe – Green Door (1956) USA #1 hit single from Jim Lowe peaked at #8 in the UK… 

1939 ~ JiMMY RUFFiN the American soul singer was born on the 7th day of May in 1939. Jimmy Ruffin is best known for his 1966 hit What Becomes of the Brokenhearted

1946 ~ THELMA HOUSON the American singer was born on the 7th day of May in 1946.

1946 ~ BiLL DANOFF the American songwriter and singer from the Starland Vocal Band was born on the 7th day of May in 1946. As a songwriter, Bill Danoff wrote or co-wrote hits for John Denver, Emmylou Harris and Doug & The Slugs. He is best known for performing and writing Afternoon Delight… 

1949 ~ Eureka Stockade British film was released in Australia on the 7th May 1949. The film is about Peter Lalor and the gold miners’ rebellion of 1854 at the Eureka Stockade in Ballarat, Victoria. YouTube video: Eureka Stockade (1949) starring Chips Rafferty (as Peter Lalor), Peter Finch (as Humffray), Jack Lambert (as Commissioner Rede), Peter Illing (as Raffaello Carboni), Ralph Truman (as Governor Charles Hotham), Charles Tasman (as Governor Charles La Trobe), John Fegan (as Hayes), Dorothy Alison (as Mrs Bentley), John Cazabon as Seekamp, Al Thomas as Scobie, Jane Barrett (as Alicia Dunne)…

1969 ~ EAGLE-EYE CHERRY the Swedish musician was born on the 7th day of May in 1969.

1992 ~ The SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR STS-49 was launched on its first mission on the 7th day of May in 1992.

1994 ~ EDVARD MUNCH‘s iconic painting The SCREAM was recovered undamaged on the 7th day of May in 1994, after having been stolen from the National Gallery of Norway in February.

1998 ~ MERCEDES-BENZ bought CHRYSLER for $40 billion USD and formed DaimlerChrysler in the largest industrial merger in history on the 7th day of May in 1998.

1998 ~ EDDiE RABBiTT the American musician died on the 7th day of May in 1998 (b. 1941).