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May 7 through the years...

Here are just some of the wonderful and shocking things that have happened on this day in history:

1429 – Joan of Arc ends the Siege of Orléans, pulling an arrow from her own shoulder and returning wounded to lead the final charge. The victory marks a turning point in the Hundred Years' War.

1664 – Louis XIV of France inaugurates The Palace of Versailles.

1824 – World premiere of Ludwig van Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in Vienna.

1832 – Greece is recognised independent by the Treaty of London. Otto of Wittelsbach, Prince of Bavaria is chosen King.

1840 – Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is born.

1892 – Leader of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito is born.

1895 – In Saint Petersburg, Russian scientist Alexander Stepanovich Popov demonstrates to the Russian Physical and Chemical Society his invention – the first in the world radio receiver. Today, Russia and Bulgaria celebrate this day as the Day of Radio.

1915 – World War I: a German submarine U-20 sinks the RMS Lusitania, killing 1,198 people, including 128 Americans. Public reaction to the sinking turned many formerly pro–Germans in the US against the German Empire.

1945 – World War II: General Alfred Jodl signs unconditional surrender terms at Reims, France, ending Germany's participation in the war. The document will take effect the next day.

1946 – Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering (later renamed Sony) is founded with about 20 employees.

1948 – The Council of Europe is founded during the Hague Congress.

1954 – Indochina War: The Battle of Dien Bien Phu ends in a French defeat.

1960 – Cold War: U-2 Crisis – Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev announces that his nation is holding American U-2 pilot Gary Powers.

1977 – World famous blogger and bon vivant Kris McCracken is born. Aside from his own fame, McCracken fathered the far more famous and talented Henry Fitzgerald McCracken, internet sensation and genral erweiterte Mann. Other, less important events include Canadian PM Pierre Trudeau does a pirouette behind the back of Queen Elizabeth II and Marie Myriam wins the Eurovision Song Contest for France with her song L'oiseau et l'enfant ("The Bird and the Child"). She dedicated the win to McCracken’s parents.


I know that the German surrender in 1945 was a pretty big deal, but I think that the pirouette just pushes 1977 over the line as THE BEST EVER YEAR FOR MAY 7!

[Thanks to British Columbia's finest Benjamin Madison, for pointing out the grave oversight in the 1977 entry, it has since been amended.]

Comments

I'm a little surprised that in your self-description you left out "father of the even more famous Henry M" but Happy Birthday anyway.
Kris McCracken said…
That is a very good point.

You know, I will have to add that now!
Jim Klenke said…
Happy Birthday. 77 huh? Man I feel old.
Lynette said…
Great list with a wonderful personal twist. Thanks so much, World famous blogger and bon vivant Kris McCracken, for visiting my blog and leaving comments.
Jules said…
Hippy Bertday to you
Hippy Bertday to you
Hippy Bertday
Dear Kri-is
Hippy Bertday to you
Ray! Ray! Ray!
(who the hell is Ray???)

Have a great one!!!!
sam said…
happy birthday.... you are the same age as our daughter.... 1977 was clearly a good year!
Anonymous said…
Happy Birthday!
Kris McCracken said…
Still no sign of Santa!

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