Today in History
2000 Vladimir Putin becomes President of Russia
The former KGB officer enjoys widespread support in Russia, where living standards have improved dramatically under his leadership. Internationally, he has been chastised for his authoritarian government style.
1946 Sony is founded
The company started as Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering. It is now one of the leading manufacturers of electronic products.
1945 Germany’s Nazi regime surrendered unconditionally
The surrender brought an end to World War II, one of the bloodiest conflicts in history. According to estimates, between 40 and 71 million people died as a result of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime’s war and the Holocaust.
1915 A German U-Boat sinks the RMS Lusitania
The attack claimed 1198 lives, making it the deadliest shipwreck of World War I. The fact that some of the dead were American citizens influenced the decision to enter the war in 1917.
1895 Alexander Popov demonstrates the world’s first radio receiver
The Russian physicist originally intended the device to be a lightning detector. The following year, he made the first radio transmission between two buildings.
Births On This Day, May 7
1892 Josip Broz Tito
Yugoslav marshal, politician, 1st President of Yugoslavia
1861 Rabindranath Tagore
Indian author, poet, Nobel Prize laureate
1840 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Russian composer
1812 Robert Browning
English poet
1711 David Hume
Scottish economist, historian, philosopher
Deaths On This Day, May 7
2011 Seve Ballesteros
Spanish golfer
1940 George Lansbury
English politician
1840 Caspar David Friedrich
German painter
1825 Antonio Salieri
Italian composer
973 Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor
