On this day

7 April in history.

5 moments from 1805 to 1983: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

World Health Organization @ Pregny-Chambésy

1948

The World Health Organization is born. The United Nations set up the World Health Organization to work on health across the world. 7 April is now marked as World Health Day.

Wikipedia: World Health Organization

Photo: Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

More from 7 April

  1. Beethoven with the manuscript of the Missa solemnis

    1805

    Beethoven's Eroica

    Beethoven's grand Third Symphony was first performed publicly in Vienna. It changed what people expected a symphony could be.

    Wikipedia: Symphony No. 3 (Beethoven)

    Photo: Joseph Karl Stieler / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  2. WASHINGTON, BOOKER T. Digitally retouched

    1940

    Booker T. Washington on a stamp

    The educator became the first African American shown on a United States postage stamp.

    Wikipedia: Booker T. Washington

    Photo: Harris & Ewing / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  3. Steve Crocker , the author of several Request for Comments documents, including the very first RFC

    1969

    A memo that started the internet's rules

    Steve Crocker published "RFC 1", the first of the shared notes on how computers should talk to each other. They still guide the internet today.

    Wikipedia: Request for CommentsWikipedia: Steve Crocker

    Photo: Joi Ito / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

  4. Story Musgrave (M.D.), NASA Astronaut

    1983

    The first Space Shuttle spacewalk

    Astronauts Story Musgrave and Donald Peterson stepped outside Challenger's cargo bay for the first spacewalk of the shuttle era.

    Wikipedia: Story MusgraveWikipedia: STS-6

    Photo: NASA / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Moments chosen for discovery, creativity and courage. Each one links to a source where you can read more; photos are credited to their owners.