Today in History
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1724 Johann Sebastian Bach's St. John Passion is premiered
The sacred oratorio is the oldest extant Passion by the German composer. The highly popular work is
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1827 The first friction match is sold
English chemist John Walker produced and sold the first operable matches. They were soon banned in F
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1948 The World Health Organization is established
The WHO is a United Nations agency concerned with fighting disease and epidemics worldwide, building
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1969 The internet is born
The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) awarded a contract to build a precursor of today's worl
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1990 An arson attack on the passenger ferry, Scandinavian Star, kills 159
Insurance fraud is today considered the most likely motive for the attack. According to a 2013 repor
Births On This Day,
April, 7
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1964 Russell Crowe
New Zealand/Australian actor, singer, producer
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1954 Jackie Chan
Chinese actor, martial artist, director, producer, screenwriter
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1939 Francis Ford Coppola
American director, producer, screenwriter
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1920 Ravi Shankar
Indian/American sitar player, composer
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1915 Billie Holiday
American singer-songwriter, actress
Deaths On This Day,
April, 7
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1947 Henry Ford
American businessman, founded the Ford Motor Company
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1891 P. T. Barnum
American businessman, founded Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus
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1804 Toussaint Louverture
Haitian general
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1782 Taksin
Thai king
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1614 El Greco
Greek painter, sculptor
