On This Day in History – November 7

Major Events

1. 1665 – The London Gazette, the oldest surviving English newspaper, is first published.
2. 1874 – The Republican Party is symbolized by the elephant for the first time in a political cartoon.
3. 1916 – Jeannette Rankin becomes the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress.
4. 1917 – The Bolsheviks overthrow the Russian Provisional Government during the October Revolution.
5. 1944 – Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected to a record fourth term as U.S. President.
6. 1967 – Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Public Broadcasting Act, creating PBS and NPR.
7. 1989 – Douglas Wilder is elected the first African American governor in U.S. history (Virginia).
8. 1991 – Magic Johnson announces his HIV-positive status and retirement from basketball.

Famous Birthdays

1. Marie Curie (1867–1934) – Polish-French physicist and chemist, Nobel laureate.
2. Albert Camus (1913–1960) – French philosopher and author.
3. Billy Graham (1918–2018) – American evangelist.
4. Joan Sutherland (1926–2010) – Australian opera singer.
5. Joni Mitchell (born 1943) – Canadian singer-songwriter.
6. Christopher Knight (born 1957) – American actor, The Brady Bunch.
7. David Guetta (born 1967) – French DJ and music producer.
8. Adam DeVine (born 1983) – American actor and comedian.

Notable Deaths

1. Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) – Former First Lady and human rights activist.
2. Steve McQueen (1930–1980) – American actor.
3. Leonard Cohen (1934–2016) – Canadian singer and poet.

Holidays

• October Revolution Day (Russia)
• National Cancer Awareness Day (India)
• National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day (USA)

Fun Facts

1. The London Gazette was published during the Great Plague of 1665.
2. Magic Johnson’s 1991 announcement reshaped global awareness of HIV/AIDS.
3. Marie Curie remains the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two sciences.