Slideshow: Today In History, May 7
Today is Thursday, May 7.
Today's Highlight in History:
1824: Beethoven
In 1824, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, had its premiere in Vienna.
1915: RMS Lusitania
On May 7, 1915, in an incident that sparked international outrage, a German U-boat torpedoed and sank the British liner RMS Lusitania off the southern coast of Ireland, killing 1,198 people, including 128 Americans, out of the nearly 2,000 on board.
1939: Rome-Berlin Axis
In 1939, Germany and Italy announced a military and political alliance known as the Rome-Berlin Axis.
1942: Jonathan Wainwright
In 1942, U.S. Army Gen. Jonathan Wainwright went on a Manila radio station to announce the Allied surrender of the Philippines to Japanese forces during World War II.
1945: Germany Surrenders
In 1945, Germany signed an unconditional surrender at Allied headquarters in Rheims, France, ending its role in World War II.
1945: Pulitzer Prizes
In 1945, the 1944 Pulitzer Prizes were awarded; winners included John Hersey for his novel "A Bell for Adano," Mary Chase for her play "Harvey," and Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal for his picture of the Iwo Jima flag-raising.
1984: Agent Orange
In 1984, a $180 million out-of-court settlement was announced in the Agent Orange class-action suit brought by Vietnam veterans who charged they'd suffered injury from exposure to the defoliant.
1992: Endeavour
In 1992, the latest addition to America's space shuttle fleet, Endeavour, went on its first flight.
1995: Jacques Chirac
In 1995, Jacques Chirac (left), the conservative mayor of Paris, won France's presidency in his third attempt, defeating Lionel Jospin in a runoff to end 14 years of Socialist rule.
2005: Peter W. Rodino Jr
Ten years ago: Former congressman Peter W. Rodino Jr., who'd led the House impeachment investigation of President Richard Nixon, died in West Orange, New Jersey, at age 95.
2010: Deepwater Horizon
Five years ago: A BP-chartered vessel lowered a 100-ton concrete-and-steel vault onto the ruptured Deepwater Horizon well in an unprecedented, and ultimately unsuccessful, attempt to stop most of the gushing crude fouling the sea.
2010: World Ice Hockey Championships
Five years ago: Before a record hockey crowd of 77,803, the United States lost to host Germany 2-1 in the opening game of the world ice hockey championships.
Birthday: Aidy Bryant
Actress-comedian Aidy Bryant is 28.
Birthday: Alexander Ludwig
Actor Alexander Ludwig is 23.
Birthday: Amy Heckerling
Movie writer-director Amy Heckerling is 63.
Birthday: Bill Kreutzmann
Rock musician Bill Kreutzmann (Grateful Dead) is 69.
Birthday: Breckin Meyer
Actor Breckin Meyer is 41.
Birthday: Eagle-Eye Cherry
Singer Eagle-Eye Cherry is 44.
Birthday: Pete Domenici
Former Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., is 83.
Birthday: Thelma Houston
Rhythm-and-blues singer Thelma Houston is 72.
Birthday: Traci Lords
Actress Traci Lords is 47.
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