Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
July 7 Tuesday, July 7, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on July 7 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
5
Holidays
1456
Religion 570 years ago
A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her execution.
A papal court posthumously overturns Joan of Arc's heresy conviction, declaring the trial that led to her execution 25 years earlier null and fraudulent.
History
What happened on July 7
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1124European history
The city of Tyre falls to the Venetian Crusade after a siege of nineteen weeks.
Tyre falls to the Venetian Crusade after a lengthy nineteen-week siege.
- 1456Religion
A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her execution.
A papal court posthumously overturns Joan of Arc's heresy conviction, declaring the trial that led to her execution 25 years earlier null and fraudulent.
- 1575UK history
The Raid of the Redeswire is the last major battle between England and Scotland.
English and Scottish forces clash in the Raid of the Redeswire, the last major battle between the two kingdoms before their union.
- 1585European history
The Treaty of Nemours abolishes tolerance to Protestants in France.
The Treaty of Nemours revokes the Edict of Nantes, ending official tolerance for French Protestants.
- 1667UK history
An English fleet completes the destruction of a French merchant fleet off Fort St Pierre, Martinique during the Second Anglo-Dutch War.
An English fleet completes the destruction of a French merchant fleet off Fort St Pierre, Martinique, during the Second Anglo-Dutch War.
- 1777US history
American forces retreating from Fort Ticonderoga are defeated in the Battle of Hubbardton.
American forces retreating from Fort Ticonderoga suffer a defeat at the Battle of Hubbardton.
- 1798US history
As a result of the XYZ Affair, the US Congress rescinds the Treaty of Alliance with France sparking the "Quasi-War".
The U.S. Congress rescinds the Treaty of Alliance with France, leading to the "Quasi-War."
- 1807World history
The first Treaty of Tilsit between France and Russia is signed, ending hostilities between the two countries in the War of the Fourth Coalition.
Napoleon Bonaparte and Tsar Alexander I sign a treaty, ending their nations' conflict in the War of the Fourth Coalition.
- 1863US history
The United States begins its first military draft; exemptions cost $300.
The U.S. implements its first military draft, with exemption fees set at $300.
- 1980Politics
Institution of sharia law in Iran.
Ayatollah Khomeini establishes sharia law, marking the Islamic Republic of Iran's commitment to Islamic jurisprudence.
- 1991War
Yugoslav Wars: The Brioni Agreement ends the ten-day independence war in Slovenia against the rest of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
The Brioni Agreement resolves the ten-day independence war in Slovenia, ending hostilities between Slovenia and the Yugoslav federal army.
- 2003Science
NASA Opportunity rover, MER-B or Mars Exploration Rover-B, was launched into space aboard a Delta II rocket.
The Opportunity rover begins its journey to Mars aboard a Delta II rocket.
Born today
Famous birthdays on July 7
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 57
Joe Sakic
Canadian ice hockey player
Joe Sakic, Canadian ice hockey legend who captained the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche for 17 seasons and spent his entire 21-year NHL career with the franchise, turns 56 today.
Born
1969
Turns 57
today
Félicien Rops
Belgian painter and illustrator
1833 – 1898
Sam Katzman
American director and producer
1901 – 1973
Bob Vanatta
American head basketball coach
1918 – 2016
Kevin A. Ford
American colonel and astronaut
b. 1960 · 66
Erik Zabel
German cyclist and coach
b. 1970 · 56
Asia O'Hara
American drag performer
b. 1982 · 44
Music
The number one songs on July 7
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on July 7, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport July 7, 2019
The United States defeated the Netherlands 2-0 at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup final in Lyon, France.
The U.S. women's national team won the FIFA Women's World Cup by defeating the Netherlands 2-0 in the final.
Read the story
🔬 Science July 7, 1959
Venus occults the star Regulus. This rare event is used to determine the diameter of Venus and the structure of the Venusian atmosphere.
Venus passes in front of Regulus, allowing scientists to measure Venus's diameter and study its atmospheric composition.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
5 celebrated today
Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Solomon Islands from the United Kingdom in 1978.
International
An Independence Day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or after the end o
Ivan Kupala Day (Belarus, Poland, Russia, Ukraine)
International
Kupala Night is one of the major folk holidays in some of the Slavic countries that coincides with the Christian feast of the Nativity of St
Saba Saba Day (Tanzania)
International
Saba Saba Day on 7 July celebrates various historic holidays in East Africa, particularly in Tanzania and Kenya
Tanabata (Japan)
International
Tanabata , also known as the Star Festival , is a Japanese festival originating from the Chinese Qixi Festival
World Chocolate Day
International
World Chocolate Day, or just Chocolate Day, is an annual celebration of chocolate, occurring globally on 7 July, which some suggest to be the anniversary of the introduction of chocolate to Europe in