John Walker invented wooden matches

🗓️ On This Day - April 7th

While April 7th may seem like just any other day at work, school, or even at home, it’s actually a fairly notable date in the calendar. Whether you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary or otherwise today, here are a few more reasons why April 7th is perhaps more important than it first appears.

On this day

Fort Mandan

Lewis and Clark went for a walk.

On April 7th 1805, the Lewis and Clark expedition finally began! Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, famed explorers, left Fort Mandan on their quest to reach the Pacific Ocean.

John Walker invented wooden matches

We learned how to make fire another way!

In 1827, English chemist John Walker invented wooden matches - and they’re still useful today. Handheld lighters are convenient, but if you ever need to harness the power of fire, just strike a match!

Herbert Hoover

The president made an important appearance!

In 1927, the Secretary of Commerce (and future US President) Herbert Hoover, appeared on television. That might not sound like much, but April 7th marked the first long-distance TV transmission on record - and it traveled from DC to New York thanks to AT&T.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Civil rights protests continued.

Following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., thousands of people continued to react angrily and protest across more than 100 cities nationwide. The unrest wouldn’t settle until at least May.

Saddam Hussein

US troops made an important move.

In 2003, US troops finally captured Baghdad, Iraq. This was a key move in their controversial victory of destroying Saddam Hussein’s regime, which fell two days later!

John Cena and The Rock fought it out!

And, on April 7th, 2003, wrestling fans everywhere tuned in to watch John Cena and The Rock battle it out in the ring! Cena eventually won, simultaneously winning his record 11th WWE Championship - and these days, you’re more likely to see both stars on the big screen than in the ring (though both have reappeared occasionally).

Special Days Falling on April 7th

There’s always a national day or two out there to celebrate, and April 7th really isn’t any different! Let’s take a look at a few of the bigger occasions people are marking today, and what you can do to get involved.
National No Housework Day

National No Housework Day

Let’s face it, none of us really enjoy doing housework! As rewarding as it can be, it can quickly get on top of us and obviously leaves less time for simply relaxing. Well, today you have the right to leave the washing-up, and the bed unfolded, forget about the hoover and put that duster away, as it’s National No Housework Day!

Coffee Cake

National Coffee Cake Day

There’s nothing quite like a coffee cake. It’s sweet, rich, and good at pretty much any time of the day! And today is the perfect day to indulge in it! So, head to your favorite bakery, or even try making it yourself, and grab yourself a sweet treat or two (while dodging the housework!).

National Beer Day

National Beer Day

What better drink to wash that coffee cake down than beer? OK, maybe the two don’t famously go well together, but there’s no reason you can’t have them both on the same day! And, as it’s also National Beer Day, you pretty much have to! So, choose your favorite ale or lager, and enjoy a nice cold beer at the end of the day!

This page was last modified on August 3, 2023. Suggest an edit