Did you know
François-Dominique Toussaint Louverture, also known as Toussaint L'Ouverture or Toussaint Bréda, was a Haitian general and the most prominent leader of the Haitian Revolution.
Notable Deaths on April 7
1804 — Toussaint Louverture
Haitian general (born 1743)
April 7 has 139 recorded notable deaths across history, from 30 to 2026. This focused page highlights 20 people with the strongest available profile context.
By thisDay.info Editorial Team · — Wikipedia
Notable Deaths
139 source records
30 – 2026
Today in history
Major events on April 7
See what else happened on this day in history.
- 2011 The Israel Defense Forces use their Iron Dome missile system to successfully intercept a BM-21 Grad launched from Gaza, marking the first short-range missile intercept ever. Source
- 1788 Settlers establish Marietta, Ohio, the first permanent settlement created by U.S. citizens in the recently organized Northwest Territory. Source
- 2003 Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide demands reparations of $21 billion from France for the Haitian independence debt. Source
- 1945 World War II: The Imperial Japanese Navy battleship Yamato, one of the two largest ever constructed, is sunk by United States Navy aircraft during Operation Ten-Go. Source
Did you know
William Godwin is considered one of the first exponents of utilitarianism and the first modern proponent of anarchism.
Did you know
Although Falsettos is often described as his Broadway debut, Finn had first reached Broadway three years earlier as lyricist for the short-lived Dangerous Games (1989).
Did you know
At the age of 32, he received the Academy Award for Best Director for Skippy (1931), becoming the youngest person to win the award for eight and a half decades.
Did you know
With Tottenham he won the FA Cup, the League Cup twice, the Charity Shield, and the UEFA Cup.
More major people who died on April 7
Notable people are ranked by substantive profile depth and public notability.
1836
William Godwin
English journalist and author (born 1756)
William Godwin was an English journalist, political philosopher and novelist. He is considered one of the first exponents of utilitarianism and the first modern proponent of anarchism.
2025
William Finn
American composer and lyricist (born 1952)
William Alan Finn was an American composer, lyricist, and book writer for musical theatre.
1981
Norman Taurog
American director and screenwriter (born 1899)
Norman Rae Taurog was an American film director and screenwriter. From 1920 to 1968, Taurog directed 180 films.
2024
Joe Kinnear
Irish football player and manager (born 1946)
Joseph Patrick Kinnear was an Irish professional football manager and player. As a defender, Kinnear spent the majority of his career spanning ten seasons with Tottenham Hotspur and one with Brighton & Hove Albion.
1868
Thomas D'Arcy McGee
Irish-Canadian journalist, activist, and politician (born 1825)
Thomas D'Arcy McGee was an Irish-Canadian politician, Catholic spokesman, journalist, poet, and a Father of Canadian Confederation.
1992
Ace Bailey
Canadian ice hockey player and coach (born 1903)
Irvine Wallace "Ace" Bailey was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs for eight seasons, from 1926 to 1933.
2007
Johnny Hart
American author and illustrator (born 1931)
John Lewis Hart was an American cartoonist noted as the creator of the comic strips B.C. and The Wizard of Id. Brant Parker co-produced and illustrated The Wizard of Id.
1779
Martha Ray
English singer (born 1746)
Martha Ray was a British singer of the Georgian era. Her father was a corsetmaker and her mother was a servant in a noble household.
1499
Galeotto I Pico
Duke of Mirandola (born 1442)
Galeotto I Pico della Mirandola was an Italian condottiero and nobleman, Signore of Mirandola and Concordia. He was noted by contemporaries for his tyranny.
1638
Shimazu Tadatsune
Japanese daimyō (born 1576)
Shimazu Tadatsune was a tozama daimyō of Satsuma, the first to hold it as a formal fief (han) under the Tokugawa shogunate, and the first Japanese to rule over the Ryūkyū Kingdom.
2019
Seymour Cassel
American actor (born 1935)
Seymour Joseph Cassel was an American actor who appeared in over 200 films and television shows, with a career spanning over 50 years.
1739
Dick Turpin
English criminal (born 1705)
Richard Turpin was an English highwayman whose exploits were romanticised following his execution in York for horse theft.
2014
V. K. Murthy
Indian cinematographer (born 1923)
Venkatarama Pandit Krishnamurthy known professionally as V. K. Murthy, was an Indian cinematographer. Murthy, a one-time violinist and jailed freedom fighter, was Guru Dutt's regular cameraman on his movies.
1960
Henri Guisan
Swiss general (born 1874)
Henri Guisan was a Swiss military officer who held the office of General of the Swiss Armed Forces during the Second World War.
1206
Frederick I
Duke of Lorraine
Frederick I was the duke of Lorraine from 1205 to his death. He was the second son of Matthias I and Bertha, daughter of Frederick II, Duke of Swabia.
1789
Abdul Hamid I
Ottoman sultan (born 1725)
Abdülhamid I' or Abdul Hamid I was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1774 to 1789.
1498
Charles VIII of France (born 1470)
Charles VIII, called the Affable, was King of France from 1483 to his death in 1498. He succeeded his father Louis XI at the age of 13.
1891
P. T. Barnum
American businessman and politician, co-founded The Barnum & Bailey Circus (born 1810)
Phineas Taylor Barnum was an American showman, businessman, and politician remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes and founding the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus with James Anthony Bailey.
2009
Dave Arneson
American game designer, co-created Dungeons & Dragons (born 1947)
David Lance Arneson was an American game designer best known for co-developing the first published role-playing game (RPG), Dungeons & Dragons, with Gary Gygax, in the early 1970s.