Famous people born on May 7th
May 7 gathers an unusually wide-ranging set of birthdays, spanning Enlightenment philosophy, Victorian poetry, twentieth-century film, and modern pop culture. The date pairs major political figures with landmark artists and inventors whose ideas changed how people think, create, and communicate. From concert halls to movie screens to contemporary media, May 7 has produced enduring influence across continents and centuries.
Notable highlights
- David Hume (1711) - A central Enlightenment philosopher whose skepticism and empiricism helped shape modern ideas about knowledge and causation.
- Robert Browning (1812) - A leading Victorian poet celebrated for dramatic monologues such as "My Last Duchess", blending psychology with narrative intensity.
- Johannes Brahms (1833) - A master composer who fused Classical structure with Romantic emotion, leaving a cornerstone body of symphonies and chamber works.
- Eva Peron (1919) - Argentina's influential first lady whose advocacy for labor and women's political participation made her an enduring cultural symbol.
- Gary Cooper (1901) - An American screen icon known for restrained charisma, including his Oscar-winning role in "High Noon".
- Anne Baxter (1923) - An Academy Award-winning actress remembered for the ambitious Eve Harrington rival in "All About Eve".
- Edwin Land (1909) - The visionary behind Polaroid instant photography, transforming consumer imaging and optical engineering.
- Angela Carter (1940) - A bold British novelist who reimagined folklore and myth with feminist, surreal, and darkly comic twists.
- MrBeast (1998) - A digital-era celebrity whose large-scale challenge videos and philanthropy helped redefine the economics of online entertainment.
- J Balvin (1985) - A global reggaeton star who helped propel Latin urban music to mainstream international audiences.
On this day
- 1824 - Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 premieres in Vienna, introducing the "Ode to Joy" finale and reshaping the symphonic tradition.
- 1915 - The German ocean liner RMS Lusitania is sunk by a U-boat, a turning point in public opinion during World War I.
- 1945 - Germany signs a surrender at Reims, setting the stage for V-E Day and the end of the European theater in World War II.
- 1992 - The Space Shuttle Endeavour launches on STS-49, featuring the first mission of the new orbiter and a landmark three-person spacewalk.