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7th April

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1963: Tito becomes President for life


Marshal Josip Broz Tito is declared president for life of Yugoslavia on April 7 1963. During the Second World War, Tito had been a leader of Yugoslavia's anti-Nazi resistance, and gained the support of the USSR. In 1945, he became the nation's undisputed leader and established a dictatorial regime. His refusal to answer to the Soviet Union while carrying out his own style of communism eventually won respect from both Moscow and Washington. His leadership spanned four decades before his death in 1980 at the age of 87.

2003

The Iraq War: American troops gain a strong foothold in Baghdad, and are close to gaining complete control of the city.

1994

In the Rwandan capital of Kigali, violence erupts between the Patriotic Front rebel group, dominated by Rwanda's Tutsi people, and government soldiers and militias, dominated by the Hutus.

1990

Two separate ferry accidents occur in Burma and Scandinavia respectively, killing in excess of three hundred people between the two disasters.

1986

In England, Sir Clive Sinclair sells his computer inventions to Amstrad.

1978

In America, President Jimmy Carter delays the production of the neutron bomb.

1976

Labour MP John Stonehouse quits the Labour Party leaving James Callaghan’s government with a majority of one.

1968

Former Formula One World Champion, Jim Clarke, is killed in a car crash whilst racing.

1955

Anthony Eden becomes Prime Minister of Great Britain.

1954

American President Dwight D. Eisenhower makes a speech in which he coins the phrase the “domino effect”, refereeing to the potential loss of French Indochina to communism.

1953

Dag Hammarskjold is elected secretary-general of the United Nations.

1948

The United Nations establishes the World Health Organization.  

1945

The Second World War: Allied forces sink the Japanese battleship Yamato.

1939

The Second World War: Italy invades Albania.

1906

In Italy, Mount Vesuvius erupts destroying Naples.

1906

In Spain, The Algeciras Conference concludes successfully bringing an end to the First Moroccan Crisis.

1941

English actor Gordon Kaye.

1939

Broadcaster Sir David Frost.

1939

Film director Francis Ford Coppola.

1931

English actress Lynne Perrie

1930

British actor Andrew Sachs

1928

American actor James Garner. Real name James Baumgarner.

1920

Guitarist Ravi Shankar

1915

Jazz singer Billie Holliday is born in Baltimore, USA. Real name Eleanora Fagan.

1891

New Zealand cartoonist Sir David Low

1770

English poet William Wordsworth.

1770

English poet William Wordsworth.

1964

British world motor-racing champion Jim Clark dies in a crash at the Hockenheim circuit in Germany.

1947

Car manufacturer Henry Ford dies aged 83.