The English poet Robert Browning was born on May 7, 1812 at Southampton Way, Camberwell, London, England. Robert's father Robert Browning, a man of fine intellect and character, was a well-off clerk for the Bank of England. Robert was an extremely bright child and voracious reader and his father encouraged his interest in literature and the arts. By the age of twelve, Browning had written a book of poetry which he later destroyed when no publisher could be found.
The German composer Johannes Brahms was born in Hamburg, Germany on May 7, 1833. Johannes came from a humble but happy background. His father, Johann Jakob Brahms, was a poor (financially) musician who played the double bass in the orchestra of the Stadtheatre at Hamburg. His mother, Henrika Christiane Nissen, was a seamstress never previously married, who was seventeen years older than he was.
Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born on May 7, 1840 in Votkinsk, a grim industrial town halfway between Moscow and the Ural mountains. His father, Ilya Petrovich Tchaikovsky was a Ukrainian mining engineer who managed the Kamsko-Votkinsk Ironworks. Pyotr was a withdrawn child, who was affected by abnormal insensitivity. He sought refuge in music from an early age and began piano lessons at the age of five showing remarkable gifts.
For more May 7 anniversaries, including the founding of the city of New Orleans, the premiere of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and the deadliest volcanic eruption of the 20th century, check out OnThatDay.
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