ON THIS DAY

7 May

1643 – Four-year-old Louis XIV ascended the throne of France.

1796 – Edward Jenner administered the first vaccination against smallpox.

1948 – Israel declares independence from British administration.

1998 – The last episode of the television situation comedy Seinfeld aired after nine seasons and 180 shows. It was ostensibly a show about nothing and a landmark of American popular culture.