Sorry to see these people go:
In , Benedict of Aniane, saint, dies
In , Gregory II, Greek-Syrian Pope, dies
In , Heraclius, emperor of Byzantium (610-641), dies at about 65
In , Paschal I, Italian Pope (817-24), dies
In , Theodora, the Saint, beauty queen/empress of Byzantine, dies
In 1141, Hugo of St-Victor, philosopher/theologist/mystic, dies
In 1503, Elizabeth of York, Consort of King Henry VII, dies on 38th birthday
In 1543, Ahmed Gran, sultan of Adal, dies in battle
In 1554, Lady Jane Grey, deposed Queen of England, beheaded after 9 day rule
In 1622, Alfonso Fontanelli, composer, dies at 64
In 1650, Rene Descartes, philosopher "I think therefore I am", stops thinking
In 1685, David Teniers III, Flemish painter, dies at 46
In 1762, Johann Tobias Krebs, composer, dies at 71
In 1797, Antoine Dauvergne, composer, dies at 83
In 1806, Vicente Martin y Soler, composer, dies at 51
In 1841, J H Ferdinand Olivier, German painter, dies at 55
In 1868, Lon Foucault, discovers 1st physical proof of Earth's rotation, dies
In 1870, Jacob M de Kempenaer, Dutch min of Internal Aff (1848-49), dies at 76
In 1870, Leopold Eugen Mechura, composer, dies at 66
In 1879, Honore Daumier, caricaturist/painter, dies
In 1879, Willem J van Zeggelen, Dutch author/novelist/writer, dies at 67
In 1882, Gustav Schmidt, composer, dies at 65
In 1892, Erik Anthon Valdemar Siboni, composer, dies at 63
In 1894, Pasqual Juan Emilio Arrieta y Corera, composer, dies at 70
In 1899, George Morgan, 1st English motorist to die in an motor accident, dies
In 1901, Milan I, king of Serbia, dies at 56
In 1903, Henryk Szulc, composer, dies at 67
In 1907, Peter J Savelberg, Dutch Limbourg monastery founder, dies at 80
In 1911, Albert von Rothschild, baron/Austrian banker, dies at 66
In 1922, Gerardus J P Bolland, Dutch philosopher (Bolland Society), dies at 67
In 1931, Charles Algernon Parsons, British inventor (steam turbine), dies at 76
In 1931, Charles Parsons, inventor of the steam turbine, dies
In 1939, Franz Schmidt, Austrian composer, dies at 64
In 1940, John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir, Gov-Gen of Canada (1935-40), dies
In 1941, Rudolf Hilferding, Germ economist/Min of Finance (SPD), suicide at 63
In 1944, Ivan Sollertinski, friend of Russian composer D Sjostakovitsj, dies
In 1945, Al Dubin, Swiss songwriter (Tiptoe Thru The Tulips), dies at 53
In 1945, J S H Lokerman, Dutch resistance fighter, dies in Neugengamme
In 1948, Sergy Eisenstein, film director, dies at 50
In 1961, Eduard R Verkade, Dutch actor/director (Pygmalion), dies at 82
In 1961, Patrice Lumumba, 1st premier Congo, murdered at 34
In 1963, Sylvia Plath, poet/novelist (Ariel), kills herself in London at 30
In 1968, Howard Lindsay, US playwright (State of the Union), dies at 78
In 1969, James Lanphier, actor (Flight of Lost Balloon), dies at 48
In 1970, Emil Abranyi, composer, dies at 87
In 1971, Whitney Young Jr, National Urban League director, drowns in Nigeria
In 1972, Jan Wils, architect (Olympian Stadium, Amsterdam), dies at 80
In 1973, Hans D Jensen, German physicist (Nobel prize 1963), dies at 65
In 1974, Anna Q Nilsson, actress (Toll Gate, Sorrell & Son), dies at 85
In 1976, Alice Allen, actress (Call of the Hills), dies
In 1976, Charlie Naughton, actor (Frozen Limits), dies at 89
In 1976, Lee J Cobb, actor (12 Angry Men, On the Waterfront), dies at 64
In 1977, Louis J M Beel, Dutch premier (1946-48, 58-59), dies at 74
In 1978, James B Conant, headmaster (Harvard University), dies at 84
In 1982, Eleanor Powell, tap dancer/wife of Glenn Ford, dies at 69 of cancer
In 1982, Takashi Shimura, Japans actor (Rashomon, 7 Samurais), dies at 76
In 1982, Victor Jory, Alaskan actor (Kings Row, Manhunt), dies at 79
In 1985, Heinz Eric Roemheld, composer, dies of pneumonia at 83
In 1985, Henry Hathaway, actor/director (Nob Hill), dies of heart attack at 86
In 1985, Ulysses Sipmson Kay, composer, dies at 68
In 1986, Frank [Patrick] Herbert, sci-fi author (Dune), dies at 65
In 1989, George O'Hanlon, actor/director (Bop Girl, Zamba), dies at 71
In 1991, Oscar Nitzchke, German architect (Alcoa building), dies at 90
In 1992, Ray Danton, US actor/director (Psychic Killer), dies at 60
In 1993, George A Stephen, inventor (Weber Kettle Grill), dies at 71
In 1993, Joy Garrett, actress (Days of Our Lives), dies of liver failure
In 1993, Oksana Kostina, Russian gymnist, dies in an auto accident
In 1994, Antonio Martin, Spanish cyclist, dies in cycling accident at 23
In 1994, Sorrell Brooke, actor (Mayor Hogg-Dukes of Hazzard), dies at 64
In 1994, William Conrad, actor (Cannon), dies of a heart attack at 73
In 1996, Amelia Rosselli, poet, dies at 65
In 1996, Bob Shaw, science fiction writer, dies of cancer at 64
In 1996, Cyril Poole, cricket (Notts 1946-62, England 1951-52 in 3 Tests), dies
In 1996, Kebby Musokotwane, prime minister of Zambia in (1985-89), dies
In 1996, Phil Regan, actor (Las Vegas Night, Dames, Housewife), dies at 88
In 1997, Don Porter, actor (Gidget), dies at 84
Events
In , -BC- Traditional founding of Japan by Emperor Jimmu Tenno
In , Oldest Pope elected; Siricius-bishop of Tarragona
In , St Paschal I ends his reign as Catholic Pope
In 1531, Henry VIII recognized as supreme head of Church in England
In 1543, Battle at Wayna Daga: Ethiopian/Portugese troops beat Moslem army
In 1543, Karel/Henry VIII sign anti-French covenant
In 1573, 1st European, Francis Drake sees the Pacific (from Panama)
In 1575, King Frederick of Denmark offers island of Hveen to Tycho Brahe
In 1638, Dutch countess Louise of Solms marries earl John of Brederode
In 1720, Sweden & Prussia sign peace (2nd Treaty of Stockholm)
In 1752, Pennsylvania Hospital, the 1st hospital in the US, opened
In 1766, Stamp Act declared unconstitutional in Virginia
In 1768, Samuel Adams letter, circulates around American colonies, opposing
In 1768, Townshend Act taxes
In 1790, Society of Friends petitions Congress for abolition of slavery
In 1793, Prussian troops occupy Venlo Neth
In 1794, 1st session of US Senate open to the public
In 1808, Anthracite coal 1st burned as fuel, experimentally, Wilkes-Barre, Pa
In 1809, Robert Fulton patents steamboat
In 1810, Napoleon marries Marie-Louise of Austria
In 1811, Pres Madison prohibits trade with Britain for 3rd time in 4 years
In 1812, Mass Gov Gerry signs a redistricting bill-1st "gerrymander"
In 1814, Norway's independence proclaimed
In 1826, London University founded
In 1837, American Physiological Society organizes in Boston
In 1840, Gaetano Donizetti's Opera "La Fille du Regiment," premieres in Paris
In 1843, Opera "I Lombardi," premieres in Milan
In 1851, 1st cricket 1st-class game in Australia, Tasmania v Vic, Launceston
In 1852, 1st British public female toilet opens (Bedford Street London)
In 1854, Major streets lit by coal gas for 1st time
In 1858, 1st apparition of Mary to 14-year-old Bernadette of Lourdes France
In 1861, President-elect Lincoln takes train from Spingfield IL to Wash DC
In 1861, US House unanimously passes resolution guaranteeing noninterference
In 1861, with slavery in any state
In 1873, Spanish Cortes fires king Amadeus I
In 1878, 1st US bicycle club, Boston Bicycle Club, forms
In 1878, 1st weekly Weather report published in UK
In 1889, Meiji constitution of Japan adopted; 1st Diet convenes in 1890
In 1893, A Charlois discovers asteroid #357 Ninina
In 1894, F Courty discovers asteroid #384 Burdigala
In 1895, -17øF (-27.2øC) in Braemar, Grampian (UK record)
In 1895, Georgetown became part of Wash DC
In 1896, Oscar Wildes "Salom," premieres in Paris
In 1897, White Rose Mission opens on East 97th Street, NYC
In 1898, Owen Smith of NC, AME Zion minister, named minister to Liberia
In 1899, -15øF (-26øC), Washington, DC (district record)
In 1899, -61øF, Montana (record low temperature)
In 1902, Police beats up universal suffrage demonstrators in Brussels
In 1903, Anton Bruckner's 9th Symfonie premieres in Vienna
In 1905, James Blackstone, Seattle, bowls 299«-last pin breaks but stands
In 1905, Pope Pius X publishes encyclical Vehementer nos
In 1907, A Kopff discovers asteroids #625 Xenia & #626 Notburga
In 1907, De Master's Dutch govt resigns
In 1907, Passenger ship Larchmont sinks by Block Island, 322 die
In 1908, Australia regain the Ashes with a 308 run cricket victory vs England
In 1908, Heemskerk's govt begins in Holland
In 1912, A Massinger discovers asteroid #727 Nipponia
In 1916, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra presents its 1st concert
In 1916, Emma Goldman arrested for lecturing on birth control
In 1919, Friedrich Ebert (SPD), elected president of Germany
In 1921, Ambassador Theater opens at 215 W 49th St NYC
In 1921, Max Wolf discovers asteroid #946 Poesia
In 1922, "April Showers" by Al Jolson hits #1
In 1922, US intervention army leaves Honduras
In 1926, Tokelau (Union) Islands in South Pacific transfers to NZ
In 1927, B Jekhovsky discovers asteroid #1181 Lilith
In 1927, K Reinmuth discovers asteroid #1111 Reinmuthia
In 1927, US female Figure Skating championship won by Beatrix Loughran
In 1927, US male Figure Skating championship won by Nathaniel Niles
In 1928, 2nd Winter Olympic games opens in St Moritz, Switzerland
In 1929, Eugene O'Neill's "Dynamo," premieres in NYC
In 1929, Vatican City (world's smallest country) made an enclave of Rome
In 1931, L Volta discovers asteroid #1191 Alfaterna
In 1932, K Reinmuth discovers asteroid #1220 Crocus
In 1935, -11øF (-24øC), Ifrane, Morocco (African record low)
In 1935, 1st US airplane flight with auto slung beneath fuselage, NY
In 1936, Pumping begins to build Treasure Island in SF Bay
In 1937, 44-day sit-down strike at General Motors in Flint Mich ends
In 1938, Steve Casey beats Lou Thesz in Boston, to become wrestling champ
In 1941, 1st Gold record presented (Glenn Miller-Chattanooga Choo Choo)
In 1941, Lt-Gen Erwin Rommel arrives in Tripoli
In 1941, Sicherheitsdienst complains about Dutch anti German sentiments
In 1942, "Archie" comic book debuts
In 1942, L Oterma discovers asteroid #2827 Vellamo & #6886 Grote
In 1943, General Eisenhower selected to command the allied armies in Europe
In 1943, Transport nr 47 departs with French Jews to nazi-Germany
In 1944, German troops reconquer Aprilia Italy
In 1944, U-424 sunk off Ireland
In 1945, 1st gas turbine propeller-driven airplane flight tested, Downey, CA
In 1945, Yalta agreement signed by FDR, Churchill & Stalin
In 1948, Billy Griffith scores cricket century on debut Eng v WI, out for 140
In 1948, John Costello follows Eamon Da Valera as premier of Ireland
In 1948, Test Cricket debut of Frank Worrell, v England Port-of-Spain
In 1949, Willie Pep recaptures world featherweight boxing title
In 1950, "Rag Mop" by The Ames Brothers hit #1
In 1950, L Boyer discovers asteroid #1598 Paloque
In 1951, Kwame Nkrumah wins 1st parliamentary election on Gold coast (Ghana)
In 1953, "Hazel Flagg" opens at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC for 190 performances
In 1953, J Styne/B Hilliard's musical "Hazel Flagg," premieres in NYC
In 1953, Pres Eisenhower refuses clemency appeal for Rosenberg couple
In 1953, Russia breaks diplomatic relations with Israel
In 1954, 6th Emmy Awards: I Love Lucy, Donald O'Connor & Eve Arden wins
In 1957, KUMV TV channel 8 in Williston, ND (NBC) begins broadcasting
In 1957, NHL Players Assn forms (NYC), Red Wings' Ted Lindsay elected president
In 1958, 1st flight with black stewardess, RC Taylor, Ithaca NY
In 1958, Marshal Chen Yi succeeds Chu En-lai as Min of Foreign affairs
In 1958, Ruth Carol Taylor is 1st Afr-American woman hired as flight attendant
In 1958, WTVC TV channel 9 in Chattanooga, TN (ABC) begins broadcasting
In 1959, Vinoo Mankad ends his final Test Cricket (v WI at Delhi)
In 1960, Jack Paar walks off his TV show
In 1961, Robert Weaver sworn in with then highest federal post by a black
In 1961, Trial of Adolf Eichmann begins in Jerusalem
In 1962, Beatles record "Please, Please Me"
In 1963, Beatles tape 10 tracks for their 1st album
In 1963, CIA Domestic Operations Division created (pretty scary!)
In 1964, Beatles 1st live appearance in US; Washington DC Coliseum
In 1964, Greek & Turks begin fighting in Limassol, Cyprus
In 1964, Taiwan drops diplomatic relations with France
In 1965, Beatle Ringo Starr marries Maureen Cox
In 1965, Braves propose to pay 5 from each ticket to bring a new team to Milw
In 1966, SF Giant Willie Mays signs highest contract, $130,000 per year
In 1968, Israeli-Jordan border fight
In 1968, Jeffrey Kramer survives 76-m jump, Wash Bridge, Hudson River NY
In 1968, Madison Square Garden III closes MSG IV opens (NYC)
In 1969, Diana Crump becomes 1st US woman jockey to ride against men, Hialelah
In 1969, Dorey Funk Jr beats Gene Kiniski in Tampa, to become NWA champ
In 1970, 26.37 cm (10.38") of rainfall, Mt Washington, NH (state 24-hr rec)
In 1970, Japan becomes 4th nation to put a satellite (Osumi) in orbit
In 1970, John Lennon pays 1,344 fines for 96 protesting South African
In 1970, rugby team playing in Scotland
In 1971, Montreal Canadien John Believau scores his 500th NHL goal
In 1971, US, UK, USSR, others sign Seabed Treaty outlawing nuclear weapons
In 1973, 1st one-day international for Pakistan & NZ
In 1973, 1st sub 17-min 1,500m female free style swim (Shane Gould 16m56.9s)
In 1973, Kathy Whitworth wins LPGA Naples-Lely Golf Classic
In 1973, Philadelphia 76ers lose their 20th NBA game in a row
In 1974, 1st baseball arbitration Twins pitcher Dick Woodson seeking $29,000
In 1974, Dick Woodson is 1st of 48 to invoke baseball's new arbitration rule
In 1974, Titan-Centaur Test launch fails
In 1974, wins, Twins offered $23,000
In 1975, Margaret Thatcher defeats Edward Heath for Conservative leadership
In 1976, Clifford Alexander Jr confirmed as 1st black secretary of Army
In 1977, 20.2-kg lobster caught off Nova Scotia (heaviest known crustacean)
In 1977, E Bowell & C T Kowal discover asteroid #3924 Birch
In 1977, Felix Aguilar Observatory discovers asteroid #3578
In 1978, 16 Unification church couples wed in NYC
In 1978, 25th hat trick in Islander history-Denis Potvin
In 1978, China lifts a ban on Aristotle, Shakespeare, & Dickens
In 1978, EOKA organization disbands in Cyprus
In 1979, "They're Playing Our Song" opens at Imperial NYC for 1082 perfs
In 1979, 43 million watch "Elvis!" on ABC
In 1979, Emmy News & Documentaries Award presentation
In 1979, Iran's premier Bakhtiar resigns, Ayatollah Khomeini seizes power
In 1979, Musical "They're Playing Our Song," premieres in NYC
In 1980, E Bowell discovers asteroid #2542 Calpurnia
In 1981, Australia all out 83 v India at MCG chasing 143 to win
In 1981, Polish premier Jozef Pinkowski replaced by Wojciech Jaruzelski
In 1982, Ozzie Smith for Garry Templeton trade finally goes through
In 1983, E Bowell discovers asteroid 2875 Lagerkvist, 3116 Goodricke,
In 1983, "Weird Al" Yankovic records "Ricky" & "Buckingham Blues" debut LP
In 1983, 3594 Scotti, #4764 Joneberhart & #5200 Pamal
In 1983, 4th largest snowfall in NYC history (18"(46 cm))
In 1983, C S Shoemaker discovers asteroid #5317 Verolacqua
In 1983, H Debehogne & G DeSanctis discover asteroid #4931 Tomsk
In 1983, N G Thomas discovers asteroid #3117 Niepce, 4198 Panthera & #4967 Glia
In 1983, T Seki discovers asteroid #3150 Tosa
In 1984, 10th space shuttle mission (41-B)-Challenger 4-returns to Earth
In 1984, Wayne Gretzky sets NHL short handed season scoring record at 11
In 1985, Copenhagen Observatory discovers asteroid #5165
In 1985, Jordan king Hussein & PLO leader Arafat sign accord
In 1985, Kent Hrbek signs 5-year, $6 million contract with Minn Twins
In 1985, Wasim Akram takes 10 wickets in his 2nd Test Cricket, NZ still wins
In 1986, Activist Anatoly Scharansky released by USSR, leaves country
In 1986, Australia beat India 2-0 to win the World Series Cup
In 1986, Iran begins Fajr-8 offensive against Iraq
In 1987, British Airways begins trading stocks
In 1987, England beat Australia 2-0 to win the World Series Cup
In 1987, Philippines constitution goes into effect
In 1987, US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
In 1988, E F Helin discovers asteroid #4344 Buxtehude, #4345 Rachmaninoff,
In 1988, #4825 Ventura, #5204 Herakleitos, #6001 Thales, #6186 Zenon,
In 1988, #6294 Czerny, #6295 Schmoll, #7012 Hobbes
In 1988, Anthony M Kennedy appointed to Supreme Court
In 1988, S Ueda & H Kaneda discover asteroid #5205
In 1989, Barbara Clementine Harris consecrated 1st female bishop (Episcopalian)
In 1989, E Elst discovers asteroid 5870 Baltimore, 5871 Bobbell & #5905 Johnson
In 1989, US female Figure Skating championship won by Jill Trenary
In 1990, 40th NBA All-Star Game: East beats West 130-113 at Miami
In 1990, James "Buster" Douglas KOs Mike Tyson to win heavyweight boxing crown
In 1990, Nelson Mandela (political prisoner-27 years) freed in South Africa
In 1990, US male Figure Skating championship won by Todd Eldredge
In 1991, Otomo & Muramatsu discover asteroid #5829 Ishidagoro & #6860 Sims
In 1991, UNPO, Unrepresented Nations & People Org forms in Hague Neth
In 1992, F-16 jet crashes at residential district of Hengelo Neth (No deaths)
In 1992, Michael Johnson runs indoor world record 400m (44.97 sec)
In 1993, Howard Stern's radio show begins transmitting to Rochester NY (WRQI)
In 1993, Irina Privalova runs world record 60m indoor (6.92 secs)
In 1993, Janet Reno selected by Clinton as US Attorney General
In 1994, K Endate & K Watanabe discover asteroid #8202
In 1994, Lu Parker, (South Carolina), crowned 43rd Miss USA
In 1994, Space shuttle STS-60 (Discovery 18), lands
In 1995, Danyon Loader swims world record 400m freestyle (340.46)
In 1995, Mark Foster swims world record 50m butterfly (23.55 sec)
In 1995, Sandra Vlker swims European record 50m backstroke (27.67 sec)
In 1995, Space shuttle STS-63 (Discovery 19), lands
In 1995, US male Figure Skating championship won by Todd Eldredge
In 1995, West Indies score 5-660 against NZ
In 1996, 46th NBA All-Star Game: East beats West 129-118 at San Antonio
In 1997, Bill Parcells becomes head coach of NY Jets
In 1997, STS 82 (Discovery 22) launches
In 1998, KVBC-FM (Las Vegas) offers Monica Lewinsky $5M for interview
In 1998, Lyrics to "Candle in the Wind 1997," auctioned for $442,500
Holidays
[Bangladesh] Shaheed Day
[Cameroon] Youth Day
[Flint Mich] White Shirt Day-end of blue collar sit down strike (1907)
[Florida] Gasparilla Carnival-rememberance of pirates
[Ft Myers, Florida] Pageant of Light (1884)
[Iran] Revolution Day (1979)
[Italy] Giorno della Conciliazione Day (1929)
[Japan] Empire Day
[Japan] Foundation Day (660 BC)-accession of Emperor Jimmu
[Liberia] Armed Forces Day
[Mauritius] Chinese Spring Festival
[US] National Inventors Day
[World] Boy Scouts Day (1910)
Observances
In 1858, [RC] Memorial of Apparition of Virgin at Lourdes (opt)
In 2017, [Jewish] Tu B'Shevat-Arbor Day (Shevat 15, 5777)
In 2047, [Jewish] Tu B'Shevat-Arbor Day (Shevat 15, 5807)
[Christian] Commemoration of St Theodora, Byzantine empress
[Christian] Feast of St Adolph
[Methodist] Race Relations Sunday (2nd Sunday in February)
[ORC] St Euphrosyne/Smaragdus
[Phil] Our Lady's Miraculous Apparitians of St Bernadette Soubirous
[RC] Feast of St Gregory II, 89th Roman Catholic pope (715-31)
[RC] Saturninus, priest/martyr to Abitinae
[Unification Church] True parents' birthday