This Day in History
February 24

Copyright © 2006-2024 Ken Polsson
internet e-mail: ken@kpolsson.com
URL: http://kpolsson.com/thisday/
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What happened in history on this day: February 24?

On February 24 in ...

  • 303 - First official Roman edict for persecution of Christians issued.
  • 1208 - Saint Francis of Assisi, 26, receives his vocation in Portiuncula Italy.
  • 1296 - Pope Boniface VIII degree Clericis Iaicos.
  • 1304 - Birth of Muhammad ibn Battutah Arab travel writer (Travels in Asia and Africa).
  • 1389 - Battle at Falköping: Danes defeat King Albert of Sweden.
  • 1463 - Birth of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola Italy, scholar/platonist.
  • 1496 - England's Henry VII ends commercial dispute with Flanders.
  • 1500 - Birth of Emperor Charles V king of Spain (1516-56)/Holy Roman Emperor.
  • 1501 - Birth of Sixt(us) Birck [Xystus Betulius] German writer (Suzanna).
  • 1510 - Pope Julius II excommunicates the republic of Venice.
  • 1525 - Battle at Pavia: Emperor Karel V's troops beat French king, François I caught taken/8700 killed.
  • 1527 - Ferdinand of Austria crowned as king of Bohemia.
  • 1528 - János Zápolyai, Hungarian king, recognizes Sultan Suleiman's suzerainty.
  • 1530 - First imperial coronation by a Pope, Charles V crowned by Clement V.
  • 1536 - Birth of Clement VIII [Ippolito Aldofireini], Fano Italy, last Counter-Reformation pope (1592-1605).
  • 1538 - King Ferdinand of Austria and King János Zápolyai of Hungary sign Peace of Grosswardein.
  • 1541 - Santiago, Chile founded by Pedro de Valvidia.
  • 1545 - Birth of Don John of Austria the elder, Austrian general.
  • 1547 - Birth of Jan of Austria Spanish military man/land guardian of the Netherlands.
  • 1552 - Privileges of the Hanseatic League in England are abrogated.
  • 1557 - Birth of Matthias C Sarbiewski [Sarbievius] in Vienna; Polish Jesuit/poet/Holy Roman Emperor (1612-19).
  • 1563 - François Guise French General/duke, assassinated at age 44.
  • 1581 - Pope Gregory approves the results of his calendar reform commission.
  • 1582 - Pope Gregory XIII announces New Style (Gregorian) calendar.
  • 1597 - Flemish painter Frederick of Valckenborch becomes porter of Frankfurt-on-Main.
  • 1607 - Claudio Monteverdi's opera "Orfeo" premieres in Mantua.
  • 1613 - English princess Elizabeth marries earl Frederik of Palts.
  • 1619 - Birth of Charles Le Brun Paris, painter, designer (The Chancellor Séguier).
  • 1622 - Birth of Johann Clauberg in Solingen; philosopher (Defensio Cartesiana (1652), Ars Etymologica Teutonum e Philosophiae (1663)).
  • 1624 - Vicente Espinel Spanish adventure/chaplain (Marcos de Obrégon), dies at age 72.
  • 1642 - Marco da Gagliano Italian opera composer, dies at about age 66.
  • 1666 - Nicholas Lanier composer, dies at age 77.
  • 1679 - Birth of Domenico Natale Sarro Italian opera composer.
  • 1684 - Birth of Catherine I Empress of Russia 1725-27, Dorpat, Estonia.
  • 1686 - Ferdinando Tacca Italian painter/son of Pietro Tacca, dies at age 66.
  • 1697 - Birth of Bernard S Albinus [Weiss], German surgeon/anatomist.
  • 1708 - Prince Johan Willem Friso sworn in as viceroy of Groningen.
  • 1711 - Händel's opera "Rinaldo" premieres, London.
  • 1766 - Birth of Samuel Wesley Bristol England, composer/organist (Exultate Deo).
  • 1779 - George Rogers Clark captures Vincennes, India from British.
  • 1786 - Birth of Wilhelm Karl Grimm in Hanau; German story teller (Grimm's Fairy Tales).
  • 1786 - Charles Cornwallis is appointed Governor-General of India.
  • 1793 - French troops conquer Breda.
  • 1799 - Death of Broerius Brorius at about age 41; theologist (Pensive Christian).
  • 1803 - US Supreme Court first rules a law unconstitutional (Marbury versus Madison).
  • 1806 - Death of John Nieuwenhuijzen at age 81; theologist (Society for General Use).
  • 1807 - Seventeen die and 15 wounded in a crush to witness execution of Holloway, Heggerty and Elizabeth Godfrey in England.
  • 1809 - Birth of Albert Schäffle; German sociologist (Abriss der Soziologie).
  • 1809 - Birth of Edwin H K Freiherr von Manteuffel; governor/viceroy (Elzas-Lutherian).
  • 1811 - Birth of Daniel A Payne; Bishop/reformer/educator of AME Church.
  • 1811 - Birth of Edward Dickinson Baker; US Major General (Union volunteers) (dies 1861).
  • 1815 - Robert Fulton, steamboat pioneer, dies.
  • 1821 - Mexico gains independence from Spain.
  • 1824 - Birth of John Crawford Vaughn; Brigadier General (Confederate Army) (dies 1875).
  • 1827 - Birth of Charles Davis Jameson; Brigadier General (US volunteers) (dies 1862).
  • 1829 - Auguste Chouteau, Saint Louis co-founder, dies.
  • 1831 - Birth of Georg Leo earl von Caprivi; German chancellor/premier of Prussia.
  • 1833 - Birth of Eduard earl von Taaffe; Austrian premier (1868-93).
  • 1836 - 3,000 Mexicans attack 182 Texans at the Alamo.
  • 1836 - Birth of Winslow Homer; US painter (Gulfstream).
  • 1836 - In San Antonio, Texas, Colonel William Travis issues a call for help on behalf of the Texan troops defending the Alamo, a fortress under attack by the Mexican army.
  • 1838 - Birth of Thomas Benton Smith; Brigadier General (Confederate Army) (dies 1923).
  • 1839 - Steam shovel patented by William Otis, in Philadelphia.
  • 1848 - Louis Philippe, King of the French, abdicates after days of revolution in France.
  • 1848 - Birth of C Grant B Allen; Canadian writer (Woman Who Did).
  • 1848 - Birth of Johanna C P Barbiers; actress (Voddenraper of Paris).
  • 1848 - Frans van Campenhout, Belgian singer/composer (Brabançonne), dies at age 69.
  • 1852 - Birth of George A Moore in Ireland; painter/novelist (Esther Waters).
  • 1854 - Birth of Franz Courtens; Flemish painter (Golden Rain).
  • 1855 - US Court of Claims established for cases against the government.
  • 1860 - Birth of Daniel Berkeley Updike; printer/publisher/writer (Printing Types).
  • 1862 - Bernard S Ingemann, Danish author (Holger Danske), dies at age 72.
  • 1863 - The US government creates the Arizona Territory.
  • 1868 - First US parade with floats (Mardi Gras, in Mobile, Alabama).
  • 1868 - US House of Representatives vote 126 to 47, to impeach President Andrew Johnson for violation of the Tenure of Office act.
  • 1872 - Birth of John Jarvis in England; swimmer (won 108 titles).
  • 1874 - Birth of Honus Wagner; Hall Of Fame shortstop (Pittsburgh Pirates, 1900-17).
  • 1876 - Birth of Victor Moore in Hammonton, New Jersey, USA; comedian (Ziegfeld Follies, Seven Year Itch).
  • 1879 - Birth of Herman Teirlinck; Belgian writer (Sun).
  • 1881 - De Lesseps' Company begins work on Panamá Canal.
  • 1885 - Birth of Chester Nimitz; US Admiral (commanded Pacific fleet in WWII).
  • 1885 - Birth of Bert Lytell in New York City, New York, USA; actor (Henry - One Man's Family).
  • 1885 - Birth of Joseph Sprinzak; Speaker of Israeli Knesset (1949-59).
  • 1885 - Birth of Juliusz Kaden-Bandrowski; Polish novelist/satirist (Black Wings).
  • 1885 - In the North Pacific, the crew of the barque Innerwich en route from Japan to Vancouver, witnesses the sky turning fiery red, falling into the sea 50 yards away with a blast and hissing sound. Then a wave of white foam passes under the ship.
  • 1887 - Birth of Mary Ellen Chase; US linguistic/author (White Gate).
  • 1888 - Louisville, Kentucky, becomes first government in US to adopt Australian ballot.
  • 1890 - Birth of Marjorie Main [Tomlinson] in Action, Indiana, USA; actress (Another Thin Man).
  • 1891 - French troops under Captain Archinard occupy Diéna, West Sudan.
  • 1892 - In Imperial Valley, California, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake occurs. At the old Carrizo station in San Diego County, all adobe buildings are destroyed.
  • 1894 - Nicaragua captures Tegucigalpa, Honduras (National Day, sort of).
  • 1895 - Cuban war of independence begins.
  • 1898 - Birth of Kurt Tank; German WWII aircraft designer.
  • 1899 - Birth of Jacob Presser; Dutch historian/writer (Down-fall).
  • 1902 - Battle at Yzer Spruit: Boer General De la Rey beats British.
  • 1903 - US signs agreement acquiring a naval station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
  • 1905 - Simplon tunnel in Switzerland is completed.
  • 1906 - Birth of Alexis Curvers; Belgian author (Tempo di Roma, Bourg-le-Rond).
  • 1909 - Birth of August William Derleth in Sauk City, Wisconsin, USA; writer (Judge Peck Mysteries).
  • 1909 - Birth of Max Black; Dutch/British/US philosopher (analytical philosophy).
  • 1914 - Birth of Zachary Scott in Austin, Texas, USA; actor (Spotlight Playhouse, Mildred Pierce).
  • 1917 - Birth of William Fairbank in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; physicist (superconductivity).
  • 1917 - German plan to get Mexican help in Great War is exposed (Zimmerman telegram).
  • 1917 - Boston Red Sox sell Smokey Joe Wood, his pitching arm dead at age 26, to Cleveland Indians for $15,000.
  • 1917 - Russian revolution breaks out.
  • 1918 - Estonia declares independence from Russia.
  • 1919 - US President Woodrow Wilson creates American Relief Administration.
  • 1920 - Birth of Frank Rogers; CEO (NPA Telegraph).
  • 1920 - NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers' Party) begins at Hofbräuhaus, Münich, Germany.
  • 1920 - Peace treaty gives Estonia independence.
  • 1921 - First US transcontinental flight in 24 hours flying time arrives in Florida.
  • 1921 - Birth of Abe Vigoda in New York City, New York, USA; actor (Barney Miller, Fish).
  • 1921 - Birth of Douglass Watson in Jackson, Georgia, USA; actor (Satan Murders, Another World).
  • 1922 - Alfred Espinas French, sociologist (Sociétes Animales), dies at age 77.
  • 1922 - Birth of Kanwar Rai Singh; cricket player (batted at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Test for India 1948).
  • 1922 - Birth of Steven Hill in Seattle, Washington, USA; actor (Goddess, Raw Deal, Yentl, Law and Order).
  • 1923 - Mass arrests in US of Mafia.
  • 1924 - Birth of Lionel Dakers; director (Royal School of Church Music).
  • 1924 - Edmond Picard, French/Belgian writer (Ambidextre journalist), dies at age 87.
  • 1924 - Greek parliament proclaims republic.
  • 1924 - Johnny Weissmuller swims 100-metre record (57.4 seconds).
  • 1924 - Mahatma Gandhi is released from jail.
  • 1925 - Thermite explosive first used to break up ice jam, Waddington, New York, USA.
  • 1926 - Eddie Plank, pitcher (won 327 games in 17 years), dies at age 51.
  • 1928 - Birth of Al Lettieri in New York City, New York, USA; actor (Deadly Kiss, Pulp, Mr Majestyk, Getaway).
  • 1928 - Birth of Michael Harrington in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA; socialist/author (Fragments of Century).
  • 1928 - Birth of Paul B Elvström in Denmark; yachtsman (Olympics-gold-1948, 1952, 1956, 1960).
  • 1929 - Birth of David Houston; Major-General/Lord Lieutenant of Sutherland.
  • 1929 - Birth of Richard B Shull in Evanston, Illinois, USA; actor (Diana, Holmes and Yo-Yo).
  • 1930 - Birth of Barbara Lawrence in Carnegie, Oklahoma, USA; actress (Joe Dakota).
  • 1930 - Jacobus van Looy, Dutch writer/painter (Night Cactus), dies at age 74.
  • 1931 - Birth of Brian Close; British cricket player (played for England between 1949 and 1976).
  • 1931 - Birth of Maezumi Hakuyu Taizan Koun; teacher Rinzai/Soto lines of Zen Buddhism.
  • 1931 - Birth of Dominic Chianese; actor (The Sopranos).
  • 1932 - Birth of Andrew Jacobs Junior; American politician (Representative-Democrat-Indiana, 1965-73, 1975-).
  • 1932 - Birth of Everard Goodman; English real estate developer (TOPS Estates).
  • 1932 - Birth of John Vernon in Zehner, Saskatchewan, Canada; actor (Wojek TV show, Delta House, Matrix, Acapulco HEAT, Batman, Animal House, Chained Heat, Dirty Harry).
  • 1932 - Birth of Michel Legrand; movie composer (Summer of '42, Windmills of Your Mind).
  • 1932 - Malcolm Campbell drives record speed (253.96 mph) at Daytona.
  • 1933 - Final demonstration of German communist party in Berlin.
  • 1933 - League of Nations tells Japanese to pull out of Manchuria.
  • 1933 - In Stratford, Texas, a bright fireball is seen in the sky, falling as a 4-pound metallic meteorite.
  • 1933 - Spottiswoode Aitken, actor (Eagle, Home Sweet Home), dies at age 64.
  • 1934 - Birth of Bettino Craxi; Italy's first socialist premier (1983-87).
  • 1934 - Birth of Flemming Nielsen in Denmark; soccer player (Olympics-silver-1960).
  • 1934 - Birth of Frank Chapot; American equestrian (Olympics-silver-1960, 1972).
  • 1934 - Birth of Linda Cristal in Buenos Aires, Argentina; actress (Victoria - High Chapparal).
  • 1934 - Birth of Renata Scotto in Savona, Italy; soprano (Violetta - La Traviata).
  • 1937 - First US group hospital-medical cooperative authorized, Washington DC.
  • 1937 - Birth of Jerry Wiggin; British Member of Parliament.
  • 1938 - Birth of James Farentino in Brooklyn, New York, USA; actor (Dead and Buried, Final Countdown, Dynasty, Blue Thunder, Jesus of Nazareth).
  • 1938 - Birth of Kathleen Richardson; president (Methodist Conference).
  • 1938 - Du Pont begins commercial production of nylon toothbrush bristles.
  • 1939 - Birth of George Bain; principal (London Business School).
  • 1940 - Birth of Jimmy Ellis; WBA heavyweight boxing champion (1968-70).
  • 1940 - Birth of Theo Bosch; Dutch humanist/architect (Nieuwmarkt Amsterdam).
  • 1941 - 43 Geuzen resistance fighter trial opens in The Hague.
  • 1941 - Anti-Nazi meeting at Noordermarkt, Amsterdam.
  • 1941 - Oskar Loerke, German film director (The Longest Day - 1926), dies at age 56.
  • 1942 - Birth of David K Williamson; Australian screenplay/playwright (Removalists).
  • 1942 - Birth of Joe Lieberman; American politician (Senator-Democrat-Connecticut).
  • 1942 - Birth of Paul Jones in England; rocker (Manfred Mann - "Mighty Quinn").
  • 1942 - Birth of Jenny O'Hara; actress (King of Queens, Big Love, Facts of Life).
  • 1942 - Voice of America shortwave radio service (propaganda tool) begins broadcasting (in German).
  • 1943 - Texas League announces it will quit for the duration of WWII.
  • 1943 - Birth of George Harrison in Liverpool, England; rocker ("My Sweet Lord", Beatles - "Something", Traveling Wilburys - "End of the Line"), actor (A Hard Day's Night, Yellow Submarine).
  • 1944 - Argentina coup by Juan Peron, minister of war.
  • 1944 - Birth of Nicky Hopkins in London, England; keyboard player (Screamin' Lord Sutch's Savages, Cyril Davies R-and-B All-Stars), sessions player (The Beatles, The Rolling Stones - "Ruby Tuesday", The Who, Jeff Beck, Quicksilver).
  • 1944 - Birth of Sheila Larkin in Brooklyn, New York, USA; actress (Deborah - Storefront Lawyer).
  • 1944 - Leo Hendrick A Baekeland, Belgian/US chemist (Bakelite), dies at age 80.
  • 1945 - Ahmed Maher Pasha, Egypt's Prime Minister, assassinated in parliament.
  • 1945 - Birth of Alain Prost in France; Formula One race driver (1985, 1986, 1989, 1993) and team owner.
  • 1945 - Egypt and Syria declare war on Germany.
  • 1945 - Manila freed from Japanese.
  • 1946 - Birth of Anthony Mayer; chief executive (Housing Corporation).
  • 1946 - Birth of Barry Bostwick in San Mateo, California, USA; actor (Spin City, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Lexx, Megaforce, Movie Movie, Scruples, Foul Play, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit).
  • 1946 - Birth of Jenny O'Hara in Sonora, California, USA; actress (Wishmaster, Facts of Life, My Sister Sam).
  • 1946 - Birth of Michael Radford; director (1984, White Mischief).
  • 1946 - Juan Peron elected President of Argentina.
  • 1947 - Birth of Edward James Olmos in Los Angeles, California, USA; actor (Miami Vice, Stand and Deliver, Triumph, Battlestar Galactica, American Family).
  • 1947 - Birth of Lonnie Turner; bassist/vocalist (Steve Miller Band - "Abracadabra").
  • 1947 - Birth of Rupert Holmes in Tenafly, New Jersey, USA; producer, singer (Piña Colada song).
  • 1948 - Birth of Dennis "Minder" Waterman in London, England; actor (Fair Exchange).
  • 1949 - Birth of John Lever; cricket player (England lefty quick in 21 Tests 1976-81).
  • 1949 - Israel and Egypt sign an armistice agreement.
  • 1949 - V-2/WAC-Corporal first rocket to outer space, White Sands, New Mexico, 400km.
  • 1950 - Birth of G J M Gazdar; computational linguist.
  • 1950 - Labour wins British parliamentary election.
  • 1951 - Birth of Derek Randall; cricket player (England batsman and animated cover fieldsman).
  • 1951 - Birth of Helen Shaver in Ontario, Canada; actress (WIOU, Praise of Older Women, The Education of Max Bickford).
  • 1951 - Birth of Debra Jo Rupp; actress (That '70s Show).
  • 1951 - Ice Pairs Championship at Milan won by Ria Baran and Paul Falk of Germany.
  • 1951 - Ladies Figure Skating Championship in Milan won by Jeanette Altwegg of Great Britain.
  • 1951 - Men's Figure Skating Championship in Milan won by Richard Button (USA).
  • 1952 - Betty MacKinnon and Sam Snead win LPGA Orlando Mixed Golf Tournament.
  • 1952 - Birth of Tom Burleson in USA; basketball (Olympics-silver-1972) tallest Olympian - 7 feet 4 inches.
  • 1953 - [Karl R] Gerd von Rundstedt, General-field marshal (Normandy, Ardennes), dies at age 77.
  • 1954 - Birth of Sid Meier in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada; creator of Civilization computer games, Pirates, and Railroad Tycoon.
  • 1955 - Silk Stockings opens at Imperial Theater in New York City for 461 performances.
  • 1955 - Birth of Bob Abrams in Ohio, USA; rocker (Buckinghams).
  • 1955 - Birth of Steven Paul Jobs; cofounder of Apple Computer, founder of NeXT Computer.
  • 1956 - Birth of Eddie Murray in Los Angeles, California, USA; first baseman (Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians).
  • 1956 - Birth of Paula Zahn; news correspondent (CBS, CNN).
  • 1957 - Birth of Phil McConkey; NFL wide receiver (New York Giants).
  • 1958 - Birth of Sammy Kershaw in Kaplan, Louisiana, USA; country vocalist (Cadillac Style).
  • 1958 - Birth of Susan Scannell in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA; actress (Nicole - Dynasty).
  • 1958 - Fernand Baldensperger [Fernand Baldenne], French poet, dies at age 86.
  • 1959 - Birth of Beth Broderick in Falmouth, Kentucky, USA; actress (Aunt Zelda - Sabrina).
  • 1959 - Birth of Michael Roy Whitney; cricket player (great New South Wales and Aussie lefty quick 1981-92).
  • 1960 - Italian government of Segni falls.
  • 1960 - US beats Germany in Olympics hockey finals round, 9-1.
  • 1961 - Birth of Janice Gibson in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA; LPGA golfer (1994 Youngstown-Warren-15th).
  • 1961 - Birth of Persijn "Dakota" Joling; Dutch rock guitarist/singer (Pilgrims - "Red").
  • 1961 - Birth of Ruud Really; soccer player (Feyenoord).
  • 1961 - Explorer 10 fails to reach Earth orbit.
  • 1961 - Léon Jeunehomme, Belgian teacher (Pédagogie en Cours), dies at age 77.
  • 1962 - General mobilization in Indonesia over New-Guinea.
  • 1962 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site.
  • 1963 - Birth of Fuad Reveiz; NFL kicker (Minnesota Vikings).
  • 1963 - Birth of Matias Carrillo; Mexican/US baseball outfielder (Florida Marlins).
  • 1964 - Alexander Archipenko, Ukrainian sculptor/water colors painter, dies at age 76.
  • 1964 - Frank Conroy, actor (Midnight Mary, Threat), dies at age 73.
  • 1965 - Birth of Paul Gruber; NFL tackle (Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
  • 1965 - East German President Ulbricht visits Egypt.
  • 1966 - Birth of Billy Zane; actor (Orlando, Memphis Belle, Millions, Titanic, Charmed, Boston Public, Twin Peaks).
  • 1966 - Birth of Rene Arocha; Cuban/American baseball pitcher (Saint Louis Cardinals).
  • 1966 - Coup ousts President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana.
  • 1966 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site.
  • 1967 - Franz Waxman, German composer (Day at the races), dies at age 60.
  • 1968 - First pulsar discovered (CP 1919 by Jocelyn Burnell at Cambridge).
  • 1968 - Birth of John Velddman; soccer player (Sparta).
  • 1968 - Birth of Kendall Cross in Hardin, Montana, USA; 125.5 pounds freestyle wrestler (Olympics-gold-1992, 1996).
  • 1968 - Birth of Vaughn Booker; NFL defensive end (Kansas City Chiefs).
  • 1968 - US troops reconquer Hue, Vietnam.
  • 1969 - Kenneth Green, actor (Penrod), dies of heart attack at age 61.
  • 1970 - 29 Swiss Army officers die in avalanche (Reckingen, Switzerland).
  • 1970 - Birth of Jeff Garcia; Canadian Football League quarterback (Calgary Stampeders).
  • 1970 - Birth of Jonathan Ward in Baltimore, Maryland, USA; actor (Doug - Charles in Charge, Beans Baxter).
  • 1970 - Birth of Wilson Alvarez in Maracaibo, Venezuela; pitcher (Chicago White Sox).
  • 1970 - Death of Conrad Nagel at age 73; host (The Silver Theatre on radio and TV, Hollywood Preview, The Conrad Nagle Theatre), actor (Studio One, Kraft TV Theatre, The Defenders, Route 66, Celebrity Time).
  • 1970 - Heintje Simons (14) wins 7 gold records.
  • 1971 - Algeria nationalizes French oil companies.
  • 1971 - Birth of Brian Savage in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada; NHL left wing (Montreal Canadiens).
  • 1972 - Birth of Larry Amar in Camarillo, California, USA; field hockey midfielder/captain (Olympics-1996).
  • 1972 - Birth of Manon Rheaume in Lac Beauport, Québec, Canada; first female NHL player (Tampa Bay Lightning).
  • 1972 - Birth of Patricia Regan Leines in Medford, Oregon, USA; Miss Oregon-America (1996-third).
  • 1972 - Birth of Ron Davis NFL; cornerback (Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers-Superbowl 31).
  • 1973 - Art Smith, actor (Quicksand), dies of heart attack at age 73.
  • 1973 - Birth of Alexei Kovalev in Moscow, Russia; NHL right wing (New York Rangers).
  • 1973 - Birth of Harold Morrow; full back (Minnesota Vikings).
  • 1973 - Birth of James Michael Kennedy in Boston, Massachusetts, USA; rocker (For Fun - "Unbelievable Fun Boys").
  • 1973 - Birth of Kavis Reed; Canadian Football League defensive back (Edmonton Eskimos).
  • 1974 - Atje Keulen-Deelstra becomes world champion all-round skater.
  • 1974 - Birth of Jeremy Laster in Fullerton, California, USA; water polo driver (Olympics-1996).
  • 1974 - Birth of Simeon Rice; defensive end (Arizona Cardinals).
  • 1974 - Pakistan officially recognizes Bangladesh.
  • 1974 - Birth of Bonnie Somerville; actress (NYPD Blue, Grosse Pointe).
  • 1975 - Nikolai A Bulganin, marshal/premier of USSR (1955-58), dies at age 79.
  • 1976 - Cuba adopts its constitution.
  • 1976 - H Allen Smith, TV host (Armchair Detective), dies at age 68.
  • 1976 - Julian Rivero, actor (Via Pony Express), dies at age 85.
  • 1976 - Leonid Brezhnev opens 25th congress of CPSU.
  • 1977 - Birth of Alexis Jose Grullon in New York City, New York; singer (Menudo-Cannonball).
  • 1977 - Birth of Floyd Mayweather in Grand Rapids, Michigan; featherweight boxer (Olympics-bronze-1996).
  • 1977 - US President Jimmy Carter announces US foreign aid will consider human rights.
  • 1978 - Kevin Porter, New Jersey Nets, sets NBA record with 29 assists in a game.
  • 1979 - Highest price ever paid for a pig, US$42,500, in Stamford, Texas.
  • 1979 - War between North and South Yemen begins.
  • 1979 - Ethiopia recognizes the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
  • 1980 - NBC premieres the TV movie Harper Valley P.T.A..
  • 1980 - Joanne Carner wins LPGA Bent Tree Golf Classic.
  • 1980 - New York Rangers score five power-play goals against New York Islanders.
  • 1980 - USA Olympic hockey team beats Finland (4-2) and wins gold medal.
  • 1981 - Britain's Prince Charles announces engagement to Lady Diana Spencer.
  • 1981 - Jean Harris is convicted of murdering Scarsdale Diet doctor Tarnower.
  • 1981 - In Greece, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurs. Sixteen people killed, more than 400 injured, and considerable damage in the Athens-Corinth area.
  • 1982 - CBS live telecasts the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences presentation of the 24th Annual Grammy Awards. Some winners:
    • Record of the Year: Kim Carnes for "Bette Davis Eyes";
    • Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: The Manhattan Transfer for "Boy From New York City";
    • Best Pop Instrumental Performance: Larry Carlton and Mike Post for "The Theme From Hill Street Blues";
    • Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female: Pat Benatar for "Fire And Ice";
    • Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male: Rick Springfield for "Jessie's Girl";
    • Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: The Police for "Don't Stand So Close To Me";
    • Best Country Vocal Performance, Female: Dolly Parton for "9 To 5";
    • Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: The Oak Ridge Boys for "Elvira".

  • 1982 - Virginia Bruce, actress (Born to Dance, Great Ziegfield), dies at age 71.
  • 1982 - In South Africa, 22 National Party Members of Parliament led by Andries Treurnicht vote for no confidence in P. W. Botha.
  • 1982 - Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers scores his 77th goal of the National Hockey League season, breaking the previous record of 76.
  • 1983 - USSR performs underground nuclear test.
  • 1983 - A special commission of the Congress of the United States releases a report critical of the practice of Japanese internment during World War II.
  • 1983 - Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 1100 mark for first time.
  • 1983 - Birth of Brandon Brown; rhythm and blues singer (Mista).
  • 1984 - Iraq resumes air attack on Iran.
  • 1985 - Amy Alcott wins LPGA Circle K Golf Open Tucson.
  • 1985 - Birendra, Bir Bikram Shah Dev crowned King of Nepal.
  • 1985 - Jim Kelly (Houston USFL) passes for pro football record 574 yards.
  • 1986 - Texas Air buys Eastern Airlines for US$676 million.
  • 1986 - Voyager 2, first Uranus fly-by.
  • 1986 - Death of Tommy Douglas, Canadian politician and "Father of Medicare" in Canada (born 1904).
  • 1987 - CBS live telecasts the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences presentation of the 29th Annual Grammy Awards.
    • Record of the Year: Steve Winwood for "Higher Love";
    • Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder for "That's What Friends Are For";
    • Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male: Robert Palmer for "Addicted To Love";
    • Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: The Eurythmics for "Missionary Man";
    • Best Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance, Male: James Brown for "Living In America";
    • Best Rhythm and Blues Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: Prince and The Revolution for "Kiss".

  • 1987 - Los Angeles Lakers' Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scores his 36,000th NBA point.
  • 1987 - At the Las Campanas Observatory, Chile, Canadian astronomer makes the first naked-eye sighting of a supernova since 1604. The supernova occurs in the Large Magellanic Cloud, 170,000 light-years away from Earth.
  • 1988 - Matti Nykanen becomes winter Olympics first triple gold medalist.
  • 1988 - South African apartheid regime bans the United Democratic Front.
  • 1988 - The Supreme Court of the United States sides with Hustler magazine (voting 8-0) by overturning a lower court decision to award Jerry Falwell US$200,000 for defamation.
  • 1988 - Death of Peter Chatman AKA Memphis Slim at age 72 in Paris, France; blues pianist ("Every Day I Have the Blues").
  • 1989 - 150-million-year-old fossil egg (oldest dinosaur embryo) found.
  • 1989 - Harold E Ballard sells Canadian Football League team Hamilton Tiger-Cats to David Braley.
  • 1989 - United Airlines Flight 811, a Boeing 747 bound to New Zealand from Honolulu, Hawaii, rips open during flight, sucking nine passengers and crew out of the first class section.
  • 1989 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site.
  • 1989 - After 44 years, the Estonian flag is raised to the Pikk Hermann castle tower.
  • 1990 - Beth Daniel wins LPGA Orix Hawaiian Ladies Golf Open.
  • 1990 - Death of Johnnie Ray of liver failure at age 63 in Los Angeles, California, USA; singer ("Cry" (1951), "Please Mr. Sun", "The Little White Cloud That Cried", "Walkin' My Baby Back Home", "Just Walking in the Rain").
  • 1990 - Malcolm Forbes, CEO (Forbes Publishing), dies of a heart attack at age 70 (born 1919).
  • 1990 - Sandro Pertini, President of Italy (1978, 1985), dies at age 93.
  • 1990 - Tony Conigliaro, American baseball player (Boston Red Sox), dies in Salem, Massachusetts at age 45 of pneumonia and kidney failure.
  • 1991 - End of World League of American Football's (WLAF) first draft.
  • 1991 - Death of George Gobel after heart surgery at age 71; comedian (George Gobel Show, Hollywood Squares).
  • 1991 - Jean Rogers, actress (Flash Gordon, Hot Cargo), dies at age 74.
  • 1991 - US and allies begin a ground war assault on Iraqi troops in Kuwait.
  • 1991 - Death of Webb Pierce at age 65 of heart failure and pancreatic cancer, in Nashville, Tennessee, USA; country singer ("In the Jailhouse Now" (1955), "Love, Love, Love", "I Don't Care", "Bye, Bye Love", Louisiana Hayride radio show, Grand Ole Opry, "There Stands the Glass" (1953)).
  • 1991 - Death of John Charles Daly, South African-born journalist and game show host (born 1914).
  • 1993 - CBS live telecasts the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences presentation of the 35th Annual Grammy Awards. Some winners:
    • Record of the Year: Eric Clapton for "Tears In Heaven";
    • Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female: k.d. lang for "Constant Craving";
    • Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male: Eric Clapton for "Tears In Heaven";
    • Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: U2 for "Achtung Baby";
    • Best Hard Rock Performance with Vocal: Red Hot Chili Peppers for "Give It Away";
    • Best Rap Solo Performance: Sir Mix-A-Lot for "Baby Got Back".

  • 1993 - Bobby Moore, English soccer team captain (World champions 1966), dies (born 1941).
  • 1993 - Yukihiro Matsumoto creates the Ruby computer programming language.
  • 1994 - Death of Dinah Shore AKA Frances Rose Shore of ovarian cancer at age 77; singer (80 charted hits in the 1940s and 1950s, four decades in television, Dinah Shore Chevy Show TV show, Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street radio show, The Eddie Cantor Show radio show, nine Emmy awards, one Peabody Award, one Golden Globe award).
  • 1994 - Knut Anders Haukfield, SOE Operative, dies at age 83.
  • 1994 - Scoreboard is unveiled at new Cleveland Indians' park (Jacobs Field).
  • 1996 - Cuba downs two US planes.
  • 1996 - Meg Mallon wins LPGA Cup o' Noodles Hawaiian Ladies Golf Open.
  • 1997 - Deng Xiaoping, leader of China, cremated (died February 19th).
  • 1997 - Death of Isabelle Harriet Lucas at age 69; actress/singer (Outland, Comics).
  • 1997 - South Africa announces it is constructing largest modern day blimp.
  • 1998 - Musician Elton John knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
  • 1998 - Death of Henny Youngman at age 92 from pneumonia; comedian (Ed Sullivan Show, Hollywood Palace, Rowan and Martin's Laugh In, Tonight Show).
  • 1998 - NHL resumes season since February 8th to accommodate the Olympics.
  • 1998 - Hustler publisher Larry Flynt is acquitted on charges of defaming Jerry Falwell.
  • 1998 - A man tries to hijack a Turkish Airlines passenger plane, claiming that he has a bomb in his teddy bear; passengers disapprove and apprehend him.
  • 1999 - CBS live telecasts the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences presentation of the 41st Annual Grammy Awards. Some winners:
    • Record of the Year: Celine Dion for "My Heart Will Go On";
    • Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: Eric Clapton for "My Father's Eyes";
    • Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: The Brian Setzer Orchestra for "Jump Jive An' Wail";
    • Best Dance Recording: Madonna for "Ray Of Light";
    • Best Female Rock Vocal Performance: Alanis Morissette for "Uninvited";
    • Best Male Rock Vocal Performance: Lenny Kravitz for "Fly Away";
    • Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: Aerosmith for "Pink";
    • Best Rap Solo Performance: Will Smith for "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It".

  • 2000 - CBS live telecasts the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences presentation of the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards. Some winners:
    • Record of the Year: Santana Featuring Rob Thomas for "Smooth";
    • Best Female Pop Vocal Performance: Sarah McLachlan for "I Will Remember You";
    • Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: Sting for "Brand New Day";
    • Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals: Santana Featuring Rob Thomas for "Smooth";
    • Best Dance Recording: Cher for "Believe";
    • Best Female Rock Vocal Performance: Sheryl Crow for "Sweet Child O' Mine";
    • Best Male Rock Vocal Performance: Lenny Kravitz for "American Woman";
    • Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: Santana Featuring Everlast for "Put Your Lights On".

  • 2003 - Dutch Royal Ahold, world's third-biggest food retailer, announces the resignation of CEO Cees van der Hoeven and the financial director, after finding it had overstated profits by 463 million euros (US$500 million) in the past two years. The company's market value drops during the day by 63 percent, to 3.3 billion euros, ten percent of its worth in late 2001.
  • 2003 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles sells a 1943-D copper Lincoln cent graded MS-64 by PCGS for US$212,750, a record for any small cent.
  • 2003 - Death of Albert R. Hibbs, retired space scientist with the US Jet Propulsion Laboratory, of complications following heart surgery, at age 78.
  • 2003 - Death of Bernard Daniel Jacques Loiseau, French chef, at age 52. Loiseah ran the La Côte d'Or restaurant in Saulieu, France.
  • 2004 - Death of John Randolph at age 88; American actor (Angie, Roseanne).
  • 2004 - A 6.5 Richter scale earthquake in Northern Morocco hits in the Rif mountains near the city of Al Hoceima, killing 400. Ait Kamara is destroyed; 517 are killed.
  • 2005 - David Hernandez Arroyo goes on a shooting rampage at the Smith County Courthouse in Tyler, Texas. He kills two, including his ex-wife, and wounds four others before being killed in a police chase.
  • 2006 - A state of emergency is declared in the Philippines, after an alleged coup d'état against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is foiled.
  • 2006 - Death of Dennis Weaver at age 81 of complications from cancer in Ridgway, Colorado, USA; actor (Chester - Gunsmoke TV show, McCloud TV show, Emerald Point NAS TV show, Lonesome Dove: The Series TV show, Pearl, Centennial, Stone, Wildfire).
  • 2007 - Death of Bruce Bennett at age 97 of complications from a broken hip; actor (Perry Mason TV show, Science Fiction Theatre TV show, Virginian TV show, Tales of Wells Fargo TV show, Ford Television Theatre TV show).
  • 2008 - A man in Yorkshire, England, wins 1 million pounds on a 50 pence bet on horse racing, by selecting all eight winners of races throughout the country.
  • 2008 - In Cyprus, Demetris Christofias of the Communist Akel party wins the presidential election with 53.4 percent of votes.
  • 2008 - In Cuba, Raúl Castro is formally designated to succeed brother Fidel Castro as head of the Council of State.
  • 2008 - Electronic Arts video game company makes a hostile bid of US$2 billion for Take-Two.
  • 2008 - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences holds its 80th Annual Academy Awards ceremony. Some Oscar trophy winners are:
    • Best Movie: No Country For Old Men,
    • Best Director: No Country For Old Men,
    • Best Adapted Screenplay: No Country For Old Men,
    • Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem in No Country For Old Men,
    • Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood,
    • Best Supporting Actress: Tilda Swinton in Michael Clayton,
    • Best Actress: Marion Cotillard in La Vie En Rose,
    • Best Foreign Language Film: The Counterfeiters,
    • Best Animated Film: Ratatouille,
    • Best Original Screenplay: Diablo Cody for Juno,
    • Best Original Song: "Falling Slowly" by Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard, in Once.

  • 2009 - Henri Matisse' Cowslips on blue and pink cloth painting sells for a record 32 million euros at auction in Paris, France. A sculpture by Romanian artist Constantin Brancusi sells for a record 29 million euros. A chair designed by Eileen Grey of two wooden dragons supporting a leather seat and back sells for US$28.3 million, a record price for a piece of furniture.
  • 2020 - The Pakatan Harapan coalition government of Malaysia collapses and is replaced by the Perikatan Nasional coalition.
  • 2020 - Death of Katherine Goble Johnson; American NASA mathematician, recipient of Presidential Medal of Freedom.
  • 2021 - Death of N'Singa Udjuu, First State Commissioner of Zaire (born 1934).
  • 2022 - Russian military forces invade Ukraine.
  • 2022 - Ukraine fully mobilizes for war.
  • 2022 - Death of Sally Kellerman at age 84 of heart failure in Woodland Hills, California, USA; actor (Major Margaret Houlihan - M*A*S*H movie (1970)).
  • 2022 - Death of Charles E. Entenmann at age 92 of heart complications in Hialeah, Florida, USA; entrepreneur (Entenmann's bakery).
  • 2023 - Death of Sir Bernard Ingham at age 90; reporter (Hebden Bridge Times, Yorkshire Post, Guardian), press officer (UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, 1979-).
  • 2023 - Death of Stella Stevens at age 84; American actor (Girls! Girls! Girls! movie, The Nutty Professor movie).

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