Events

• 1249 - Andrew of Longjumeau is dispatched by Louis IX of France as his ambassador to meet with the Khan of the Mongols.
• 1646 - Battle of Great Torrington, Devon - the last major battle of the first English Civil War.
• 1742 - Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington, becomes British Prime Minister.
• 1804 - First Barbary War: Stephen Decatur leads a raid to burn the pirate-held frigate USS Philadelphia.
• 1838 - Weenen Massacre: Hundreds of Voortrekkers along the Blaukraans River, Natal are killed by Zulus.
• 1852 - Studebaker Brothers wagon company, precursor of the automobile manufacturer, is established.
• 1859 - The French Government passes a law to set the A-note above middle C to a frequency of 435 Hz, in an attempt to standardize the pitch.
• 1862 - American Civil War: General Ulysses S. Grant captures Fort Donelson, Tennessee.
• 1866 - Spencer Compton Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington becomes the British Secretary of State for War.
• 1868 - In New York City the Jolly Corks organization is renamed the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE).
• 1899 - President Félix Faure of France dies in office.
• 1899 - Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur Iceland's first football club is founded.
• 1918 - The Council of Lithuania unanimously adopts the Act of Independence, declaring Lithuania an independent state.
• 1923 - Howard Carter unseals the burial chamber of Pharaoh Tutankhamun.
• 1934 - Austrian Civil War ends with the defeat of the Social Democrats and the Republican Schutzbund.
• 1934 - Commission of Government is sworn in as form of direct rule for the Dominion of Newfoundland.
• 1936 - Elections bring the Popular Front to power in Spain.
• 1937 - Wallace H. Carothers receives a patent for nylon.
• 1940 - World War II: Altmark Incident: The German tanker Altmark is boarded by sailors from the British destroyer HMS Cossack. 299 British prisoners are freed.
• 1943 - World War II: The USSR reconquers Kharkov.
• 1945 - World War II: American forces land on Corregidor island in the Philippines.
• 1947 - Canadians granted Canadian citizenship after 80 years of being British subjects. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King becomes the first Canadian citizen.
• 1957 - The "Toddlers' Truce", a controversial television closedown between 6.00pm and 7.00pm was abolished in the United Kingdom.
• 1959 - Fidel Castro becomes Premier of Cuba after dictator Fulgencio Batista was overthrown on January 1.
• 1961 - Explorer program: Explorer 9 (S-56a) is launched.
• 1968 - In Haleyville, Alabama, the first 9-1-1 emergency telephone system goes into service.
• 1978 - The first computer bulletin board system is created (CBBS in Chicago, Illinois).
• 1983 - The Ash Wednesday bushfires in Victoria and South Australia claim the lives of 75 people in Australia's worst ever fires.
• 1985 - The founding of Hezbollah.
• 1986 - The Soviet liner Mikhail Lermontov runs aground in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand.
• 1987 - The trial of John Demjanjuk, accused of being a Nazi guard dubbed "Ivan the Terrible" in Treblinka extermination camp, starts in Jerusalem.
• 1993 - Western Australia's and Australia's first woman Premier, Carmen Lawrence, is voted out of office.
• 1999 - In Uzbekistan, a bomb explodes and gunfire is heard at the government headquarters in an apparent assassination attempt against President Islom Karimov.
• 1999 - Across Europe, Kurdish rebels take over embassies and hold hostages after Turkey arrested one of their rebel leaders, Abdullah Öcalan.
• 2005 - The Kyoto Protocol comes into force, following its ratification by Russia.
• 2005 - The National Hockey League cancels the entire 2004-2005 regular season and playoffs, becoming the first major sports league in North America to do so over a labor dispute.
• 2006 - The last Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) is decommissioned by the United States Army.

Births

• 1032 - Emperor Yingzong of China (d. 1067)
• 1222 - Nichiren Daishonin, Japanese founder of Nichiren Buddhism (d. 1282)
• 1497 - Philipp Melanchthon, German humanist and reformer (d. 1560)
• 1519 - Gaspard de Coligny, French Huguenot leader (d. 1572)
• 1543 - Kano Eitoku, Japanese painter (d. 1590)
• 1620 - Friedrich Wilhelm I of Brandenburg, Duke of Prussia (d. 1688)
• 1643 - John Sharp, English Archbishop of York (d. 1714)
• 1698 - Pierre Bouguer, French mathematician (d. 1758)
• 1727 - Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin, Austrian scientist (d. 1817)
• 1740 - Giambattista Bodoni, Italian publisher and engraver (d. 1813)
• 1761 - Charles Pichegru, French general (d. 1804)
• 1786 - Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia (d. 1859)
• 1802 - Phineas Parkhurst Quimby, American philosopher (d. 1866)
• 1804 - Karl Theodor Ernst von Siebold, German physiologist (d. 1885)
• 1812 - Henry Wilson, 18th Vice President of US (d. 1875)
• 1821 - Heinrich Barth, German explorer (d. 1865)
• 1822 - Sir Francis Galton, English explorer and biologist (d. 1911)
• 1824 - Peter Kozler, Slovenian cartographer and geographer (d. 1879)
• 1826 - Julia Grant, First Lady of the United States (d. 1902)
• 1826 - Joseph Victor von Scheffel, German poet (d. 1886)
• 1831 - Nikolai Leskov, Russian writer (d. 1895)
• 1834 - Ernst Haeckel, German zoologist and philosopher (d. 1919)
• 1838 - Henry Adams, American historian and novelist (d. 1918)
• 1847 - Philipp Scharwenka, Polish-German composer (d. 1917)
• 1848 - Hugo de Vries, Dutch botanist (d. 1935)
• 1856 - Rudolph Karstadt, German entrepreneur (d. 1944)
• 1856 - Willem Kes, Dutch conductor (d. 1934)
• 1866 - Billy Hamilton (baseball player), MLB Hall of Fame Outfielder (d. 1940)
• 1866 - Vyacheslav Ivanov, Russian poet (d. 1949)
• 1874 - Marie Gutheil-Schoder, German soprano (d. 1935)
• 1876 - George Macaulay Trevelyan, English historian (d. 1962)
• 1878 - Pamela Colman Smith, artist, writer, designer of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck of tarot cards (d. 1951)
• 1880 - Frank Burke, American baseball player (d. 1946)
• 1883 - Elizabeth Craig, British writer (d. 1980)
• 1884 - Robert J. Flaherty, American filmmaker (d. 1951)
• 1886 - Van Wyck Brooks, American historian and critic (d. 1963)
• 1887 - Kathleen Clifford, American actress (d. 1962)
• 1898 - Katharine Cornell, American actress (d. 1974)
• 1891 - Hans F. K. Günther, German eugenicist (d. 1967)
• 1901 - Vincent Coleman, American actor (d. 1971)
• 1901 - Wayne King, American musician and orchestra leader (d. 1985)
• 1901 - Chester Morris, American film actor (d. 1970)
• 1903 - Edgar Bergen, American ventriloquist (d. 1978)
• 1903 - George-Henri Lévesque, Quebec priest and sociologist (d. 2000)
• 1904 - George F. Kennan, American historian, diplomat and political policy-maker (d. 2005)
• 1906 - Vera Menchik, British-Czech chess player, the first Women's World Champion in chess (d. 1944)
• 1909 - Hugh Beaumont, American actor (d. 1982)
• 1909 - Jeffrey Lynn, American actor (d. 1995)
• 1909 - Richard McDonald, American fast food pioneer (d. 1998)
• 1915 - Jim O'Hora, American college football coach (d. 2005)
• 1915 - Elisabeth Eybers, South African poet (d. 2007)
• 1915 - Michael Relph, British film producer and director (d. 2004)
• 1916 - Bill Doggett, American jazz and rhythm and blues pianist and organist (d. 1996)
• 1918 - Patty Andrews, American singer
• 1920 - Anna Mae Hays, American army general
• 1921 - Jean Behra, French Formula One driver (d. 1959)
• 1921 - Araucaria, British crossword compiler
• 1921 - Vera-Ellen, American actress (d. 1981)
• 1922 - Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer, German night fighter pilot (d. 1950)
• 1925 - Carlos Paredes, Portuguese guitar master (d. 2004)
• 1926 - John Schlesinger, English film director (d. 2003)
• 1927 - June Brown, British actress
• 1929 - Gerhard Hanappi, Austrian footballer (d. 1980)
• 1931 - George E. Sangmeister, American politician (d. 2007)
• 1931 - Ken Takakura, Japanese actor
• 1932 - Gretchen Wyler, American actress and dancer (d. 2007)
• 1932 - Otis Blackwell, American songwriter and singer (d. 2002)
• 1932 - Harry Goz, American actor (d. 2003)
• 1932 - Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, President of Sierra Leone
• 1934 - Herbie & Harold Kalin, American singers (d. 2005-Harold / 2006-Herbie)
• 1934 - Marlene Hagge, American professional golfer
• 1935 - Sonny Bono, American entertainer & U.S. Congressman (d. 1998)
• 1936 - Jill Kinmont, American skier
• 1937 - Yuri Manin, Russian mathematician
• 1938 - John Corigliano, American composer
• 1938 - Barry Primus, American actor
• 1939 - Czes?aw Niemen, Polish singer-songwriter and composer (d. 2004)
• 1939 - Adolfo Azcuna, Filipino Supreme Court jurist
• 1942 - Kim Jong-il, North Korean leader
• 1943 - Brig Owens, American football player
• 1944 - Richard Ford, American novelist
• 1944 - António Mascarenhas Monteiro, 2^nd President of Cape Verde
• 1945 - Jeremy Bulloch, English actor
• 1945 - Frank Welker, American voice actor
• 1946 - Ian Lavender, English actor
• 1948 - Eckhart Tolle, Author and spiritual teacher
• 1950 - Peter Hain, British politician
• 1950 - Kazuki Tomokawa, Japanese acid-folk singer
• 1950 - Roman Tam, Hong Kong famous singer (d. 2002)
• 1951 - William Katt, American actor
• 1952 - Barry Foote, Major League Baseball player
• 1953 - George Martin, American footballer
• 1953 - Lanny McDonald, Canadian ice hockey player
• 1953 - Roberta Williams, computer game designer
• 1954 - Michael Holding, West Indian fast bowler cricket
• 1954 - Iain Banks, Scottish author
• 1954 - Margaux Hemingway, American actress and model (d. 1996)
• 1955 - Hunt Block, American actor
• 1956 - James Ingram, American singer
• 1957 - LeVar Burton, American actor
• 1958 - Ice-T, American rapper, songwriter, and actor
• 1958 - Lisa Loring, American actress
• 1958 - Oscar Schmidt, Brazilian basketball player
• 1958 - Michael W. Burns, American politician
• 1959 - John McEnroe, American tennis player
• 1959 - Kelly Tripucka, American basketball player
• 1960 - Pete Willis, English guitarist (Def Leppard)
• 1960 - Cherie Chung, Hong Kong actress
• 1961 - Andy Taylor, English rock guitarist (Duran Duran)
• 1962 - John Balance, English musician (Coil, Psychic TV) (d. 2004)
• 1963 - Dave Lombardo, Cuban drummer (Slayer)
• 1963 - Dano Halsall, Swiss swimmer
• 1964 - Bebeto, Brazilian footballer
• 1964 - Christopher Eccleston, English actor
• 1967 - John Valentin, baseball player
• 1967 - Keith Gretzky, former hockey player; brother of Wayne Gretzky
• 1968 - Warren Ellis, British comic book writer
• 1969 - David Heath, American professional wrestler better known as Gangrel
• 1970 - D.J. Wallis, American fitness competitor
• 1970 - Serdar Ortac, Turkish popstar
• 1970 - Angelo Peruzzi, Italian footballer
• 1971 - Amanda Holden, British actress
• 1972 - Jerome Bettis, American football player.
• 1972 - Sarah Clarke, American actress
• 1973 - Christian Bassedas, Argentine former footballer
• 1973 - Cathy Freeman, Australian athlete
• 1973 - Nikos Kostakis, Greek footballer
• 1974 - Fanis Katergiannakis, Greek footballer
• 1974 - Johnny Tri Nguyen, Vietnamese American stuntman and martial arts actor
• 1975 - Nanase Aikawa, Japanese singer
• 1975 - Vanina Ickx, Belgian racing driver
• 1975 - Don Jeffcoat, American actor
• 1976 - Eric Byrnes, American baseball player
• 1976 - Kyo, Japanese singer (Dir en grey)
• 1976 - Joe Odagiri, Japanese actor
• 1977 - Ian Clarke, Irish computer programmer
• 1977 - Ahman Green, American football player
• 1978 - Tia Hellebaut, Belgian athlete
• 1978 - John Tartaglia, Broadway actor and Muppeteer
• 1979 - Eric Mun, Korean rapper (Shinhwa)
• 1979 - Valentino Rossi, Italian motorcycle racer
• 1980 - Agim Kaba, American actor and film producer
• 1980 - Ashley Lelie, American football player
• 1981 - Jay Howard, British racing driver
• 1981 - Jerry Owens, American baseball player
• 1981 - Qyntel Woods, American basketball player
• 1982 - Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, American rapper
• 1985 - Zoi Dimoschaki, Greek swimmer
• 1987 - Theresa Goh, Singaporean Paralympic swimmer
• 1988 - Denílson Pereira Neves, Brazilian footballer
• 1991 - Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg, Princess of Luxembourg

Deaths

• 1247 - Heinrich Raspe, Landgrave of Thuringia (b. 1204)
• 1279 - King Afonso III of Portugal (b. 1210)
• 1391 - John V Palaeologus, Byzantine Emperor (b. 1332)
• 1531 - Johannes Stöffler, German mathematician and astronomer (b. 1452)
• 1560 - Jean du Bellay, French Catholic cardinal and diplomat
• 1710 - Esprit Fléchier, French writer and Bishop of Nîmes (b. 1632)
• 1721 - James Craggs the Younger, English politician (b. 1686)
• 1754 - Richard Mead, English physician (b. 1673)
• 1844 - Joseph Crosfield, English soap and alkali manufacturer (b. 1792)
• 1898 - Thomas Bracken, New Zealand poet (b. 1843)
• 1899 - Félix Faure, President of France (b. 1841)
• 1907 - Giosuè Carducci, Italian writer, Nobel Prize Laureate (b. 1835)
• 1912 - St. Nikolai of Japan, Eastern Orthodox priest (b. 1836)
• 1917 - Octave Mirbeau, French writer (b. 1848)
• 1919 - Vera Kholodnaya, Russian film star (b. 1893)
• 1928 - Eddie Foy, American singer and dancer (b. 1856)
• 1932 - Ferdinand Buisson, French pacifist, Nobel Prize Laureate (b. 1841)
• 1967 - Antonio Moreno, Spanish-born actor (b. 1887)
• 1967 - Smiley Burnette, American actor, singer and songwriter (b. 1911)
• 1974 - John Garand, Canadian rifle engineer and manufacturer (b. 1888)
• 1975 - Morgan Taylor, American athlete (b. 1903)
• 1975 - Norman Treigle, American bass-baritone (b. 1927)
• 1977 - Carlos Pellicer, Mexican poet (b. 1897)
• 1978 - E. Roland Harriman, American financier (b. 1895)
• 1979 - Nematollah Nassiri, executed Iran general/head of SAVAK (b. 1911)
• 1980 - Erich Hückel, German physicist (b. 1895)
• 1988 - Jean Carignan, French Canadian fiddler (b. 1916)
• 1990 - Keith Haring, American artist (b. 1958)
• 1992 - Angela Carter, English writer (b. 1940)
• 1992 - Jânio Quadros, Brazilian politician (b. 1917)
• 1992 - Herman Wold, Swedish statistician (b. 1908
• 1996 - Roger Bowen, American actor (b. 1932)
• 1996 - Edmund G. Brown, Governor of California (b. 1905)
• 1996 - Brownie McGhee, American singer (b. 1915)
• 1997 - Chien-Shiung Wu, Chinese-American physicist (b. 1912)
• 1999 - Michael Larson, Press Your Luck Big-winning contestant (b. 1949)
• 2000 - Marceline Day, American actress (b. 1908)
• 2000 - Karsten Solheim, Norwegian-born engineer and inventor (b. 1911)
• 2000 - Lila Kedrova, Russian-born actress (b. 1918)
• 2001 - Bob Buhl, baseball player (b. 1928)
• 2001 - Howard W. Koch, American film director (b. 1916)
• 2001 - William Masters, American gynecologist and sexologist (b. 1915)
• 2002 - Walter Winterbottom, England football manager (b. 1913)
• 2003 - Eleanor "Sis" Daley, wife of Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley (b. 1907)
• 2004 - Shirley Strickland, Australian athlete (b. 1925)
• 2004 - Doris Troy, American singer (b. 1937)
• 2005 - Nicole DeHuff, American actress (pneumonia) (b. 1975)
• 2005 - Queen Narriman, second and last wife of King Farouk and mother of their only child King Fuad II
• 2006 - Johnny Grunge, American professional wrestler (b. 1966)
• 2006 - Ernie Stautner, German-born American football player (b. 1925)

Holidays and observances

• Lithuania - Independence Day (1918)
• Saint Abda of Edessa
• Saint Elias and companions
• Saint Juliana
• Saint Gilbert of Sempringham
• Saint Onesimus
• February 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

External links

• BBC: On This Day
• On this day in Canada

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