February 11
February 11 is the 42nd day of the year in the
Gregorian Calendar. There are 323 days remaining, 324 in
leap years.
*
660 BC - Traditional founding date of
Japan by
Emperor Jimmu.
*
731 -
Gregory II ends his reign as
Pope.
*
824 -
Paschal I ends his reign as
Pope.
*
1531 -
Henry VIII of England recognized as supreme head of the
Church of England.
*
1752 -
Pennsylvania Hospital, 1st hospital in the
United States, opens.
*
1790 -
Religious Society of Friends, also known as
Quakers, petitions
U.S. Congress for
abolition of
slavery. It failed.
*
1794 - First session of
United States Senate open to the public.
*
1808 -
Anthracite coal first burned as fuel, experimentally.
*
1809 -
Robert Fulton patents the
steamboat*
1812 -
Massachusetts governor
Elbridge Gerry gerrymanders for the first time.
*
1814 -
Norway's independence is proclaimed, marking the ultimate end of the
Kalmar Union.
*
1826 -
University College London is founded under the name
University of London.
*
1837 -
American Physiological Society organizes in
Boston, Massachusetts.
*
1840 -
Gaetano Donizetti's opera
La Fille du Régiment receives its first performance in
Paris.
*
1843 -
Giuseppe Verdi's opera
I Lombardi receives its first performance in
Milan.
*
1855 -
Kassa Hailu is crowned
Tewodros II,
Emperor of Ethiopia, by
Abuna Salama III in a ceremony at the church of
Derasge Maryam.
*
1858 - The
Blessed Virgin Mary reputedly appears to Saint
Bernadette Soubirous of
Lourdes.
*
1861 -
American Civil War:
United States House of Representatives unanimously passes a resolution guaranteeing noninterference with
slavery in any state.
*
1873 - King
Amadeus I of Spain abdicates.
*
1889 -
Meiji constitution of
Japan adopted; 1st
Diet of Japan convenes in
1890.
*
1895 - The lowest ever
UK temperature of -27.2°C was recorded at
Braemar in
Aberdeenshire. This record was equalled on
10 January,
1982 and again on
30 December,
1995.
*
1902 - Police assault
universal suffrage demonstrators in
Brussels.
*
1903 -
Anton Bruckner's
9th Symphony receives its first performance in
Vienna.
*
1905 -
Pope Pius X publishes the encyclical
Vehementer nos.
*
1908 -
Australia regain
the Ashes with a 308 run cricket victory over
England.
*
1916 -
Emma Goldman arrested for lecturing on
birth control.
*
1919 -
Friedrich Ebert (
SPD), elected
President of Germany.
*
1929 -
Italy and the
Vatican sign the
Lateran Treaty.
*
1937 - A sit-down strike ends when
General Motors recognizes the
United Auto Workers Union.
*
1938 -
BBC Television produces the world's first ever
science fiction television programme, an adaptation of a section of the
Karel Capek play
R.U.R. (The play which coined the term "
robot").
*
1941 - First Gold record presented to
Glenn Miller for "
Chattanooga Choo Choo".
*
1943 - General
Dwight Eisenhower selected to command the
allied armies in
Europe.
*
1948 -
John Costello succeeds
Éamon de Valera as
Taoiseach of
Ireland.
*
1953 -
President Dwight Eisenhower refuses clemency appeal for
Ethel and Julius Rosenberg.
* 1953 - The
Soviet Union breaks off diplomatic relations with
Israel.
*
1961 - Trial of
Adolf Eichmann begins in
Jerusalem.
*
1963 -
The Beatles tape 10 tracks for their first album, including "
Please, Please Me".
*
1964 - At the
Washington, DC Coliseum,
The Beatles have their 1st live appearance in the
United States.
* 1964 -
Greeks and
Turks begin fighting in
Limassol,
Cyprus.
* 1964 - The
Republic of China (
Taiwan) breaks off diplomatic relations with
France.
*
1968 -
Israeli-
Jordanian border clashes.
*
1971 -
US,
UK,
USSR, others sign
Seabed Treaty outlawing
nuclear weapons in international waters.
*
1973 -
Vietnam War: First release of
American prisoners of war from
Vietnam takes place.
*
1978 -
Censorship:
China lifts a ban on works by
Aristotle,
Shakespeare and
Dickens.
*
1979 -
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini seizes power in
Iran.
*
1981 - 100,000 gallons (380 m³) of radioactive coolant leak into the containment building of
TVA Sequoyah 1 nuclear plant in
Tennessee, contaminating 8 workers.
*
1987 -
Philippines constitution goes into effect.
*
1990 -
Nelson Mandela, a political prisoner for 27 years, is freed from
Victor Verster prison outside
Cape Town,
South Africa.
*
1991 -
UNPO, the
Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, forms in
The Hague,
Netherlands.
*
1997 -
Space Shuttle program:
STS-82 Mission launched
*
1999 -
Pluto, a planet with an irregular orbit, changes from the eighth to ninth planet furthest from the
sun. It had been the eighth furthest since
1979.
*
2006 -
Michelle Bachelet inaugurated as first woman president of
Chile.
*
1377 - King
Ladislas of Naples (d.
1414)
*
1380 -
Gianfrancesco Poggio Bracciolini, Italian humanist (d.
1459)
*
1466 -
Elizabeth of York, wife of
Henry VII of England (d.
1503)
*
1535 -
Pope Gregory XIV (d.
1591)
*
1568 -
Honoré d'Urfé, French writer (d.
1625)
*
1649 -
William Carstares, Scottish minister (d.
1715)
*
1657 -
Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle, French scientist and man of letters (d.
1757)
*
1755 -
Albert Christoph Dies, German composer (d.
1822)
*
1764 -
Marie-Joseph de Chenier, French poet (d.
1811)
*
1774 -
Hans Jarta, Swedish political activist (d.
1847)
*
1776 -
Joannis Capodistrias, Greek governor of Troezen (d.
1836)
*
1799 -
The Venerable Father Basil Anthony Marie Moreau, Founder of the
Congregation of Holy Cross (d.
1873)
*
1800 -
William Henry Fox Talbot, English photographer (d.
1877)
*
1802 -
Lydia Child, American novelist and abolitionist (d.
1880)
*
1812 -
Alexander Hamilton Stephens, American politician, Vice President of the
Confederate States of America (d.
1883)
*
1813 -
Otto Ludwig, German writer and critic (d.
1865)
*
1819 -
Samuel Parkman Tuckerman, American composer (d.
1890)
*
1821 -
Auguste-Édouard Mariette, French Egyptologist (d.
1881)
*
1830 -
Hans Bronsart von Schellendorf, musician (d.
1913)
*
1833 -
Melville Weston Fuller, 8th
Chief Justice of the United States (d.
1910)
*
1839 -
Josiah Willard Gibbs, American physicist and chemist (d.
1903)
*
1847 -
Thomas Alva Edison, American inventor and businessman (d.
1931)
*
1860 -
Rachilde, French author (d.
1953)
*
1869 -
Helene Kroller-Muller, Dutch museum founder and patron of the arts (d.
1939)
* 1869 -
Else Lasker-Schüler, German writer (d.
1945)
*
1873 -
Feodor Chaliapin, Russian singer (d.
1938)
*
1874 -
Fritz Bennicke Hart, English-born composer (d.
1949)
* 1874 -
Elsa Beskow, Swedish author (d.
1953)
*
1887 -
John van Melle, South African writer (d.
1953)
*
1891 -
J.W. Hearne English cricketer (d.
1965)
*
1894 -
Alfonso Leng, Chilean composer (d.
1974)
*
1898 -
Leó Szilárd, Hungarian-born physicist and peace activist (d.
1964)
*
1900 -
Josei Toda, japanese, Soka Gakkai founder and 2º President (d.
1958)
*
1900 -
Hans-Georg Gadamer, German philosopher (d.
2002)
*
1902 -
Arne Jacobsen, Danish architect and designer (d.
1971)
*
1903 -
Hans Redlich, Austrian composer (d.
1968)
*
1904 - Sir
Keith Holyoake,
Prime Minister of New Zealand (d.
1983)
*
1908 -
Vivian Ernest Fuchs, English geologist and explorer (d.
1999)
*
1909 -
Max Baer, American boxer and actor (d.
1959)
* 1909 -
Joseph Mankiewicz, American director (d.
1993)
*
1912 -
Roy Fuller, English writer (d.
1991)
*
1914 -
Matt Dennis, American singer
*
1915 -
Patrick Leigh Fermor, English author
*
1917 -
Sidney Sheldon, American author
*
1919 -
Eva Gabor, Hungarian-born actress (d.
1995)
* 1919 -
Eddie Robinson, American football coach
*
1920 - King
Farouk I of Egypt (d.
1965)
* 1920 -
Billy Halop, American actor (d.
1976)
* 1920 -
Daniel "Chappie" James Jr., American general
* 1920 -
Paul Peter Piech, American artist (d.
1996)
*
1921 -
Lloyd Bentsen, American politician,
United States Senator from Texas & 69th
United States Secretary of the Treasury (d.
2006)
*
1925 -
Peter Berger, British admiral
* 1925 -
Kim Stanley, American actress (d.
2001)
*
1926 -
Paul Bocuse, French chef
* 1926 -
Alexander Gibson, British conductor
* 1926 -
Leslie Nielsen, Canadian actor
*
1931 -
Larry Merchant, author and boxing commentator
*
1932 -
Jerome Lowenthal, American pianist
*
1934 -
Mel Carnahan, American politician, 51st
Governors of Missouri (d.
2000)
* 1934 -
Tina Louise, American actress
* 1934 -
Mary Quant, English fashion designer
* 1934 -
John Surtees, British race car driver
*
1935 -
Gene Vincent, American Rock'n'Roll pioneer (d.
1971)
* 1935 -
Bent Lorentzen, Danish composer
*
1936 -
Burt Reynolds, American actor
*
1937 -
Bill Lawry, Australian cricketer
*
1938 -
Bevan Congdon, New Zealand cricketer
* 1938 -
Simone de Oliveira, portuguese actress and singer.
* 1938 -
Manuel Noriega, Panamanian general and dictator
*
1939 -
Gerry Goffin, American lyricist
* 1939 -
Jane Yolen, American author
*
1941 -
Sergio Mendes, Brazilian musician and songwriter
*
1953 -
Philip Anglim, American actor
* 1953 -
Jeb Bush, American politician
*
1956 -
Catherine Hickland, American actress
* 1956 -
Didier Lockwood, French jazz violinist
*
1961 -
Mary Docter, American speed skater
* 1961 -
Carey Lowell, American actress
*
1962 -
Sheryl Crow, American singer/songwriter, musician
* 1962 -
Eric Vanderaerden, Belgian cyclist
*
1963 -
Diane Franklin, American actress
*
1964 -
Ken Shamrock, American martial artist, professional wrestler and American actor
*
1967 -
Hank Gathers, American basketball player (d.
1990)
*
1969 -
Jennifer Aniston, American actress
*
1970 -
Fredrik Thordendal,
Swedish musician (
Meshuggah)
*
1971 -
Damian Lewis, British actor
*
1972 -
Brian Daubach, American baseball player
* 1972 -
Craig Jones, American
Sampler (
Slipknot)
*
1972 -
Kelly Slater, American surfer
*
1973 -
Varg Vikernes, Norwegian musician (
Burzum)
*
1974 -
D'Angelo, American singer
*
1976 -
Brice Beckham, American actor
*
1977 -
Mike Shinoda, American singer (
Linkin Park)
*
1979 -
Brandy Norwood, American singer
*
1980 -
Natasha Bobo, American actress
* 1980 -
Matthew Lawrence, American actor
*1980 -
André "Titi" Buengo, Angolan footballer
*1980 -
Marco Bresciano, Australian footballer
*
1981 -
Kelly Rowland, American singer (
Destiny's Child)
*
1983 -
Nicki Clyne, Canadian actress
* 1983 -
Rafael Van der Vaart, Dutch soccer player
*
1985 -
William Beckett, American singer (
The Academy Is...)
*
641 -
Heraclius, Emperor of
Byzantium*
731 -
Pope Gregory II*
821 - Saint
Benedict of Aniane*
824 -
Pope Paschal I*
1141 -
Hugo of St. Victor, German philosopher and theologian
*
1160 -
Minamoto no Yoshitomo, Japanese general (b.
1123)
*
1503 -
Elizabeth of York, queen consort of
Henry VII of England (b.
1466)
*
1626 -
Pietro Cataldi, Italian mathematician (b.
1552)
*
1650 -
René Descartes, French philosopher (b.
1596)
*
1685 -
David Teniers III, Flemish painter (b.
1638)
*
1713 -
Jahandar Shah, Mughal emperor of Indai (b.
1664)
*
1755 -
Francesco Scipione, marchese di Maffei, Italian archaeologist (b.
1675)
*
1762 -
Johann Tobias Krebs, German composer (b.
1690)
*
1763 -
William Shenstone, English poet (b.
1714)
*
1797 -
Antoine Dauvergne, French composer (b.
1713)
*
1829 -
Alexandr Griboyedov, Russian playwright (b.
1795)
*
1862 -
Elizabeth Siddal, British poet and artist (b.
1829)
*
1868 -
Léon Foucault, French astronomer (b.
1819)
*
1879 -
Honoré Daumier, French caricaturist and painter (b.
1808)
*
1917 -
Oswaldo Cruz, Brazilian physician (b.
1872)
*
1931 -
Charles Algernon Parsons, British inventor (b.
1854)
*
1939 -
Franz Schmidt, Austrian composer (b.
1874)
*
1940 -
John Buchan,
Governor-General of Canada (b.
1875)
*
1945 -
Al Dubin, Swiss songwriter (b.
1891)
*
1948 -
Sergei Eisenstein, Latvian film director (b.
1898)
*
1959 -
Marshall Teague, American race car driver (b.
1922)
*
1960 -
Ernst von Dohnányi, Hungarian conductor (b.
1877)
*
1963 -
Sylvia Plath, American writer (b.
1932)
*
1968 -
Howard Lindsay, American playwright (b.
1888)
*
1972 -
Jan Wils, Dutch architect (b.
1891)
*
1973 -
Hans D Jensen, German physicist,
Nobel Prize Laureate (b.
1907)
*
1975 -
Richard Ratsimandrava, Malagasy soldier and statesman, assassinated (b.
1931)
*
1976 -
Lee J Cobb, American actor (b.
1911)
* 1976 -
Alexander Lippisch, German scientist (b.
1894)
* 1976 -
Frank Arnau, German writer (b.
1894)
*
1977 -
Louis Beel,
Prime Minister of the Netherlands (b.
1902)
*
1978 -
James B Conant, American chemist and university president (b.
1893)
* 1978 -
Harry Martinson, Swedish writer,
Nobel Prize Laureate (b.
1904)
*
1982 -
Eleanor Powell, American actress and dancer (b.
1912)
* 1982 -
Takashi Shimura, Japanese actor (b.
1905)
*
1985 -
Ben Abruzzo, American businessman and balloonist (b.
1930)
* 1985 -
Henry Hathaway, American actor and director (b.
1898)
* 1985 -
Heinz Eric Roemheld, American composer (b.
1901)
*
1986 -
Frank Herbert, American author (b.
1920)
*
1987 -
Sadequain, famous Pakistani painter and artist. (b.
1930)
*
1989 -
George O'Hanlon, American actor and director (b.
1912)
*
1991 -
Robert W. Holley, American biochemist,
Nobel Prize Laureate (b.
1922)
*
1994 -
Neil Bonnett, American race car driver (b.
1946)
* 1994 -
Sorrell Booke, American actor (b.
1930)
* 1994 -
William Conrad, American actor (b.
1920)
*
1996 -
Kebby Musokotwane,
Prime Minister of Zambia (b.
1946)
* 1996 -
Cyril Poole, English cricketer (b.
1921)
* 1996 -
Amelia Rosselli, Italian poet (b.
1930)
*
1997 -
Barry Evans, English actor (b.
1943)
* 1997 -
Don Porter, American actor (b.
1912)
*
2000 -
Roger Vadim, French director (b.
1928)
*
2002 -
Frank Crosetti, baseball player (b.
1910)
* 2002 -
Barry Foster, British actor (b.
1931)
*
2004 -
Shirley Strickland, Australain athlete (b.
1925)
*
2005 -
Jack L. Chalker, American author (b.
1944)
*
2006 -
Jockey Shabalala, South African singer (b.
1943)
* 2006 -
Peter Benchley, American author (b.
1940)
* 2006 -
Jackie Pallo, wrestler (b.
1926)
*
Catholicism - Feast day of
Our Lady of Lourdes.
*
World Day of the Sick.
*
National Foundation Day in
Japan (See
Holidays of Japan.)
*
National Youth Day in
Cameroon.
*
Professor Leets' Day in the
United States.
*
National Inventors' Day in the
United States.
*
On this day in Canada*
NY Times: On this day*
BBC: On This DayFebruary 10 -
February 12 -
January 11 -
March 11 â€"
listing of all days
