Shimla, Feb
2012
American rhythm-and-blues singer Whitney Houston—who emerged as a pop superstar in the 1980s, especially known for her soaring voice—died at age 48.
2011
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down after nearly 30 years in power, following mass demonstrations that were part of the pro-democracy uprisings known as the Arab Spring.
1989
The Reverend Barbara Clementine Harris of the Protestant Episcopal Church became the first female bishop of an apostolic-succession church.
1975
British politician Margaret Thatcher was elected leader of the Conservative Party, replacing Edward Heath; she became Europe’s first woman prime minister in 1979.
1969
American actress Jennifer Aniston, who achieved stardom on the popular television sitcom Friends (1994–2004) and launched a successful film career, was born.
1964
Sarah Palin—who, as John McCain’s running mate in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, was the first woman to appear on a Republican presidential ticket—was born.
1945
The Yalta Conference between the Allied leaders of World War II came to a close.Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about World War II
1929
A committee met in Paris to devise the Young Plan, a revision of the Dawes Plan of 1924, that renegotiated Germany’s reparations for World War I.
1929
Benito Mussolini of Italy and Pietro Gasparri of the Vatican signed the Lateran Treaty, recognizing papal sovereignty over Vatican City, an enclave in Rome.
1847
American inventor Thomas Edison, who, singly or jointly, held a world record of 1,093 patents and who played a critical role in introducing the modern age of electricity, was born.
1753
Pennsylvania Hospital, the first hospital in the United States, began admitting patients; it was cofounded by Benjamin Franklin.
