February
Named after the Latin term Februum which means purification, it is the second and shortest month of the year according to the Gregorian calendar. It has 28 days normally and 29 days in leap years. It is the third month of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the last month of summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
February 1
In the year 1788 the first day of this month was marked with the invention of the steam boat.
In 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia crashed sixteen minutes before it was scheduled to land, killing all seven crew members. India’s Kalpana Chawla was a part of the crew.
February 2
In 1536 Argentina was founded.
In 1943 during WWII the German Sixth Army surrendered at Stalingrad.
The year 1989 brought an end to the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.
Birthday of poet James Joyce (1882), writer Ayn Rand (1905) and singer Shakira (1977).
February 6
In 1819 Singapore was found by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles.
In 1931 Indian lawyer and politician Motilal Nehru passed away.
In 1959 the Integrated Circuit was invented.
Birthday of 40th US President Ronald Reagan (1911), Bob Marley (1945) and Natalie Cole (1950)- Singers.
February 7
In 1900 the British Labour Party was formed.
In 1940 the movie Pinnochio was released.
In 1964 the Beatles first came to the United States.
In 1990 the Soviet Union collapsed.
In 1992 the European Union was formed.
Birthday of author Charles Dickens (1812) and actor Ashton Kutchner (1978).
February 10
In 1763 the French and Indian war came to an end.
In 1863 the fire extinguisher was invented by Alanson Crane.
In 1931 New Delhi became the capital of India.
In 1996 the computer won a chess match over Gary Kasparov.
In 2013 thirty-six people were killed in a stampede in the Mahakumbh Mela at Allahabad.
Birthday of author Charles Lamb (1775).
February 11
In 1929 Vatican City was granted political freedom by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and the sovereignty of the Pope was established over the area.
In 1990 Nelson Mandela was released from prison after serving 27 years of a life imprisonment on charges of trying to overthrow an apartheid government.
In 2011 in Egypt President Hosni Mubarak resigned after a massive protest calling for his ouster. He had ruled Egypt for nearly 30 years and almost served as a virtual dictator.
In 1847, on this day, inventor Thomas Edison was born.
February 13
The day marks the birthday of the 16th US President Abraham Lincoln (1809) and author and naturalist Charles Darwin (1809) best known for his book ‘Origin of Species”.
February 14
In 1876 Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone.
In 1924 the IBM Corporation was founded.
In 1989 the Union Carbide Corporation was asked by the Supreme Court of India to pay $ 470 million for the Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
February 16
In 1923 the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s burial chamber was opened.
In 1937 Nylon was invented.
In 1944 Father of Indian Cinema Dadasaheb Phalke passed away.
In 1959 Fidel Castro became the Premier of Cuba.
The day marks the birthday of the North Korean dictator, Kim Jong II (1942) and Tennis Star John McEnroe (1959).
February 18
In 1885 Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was published.
In 1929 the first Academy Awards were announced.
In 1930 Planet Pluto (now considered a Dwarf Planet) was discovered.
In 1946 the Royal Indian Navy started a mutiny against the British.
In 1953 the first 3D movie was opened.
February 21
In 1431 the trial of Joan of Arc began.
In 1842 the sewing machine was invented by John Greenough.
In 1953 the DNA molecule was discovered.
In 1965 Muslim leader Malcolm X was shot and killed while delivering a speech in New York City.
February 24
The day marks the birthday of Computer Wizard Steven Jobs (1955) and Baseball Player Eddie Murray (1956).
February 25
In 1836 Samuel Colt invented the Colt Revolver.
In 1837 the electric printing press was patented by Thomas Davenport.
