February 11

Events

*660 BC - Traditional founding date of Japan by Emperor Jimmu.
* 55 - Tiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus, heir to the Roman Emperorship, dies under mysterious circumstances in Rome. This clears the way for Nero to become Emperor.
*1531 - Henry VIII of England is recognized as supreme head of the Church of England.
*1659 - The assault on Copenhagen by Swedish forces is beaten back with heavy losses.
*1752 - Pennsylvania Hospital, the first hospital in the United States, opens.
*1790 - Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers, petitions U.S. Congress for abolition of slavery.
*1794 - First session of United States Senate open to the public.
*1808 - Anthracite coal is first burned as fuel, experimentally.
*1809 - Robert Fulton took out a patent for improvements to steamboat navigation
*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".
*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 is adopted; the first Diet of Japan convenes in 1890.
*1895 - The lowest ever UK temperature of -27.2°C is 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".
*1916 - Emma Goldman is arrested for lecturing on birth control.
*1919 - Friedrich Ebert (SPD), is 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 program, an adaptation of a section of the Karel Capek play "R.U.R.", which coined the term "robot".
*1939 - Lockheed P-38 flies from California to New York in 7 hours 2 minutes.
*1941 - First Gold record is presented to Glenn Miller for "Chattanooga Choo Choo".
*1942 - The Battle of Bukit Timah is fought in Singapore during World War II.
*1943 - World War II: General Dwight Eisenhower is 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.
*1963 - Julia Child's show "The French Chef" premieres.
*1964 - Greeks and Turks begin fighting in Limassol, Cyprus.
* 1964 - The Republic of China (Taiwan) breaks off diplomatic relations with France.
* 1964 - The Beatles hold their first concert in the United States at the Washington Coliseum in Washington, D.C.
*1968 - Israeli-Jordanian border clashes.
*1971 - Eighty-seven countries, including the US, UK, and USSR, sign the Seabed Treaty outlawing nuclear weapons in international waters.
*1973 - Vietnam War: First release of American prisoners of war from Vietnam takes place.
*1978 - Censorship: the People's Republic of China lifts a ban on works by Aristotle, Shakespeare and Dickens.
*1979 - Islamic revolution of Iran achieves victory under the leadership of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
*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.
*1990 - Buster Douglas KO's "Iron" Mike Tyson in Tokyo, Japan.
*1991 - UNPO, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, forms in The Hague, Netherlands.
*1997 - Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on a mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope.
*2007 - In Portugal, a national referendum legalizes non-therapeutic abortion when requested by the woman during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
*2008 - In East Timor, assassination attempts were made on Xanana Gusmao and Jose Ramos-Horta. Both failed.

Births

*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 Järta, Swedish political activist (d. 1847)
*1776 - Ioannis Kapodistrias, Greek diplomat of the Russian Empire and first head of state of independent Greece (d. 1831)
*1799 - Basil Moreau, French Founder priest (d. 1873)
*1800 - William Henry Fox Talbot, English photographer and inventor (d. 1877)
*1802 - Lydia Maria Child, American abolitionist (d. 1880)
*1812 - Alexander Hamilton Stephens, American politician (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 Schellendorff, Prussian musician (d. 1913)
*1833 - Melville Weston Fuller, 8th Chief Justice of the United States (d. 1910)
*1839 - Josiah Willard Gibbs, American physicist (d. 1903)
*1847 - Thomas Alva Edison, American inventor (d. 1931)
*1860 - Rachilde, French author (d. 1953)
*1869 - Helene Kroller-Muller, Dutch museum founder (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)
*1890 - David Drummond, Australian politician (d. 1965)
*1891 - J.W. Hearne English cricketer (d. 1965)
*1894 - Alfonso Leng, Chilean composer (d. 1974)
*1898 - Leó Szilárd, Hungarian-born physicist (d. 1964)
*1900 - Hans-Georg Gadamer, German philosopher (d. 2002)
* 1900 - Josei Toda, Japanese educator (d. 1958)
*1901 - Roddy Connolly, Irish politician, son of James Connolly (d. 1980)
*1902 - Arne Jacobsen, Danish architect (d. 1971)
*1903 - Hans Redlich, Austrian composer (d. 1968)
*1904 - Sir Keith Holyoake, Prime Minister of New Zealand (d. 1983)
*1908 - Philip Dunne, American screenwriter, director and producer (d. 1992)
* 1908 - Vivian Ernest Fuchs, English geologist (d. 1999)
*1909 - Max Baer, American boxer and actor (d. 1959)
* 1909 - Joseph L. Mankiewicz, American director (d. 1993)
*1912 - Roy Fuller, English writer (d. 1991)
*1914 - Matt Dennis, American singer (d. 2002)
*1915 - Patrick Leigh Fermor, English author
*1917 - Sidney Sheldon, American author (d. 2007)
* 1917 - T. Nagi Reddy, Indian revolutionary (d. 1976)
*1919 - Eva Gabor, Hungarian-born actress (d. 1995)
* 1919 - Eddie Robinson, American football coach (d. 2007)
*1920 - King Farouk I of Egypt (d. 1965)
* 1920 - Billy Halop, American actor (d. 1976)
* 1920 - Daniel "Chappie" James Jr., American general (d. 1978)
*1921 - Lloyd Bentsen, American politician (d. 2006)
* 1921 - Edward Seidensticker, American scholar (d. 2007)
*1925 - Kim Stanley, American actress (d. 2001)
*1926 - Paul Bocuse, French chef
* 1926 - Alexander Gibson, British conductor
* 1926 - Leslie Nielsen, Canadian actor
*1930 - Roy De Forest, American Painter (d. 2007)
*1931 - Larry Merchant, American sportswriter
*1932 - Jerome Lowenthal, American pianist
* 1932 - Dennis Skinner, British politician
*1934 - Mel Carnahan, American politician (d. 2000)
* 1934 - Tina Louise, American actress
* 1934 - Mary Quant, English fashion designer
* 1934 - John Surtees, MBE, English motorcycle and race car driver
*1935 - Bent Lorentzen, Danish composer
* 1935 - Gene Vincent, American musician (d. 1971)
*1936 - Burt Reynolds, American actor
*1937 - Bill Lawry, Australian cricketer
* 1937 - Eddie Shack, Canadian ice hockey player
*1938 - Bevan Congdon, New Zealand cricketer
* 1938 - Simone de Oliveira, Portuguese actress
* 1938 - Manuel Noriega, Panamanian general
* 1938 - Bobby "Boris" Pickett, American singer and songwriter (d. 2007)
*1939 - Gerry Goffin, American lyricist
* 1939 - Jane Yolen, American author
*1941 - Sergio Mendes, Brazilian musician
*1943 - Serge Lama, French singer
*1946 - Ian Porterfield, English footballer (d. 2007)
*1947 - Joselito, Spanish singer
* 1947 - Derek Shulman, English musician
* 1947 - Kikko Matsuoka, Japanese actress
*1953 - Philip Anglim, American actor
* 1953 - Jeb Bush, American politician
*1954 - Noriyuki Asakura, Japanese composer
* 1954 - Wesley Strick, American screenwriter
*1956 - H.R., American singer
* 1956 - Catherine Hickland, American actress
* 1956 - Didier Lockwood, French violinist
*1959 - Roberto Moreno, Brazilian racing driver
*1960 - Nick Currie, Scottish musician
*1961 - Mary Docter, American speed skater
* 1961 - Carey Lowell, American actress
*1962 - Tammy Baldwin, American politician
* 1962 - Sheryl Crow, American musician
* 1962 - Eric Vanderaerden, Belgian cyclist
*1963 - José Mari Bakero, Spanish footballer
* 1963 - Diane Franklin, American actress
*1964 - Ken Shamrock, American martial artist
* 1964 - Sarah Palin, American politician
*1965 - Vicki Wilson, Australian netballer
*1967 - Uwe Daßler, German swimmer
* 1967 - Hank Gathers, American basketball player (d. 1990)
* 1967 - Scott Shay, American linguist
*1969 - Jennifer Aniston, American actress
*1970 - Fredrik Thordendal, Swedish musician
*1971 - Damian Lewis, British actor
*1972 - Brian Daubach, American baseball player
* 1972 - Craig Jones, American musician
* 1972 - Steve Mcmanaman, English footballer
* 1972 - Kelly Slater, American surfer
*1973 - Ethan Iverson, jazz pianist
* 1973 - Jeon Do-yeon, Korean actress
* 1973 - Varg Vikernes, Norwegian musician
*1974 - D'Angelo, American singer
* 1974 - Alex Jones, American radio host
* 1974 - Zain Verjee, American newsreporter
*1975 - Jacque Vaughn, American basketball player
*1975 - Andy Lally, American race car driver
*1976 - Brice Beckham, American actor
* 1976 - André Wickström, Finland-Swedish comedian and actor
*1977 - Mike Shinoda, American musician, Linkin Park, Fort Minor
*1979 - Brandy, American singer and actress
*1980 - Marco Bresciano, Australian soccer player
* 1980 - Titi Buengo, Angolan footballer
* 1980 - Matthew Lawrence, American actor
* 1980 - Cormac McAnallen, Northern Irish Gaelic footballer (d. 2004)
*1981 - Kelly Rowland, American singer
* 1981 - Scot Thompson, American soccer player
*1982 - Neil Robertson, Australian snooker player
* 1982 - Natalie Dormer, English actress
*1983 - Nicki Clyne, Canadian actress
* 1983 - Huang Shengyi, Chinese actress
* 1983 - Rafael Van der Vaart, Dutch footballer
*1984 - Matt Good, American musician
* 1984 - Aubrey O'Day, American singer
*1985 - Mike Richards, Canadian ice hockey player
* 1985 - William Beckett, lead singer of the American rock band The Academy Is...
*1990 - Princess Ayah of Jordan
*1992 - Taylor Lautner, American actor
*1992 - Georgia Groome, English actress
* 1992 - Blair Dunlop, English actor
*1994 - Dominic Janes, American actor

Deaths

* 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)
*1511 - Henry, Duke of Cornwall, son of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon
*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 India (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)
*1923 - Wilhelm Killing, German mathematician (b. 1847)
*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)
*1954 - Adolph M. Christianson, justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court (b. 1877)
*1958 - Ernest Jones, British psychonanalyst (b. 1879)
*1959 - Marshall Teague, American race car driver (b. 1922)
*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)
* 1986 - Evelio Javier, Filipino politician, lawyer, and civil servant (b. 1942)
*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)
* 2000 - Jacqueline Auriol, French aviatrix (b. 1917)
*2002 - Frank Crosetti, baseball player (b. 1910)
* 2002 - Barry Foster, British actor (b. 1931)
*2004 - Shirley Strickland, Australian 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)
*2007 - Marianne Fredriksson, Swedish author (b. 1927)
*2008 - Tom Lantos, member of the United States House of Representatives (b. 1928)
* 2008 - Frank Piasecki, American aeronautical designer (b. 1919)

Holidays and observances

* Catholicism - Feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes
* National Foundation Day in Japan
* National Youth Day in Cameroon
* National Inventors' Day in the United States.
* February 11 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/11 BBC: On This Day]
*
* [http://www1.sympatico.ca/cgi-bin/on_this_day?mth=Feb&day=11 On This Day in Canada] ----