Events

• 660 BC – Traditional date for the foundation 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 a fuel, experimentally.

• 1809 – Robert Fulton files 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.

• 1826 – Swaminarayan wrote the Shikshapatri, an important test within the Swaminarayan faith.

• 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

• 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.

• 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 – A Lockheed XP-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 – 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 released 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 Discovery is launched on a mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope.

• 2006 – Vice President of the United States Dick Cheney accidentally shoots Harry Whittington in the face, neck, and upper torso while hunting quail.

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)

• 1829 – The Rev. Samuel Lodge, English clergyman, author and headmaster (d. 1897)

• 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)

• 1872 – Hannah Mitchell, English socialist and suffragette (d. 1956)

• 1873 – Feodor Chaliapin, Russian singer (d. 1938)

• 1874 – Elsa Beskow, Swedish author (d. 1953)

• 1874 – Fritz Hart, English-born composer (d. 1949)

• 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 – T. Nagi Reddy, Indian revolutionary (d. 1976)

• 1917 – Sidney Sheldon, American author (d. 2007)

• 1919 – Eva Gabor, Hungarian-born actress (d. 1995)

• 1920 – King Farouk I of Egypt (d. 1965)

• 1920 – Daniel F. Galouye, science fiction author (d.1976)

• 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)

• 1923 – Antony Flew, British philosopher

• 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 – Manuel Noriega, Panamanian general and dictator

• 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 – 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 – Kikko Matsuoka, Japanese actress

• 1947 – Derek Shulman, English musician

• 1947 – Yukio Hatoyama, Prime Minister of Japan

• 1949 – Guy Cloutier, French-Canadian music executive; father of Véronique Cloutier

• 1953 – Philip Anglim, American actor

• 1953 – Jeb Bush, 43rd Governor of Florida

• 1954 – Noriyuki Asakura, Japanese composer

• 1954 – Wesley Strick, American screenwriter

• 1956 – Catherine Hickland, American actress

• 1956 – Didier Lockwood, French violinist

• 1956 – H.R., American singer

• 1957 – Mitchell Symons, British writer

• 1959 – Bradley Cole, American actor

• 1959 – Roberto Moreno, Brazilian racing driver

• 1960 – Nick Currie, Scottish musician

• 1960 – Richard Mastracchio, NASA astronaut

• 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 – Sarah Palin, 11th Governor of Alaska

• 1964 – Ken Shamrock, American martial artist

• 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 – Evan Tanner, American mixed-martial artist (d. 2008)

• 1971 – Damian Lewis, British actor

• 1972 – Brian Daubach, American baseball player

• 1972 – Craig Jones, American musician (Slipknot)

• 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 (Burzum, Mayhem)

• 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 racing driver

• 1976 – Brice Beckham, American actor

• 1976 – André Wickström, Finland-Swedish comedian and actor

• 1976 – Tony Battie, American basketball player

• 1977 – Mike Shinoda, American musician (Linkin Park and Fort Minor)

• 1979 – Brandy, American singer and actress

• 1980 – Marco Bresciano, Australian footballer

• 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 footballer

• 1982 – Natalie Dormer, English actress

• 1982 – Neil Robertson, Australian snooker player

• 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

• 1984 – Maxime Talbot, Canadian ice hockey player

• 1985 – Harris Allan, Canadian Actor

• 1985 – William Beckett, American singer

• 1985 – Mike Richards, Canadian ice hockey player

• 1990 – Princess Ayah of Jordan

• 1991 – NeverShoutNever!, (Christofer Ingle) American pop artist

• 1992 – Taylor Lautner, American 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 (b. 1096)

• 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)

• 1967 – A.J. Muste, American peace activist (b. 1885)

• 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)

• 1993 – George A. Stephen, founder of Weber-Stephen Products Co. (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)

• 2005 – Stan Richards English television actor (b. 1930)

• 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)

• 2009 – Estelle Bennett, American singer (b. 1941)

Holidays and observances

• Catholicism – Feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes

• National Foundation Day in Japan

• National Youth Day in Cameroon

• Armed Forces Day in Liberia

• Evelio Javier Memorial Day on Panay Island

• National Inventors' Day in the United States.

• February 11 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)