February 28
February 28 is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 306 days remaining, 307 in leap years.
Events:
- 1827 - Baltimore & Ohio Railroad is incorporated becoming the first railroad offering commercial transportation of both people and freight.
- 1849 - Regular steamboat service from the west to the east coast of the United States begins with the arrival of the SS California in San Francisco Bay. The California left New York Harbor on October 6, 1848, rounded Cape Horn at the tip of South America, and arrived at San Francisco, California after the 4 month 21 day journey.
- 1850 - University of Utah opens in Salt Lake City, Utah
- 1854 - The Republican Party of the United States is organized in Ripon, Wisconsin.
- 1861 - Colorado is organized as a United Sates territory.
- 1940 - Basketball is televised and shown for the first time (Fordham University vs. the University of Pittsburgh in Madison Square Garden).
- 1948 - Bud Gartiser sets a new world record after clearing the 50-yard low hurdles in 6.8 seconds.
- 1974 - After seven years, the United States and Egypt re-established diplomatic relations.
- 1979 - "The famous Mr. Ed", the talking horse, dies.
- 1983 - The final episode of M*A*S*H is broadcasted becoming the most watched television episode in history.
- 1986 - Olof Palme, Swedish prime minister, is assassinated in Stockholm.
- 1993 - Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms federal agents raid the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas with a warrant to arrest cult leader David Koresh on federal firearms violations. Four agents and six Davidians die in the raid and a 51-day standoff begins.
- 1998 - Serbian police begin to wipe out so-called "terrorist gangs" in Kosovo.
- 2001 - An earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter Scale hits the Northwest area of the United States. There were no reports of any deaths.
- 2002 - At least 55 are killed in Ahmadabad, India when Hindus set burned Muslim homes.
Births:
- 1553 - Michel de Montaigne, writer and philosopher (+ 1592)
- 1683 - René Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur, scientist (+ 1757)
- 1833 - Alfred von Schlieffen, general field marshal (+ 1913)
- 1900 - Wolfram Hirth, pilot and designer of aircrafts (+ 1959)
- 1901 - Linus Pauling, the only winner of two Nobel Prizes, in chemistry 1954 and peace 1962 (+ 1994)
- 1938 - Klaus Staeck, graphic artist
- 1939 - Erika Pluhar, actress and singer
- 1976 - Ja Rule, rap singer
Deaths:
- 1986 - Olof Palme, Swedish prime minister
Holidays and observances:
- Bahá'í Faith - Day 3 of Ayyám-i-Há (Intercalary Days) - days in the Bahá'í calendar devoted to service and gift giving.
See Also: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
February 27 - February 29 - March 1 - January 28 - March 28 - more historical anniversaries