February 29
February 29 is the 60th day of the year, occurring in the Gregorian Calendar every four years, excepting those years ending in two zeros which are not evenly divisible by 400. If this is in fact a leap year, there are 306 days remaining.
Events:
- 1704 - Native Americans attack and destroy Deerfield, Massachusetts
- 1940 - Hattie McDaniel becomes the first African American to win an Academy Award
Births:
- 1720 - Queen Ulrike Eleonora of Sweden resigns
- 1763 - Ann Lee, founder of the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing ("Shakers")
- 1792 - Gioacchino Rossini, composer (+ 1868)
- 1840 - John Philip Holland, developer of the first submarine
- 1860 - Herman Hollerith, statistician (+ 1929)
- 1904 - Jimmy Dorsey, bandleader (+ 1957)
- 1908 - Balthus, painter (+ 2001)
- 1908 - Dee Brown, writer, historian (+ 2002)
- 1916 - Dinah Shore, singer (+ 1994)
- 1920 - Howard Nemerov, American, winner of the Pulitzer Prize
- 1924 - Al Rosen, baseball player
- 1936 - Henri Richard, ice hockey player
- 1960 - Tony Robbins, motivational speaker
- 1972 - Antonio Sabato Jr., actor
- 1976 - Ja Rule, rap musician
Deaths:
- 1940 - Edward Frederick Benson, American writer
Holidays & Observances:
- Bahá'í Faith - Day 4 of Ayyám-i-Há (Intercalary Days) (in leap years only) - 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 28 - March 1 - January 29 - March 29 - more historical anniversaries