Historical Events
Oldest Photo of a Serving US President
Feb 14 In New York City, James Knox Polk becomes first serving US President to have his photograph taken (by Matthew Brady).
Discovery of Gold in California
Feb 28 1st boat load of gold rush prospectors arrives in San Francisco from the east coast
Famous Birthdays
- Feb 2 Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav, Slovak poet (d. 1921)
- Feb 4 Jean Richepin, French poet and writer (Les Chansons de Gueux), born in Médéa, French Algeria (d. 1926)
- Feb 13 Lord Randolph Churchill, English politician, (chancellor of the Exchequer, father of Winston Churchill), born in London, England (d. 1895)
- Feb 17 Selwyn Image, English painter and designer (Arts and Crafts Movement), born in Bodiam Sussex (d. 1930)
- Feb 18 Alexander Lange Kielland, Norwegian writer (Gist; Fortuna; St. Hans Fest), and politician (mayor; governor), born in Stavanger, Norway (d. 1906)
- Feb 22 Nikolay Yakovlevich Sonin, Russian mathematician (d. 1915)
Famous Deaths
- Feb 8 France Prešeren, Slovenian poet (Sonetni Venec), dies at 48
- Feb 8 Francois-Antoine Habeneck, French composer and musician, dies at 68
- Feb 9 Corneille Vander Planken, Belgian violinist and composer, dies at 76
- Feb 13 Christian Rummel, German conductor and composer, dies at 61
- Feb 15 Pierre François Verhulst, Belgian mathematician (logistic curve), dies at 44
- Feb 22 Alexander Fesca, German pianist and composer, dies at 28
