Historical Events
- Feb 1 Aleide de Gasperi forms Italian government of christian-dems & communists
Shostakovich Named Professor
Feb 1 Dmitri Shostakovich named professor at conservatoire of Leningrad
- Feb 1 NV United Dutch Fokker's Aircraft established
- Feb 3 -81°F (-63°C), Snag Yukon (North American record)
- Feb 3 1st black reporter in US Congressional press gallery (Percival Prattis)
Bradman's Duck
Feb 3 Bradman bowled by Alec Bedser for a duck in 4th Test Cricket
Magnum Photos Founded
Feb 6 Magnum Photos founded in Paris by Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, George Rodger and David Seymour
Willie Sutton Escapes
Feb 9 Bank robber Willie Sutton escapes jail in Philadelphia
The New Look
Feb 12 French fashion designer Christian Dior presents his first influential collection, named the "New Look"
- Feb 12 Record 100.5-kg sailfish caught by C. W. Stewart, near the Galapagos Islands
- Feb 15 Sammy Fain and George Marion Jr's musical "Toplitzky of Notre Dame" closes at Century Theater, NYC, after 60 performances
Symphony No. 3
Feb 16 Morton Gould's 3rd Symphony, premieres
- Feb 17 Dutch RC bishops publish manifest against "godless communism"
- Feb 17 Voice of America begins broadcasting to USSR
- Feb 18 24 die in a train crash in Gallitzin, Pennsylvania
- Feb 18 Gian Carlo Menotti's opera "Telephone" premieres in NYC
- Feb 19 CBS radio premiere of Villa-Lobos' "Bachianas Brasilieras No 3"
- Feb 20 Chemical mixing error involving perchloric acid at a metal plating company causes explosion that kills 17, injures over a hundred, and destroys at least 11 buildings in Los Angeles, California
Last Viceroy of India
Feb 20 Earl Mountbatten of Burma is appointed the last viceroy of India to oversee the move to independence
Polaroid Land Camera Model 95
Feb 21 1st instant developing camera demonstrated by Edwin Land at the Optical Society of America in NYC
Pro Wrestling
Feb 21 Whipper Billy Watson beats Bill Longson, to become wrestling champ
Event of Interest
Feb 23 US General Eisenhower opens drive to raise $170M in aid for European Jews
- Feb 25 Allied Control Council, the governing body of post-World War II occupied Germany and Austria. abolishes the State of Prussia
Golden Globes
Feb 26 4th Golden Globes: "The Best Years of Our Lives", Gregory Peck, & Rosalind Russell win
- Feb 27 French explorer Paul-Emile Victor founds French Polar Expeditions to oversee French scientific missions
February 28 Massacre
Feb 28 February 28 Massacre: Anti-government uprising in Taiwan is violently put down by Chiang Kai-shek and his Kuomintang-led Republic of China government with the loss of 18,000-28,000 lives. Marks the beginning of the White Terror.
Famous Birthdays
- Feb 1 Adam Ingram, British politician, born in Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Feb 1 Jessica Savitch, American broadcast journalist and pioneering female news anchor (NBC Weekend), born in Wilmington, Delaware (d. 1983) [1]
- Feb 1 Mike Brant, Israeli pop singer ("Laisse-moi t'aimer" ("Let Me Love You")), born in Famagusta, Cyprus (d. 1975)
- Feb 1 Normie Rowe, Australian pop singer ("Que Sera Sera"), and stage and TV actor (Sons and Daughters), born in Melbourne, Australia
Farrah Fawcett (1947-2009)
Feb 2 American actress (Charlie's Angels, The Burning Bed), born in Corpus Christi, Texas
- Feb 2 Jack Bergman, American politician (highest-ranking combat veteran to serve as US House of Representatives, 2017-), born in Shakopee, Minnesota
- Feb 2 Peter Lucia, American rock drummer (Tommy James & Shondells - "Crystal Blue Persuasion"), born in Morristown, New Jersey
- Feb 3 Dave Davies, British rock guitarist and vocalist (The Kinks - "You Really Got Me"; "Lola"; "Living On A Thin Line"), born in Muswell Hill, North London, England [1]
- Feb 3 Joe Coleman, baseball pitcher (Washington, Detroit)
- Feb 3 Koos Alberts [Jacobus Krommenhoek], Dutch folk and pop singer (Many More Years; Life Goes On), born in Jordaan, Amsterdam, Netherlands (d. 2018)
- Feb 3 Melanie [Safka], American singer-songwriter ("Brand New Key"; "What Have They Done to My Song Ma"; "Candles in Rain"), born in Astoria, Queens, New York (d. 2024) [1] [2]
- Feb 3 Paul Auster, American author/poet/director (Mr Vertigo, Smoke)
- Feb 3 Stephen McHattie [Smith], Canadian actor (300, Watchmen, The Fountain), born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia
- Feb 4 James Danforth "Dan" Quayle, USA (Sen-R-Ind, 44th Vice President 1989-93), born in Indianapolis, Indiana
- Feb 4 Jeannie Wilson, actress (Simon & Simon, Stir Crazy), born in Memphis, Tennessee
- Feb 4 Sanford Bishop, American politician (Rep-D-Georgia), born in Mobile, Alabama
Darrell Waltrip (77 years old)
Feb 5 American auto racer (NASCAR Cup Series 1981, 82, 85; Daytona 500 1989; winner 84 x NASCAR Cup Series races) and broadcaster (Fox Sports), born in Owensboro, Kentucky
- Feb 5 David Ladd, American actor (Raymie, Catlow, Misty, Deathline), born in Los Angeles, California
- Feb 5 George Underwood, British illustrator, and graphic designer for books and album cover art (Bowie; T. Rex; The Fixx), born in Bromley, England
- Feb 5 Mary Louise Cleave, American engineer and NASA astronaut (STS 61-B, STS 30), born in Southampton, New York
- Feb 6 Charles Hickcox, American 200m/400m medley swimmer (Olympic-3 gold-1968), born in Phoenix, Arizona (d. 2010)
- Feb 7 Joe Shea, American journalist
- Feb 7 Wayne Allwine, American voice actor (3rd Mickey Mouse, 1977-2009), born in Glendale, California (d. 2009)
- Feb 8 Sam Gannon, Australian cricket fast bowler (3 Tests, 11 wickets; Western Australia; Chairman WACA), born in Perth, Western Australia (d. 2021)
- Feb 9 Carla Del Ponte, Swiss UN prosecutor
- Feb 9 Joe Ely, American outlaw country singer-songwriter and guitarist ("Honky Tonk Masquerade"), born in Amarillo,Texas
- Feb 9 Major Harris, American R&B singer ("Love Won't Let Me Wait"), born in Richmond, Virginia (d. 2012)
- Feb 10 (Lawrence) "Butch" Morris, American jazz cornetist, composer, and conductor, born in Long Beach, California (d. 2013)
- Feb 10 Chris Ethridge, American country rock bass guitarist (International Submarine Band; The Flying Burrito Brothers), born in Meridian, Mississippi (d. 2012)
- Feb 10 Louise Arbour, Canadian judge
- Feb 10 Nicholas Owen, English newsreader
- Feb 11 Derek Shulman, Scottish rock singer, musician (Gentle Giant), and record company executive (PolyGram: Atco), born in Glasgow, Scotland
- Feb 11 Joselito [José Jiménez], Spanish singer and actor, born in Beas de Segura, Andalucia, Spain
- Feb 11 Kikko Matsuoka, Japanese actress, born in Tokyo, Japan
- Feb 12 Guus Willemse, Dutch rock bassist, singer, and organist (Solution), born in Utrecht, Netherlands
- Feb 12 Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Indian leader of Damdami Taksal (d. 1984)
- Feb 13 Augusto Matine, Portuguese soccer midfielder (9 caps; Benfica, Vitória de Setúbal) and manager (Mozambique national team), born in Lourenço Marques, Mozambique (d. 2020)
- Feb 13 Bill Leavy, American football official (NFL 1995-2014; Super Bowl 2000, 06; 15 x playoff games), born in Santa Barbara, California (d. 2023)
- Feb 13 Kevin Bloody Wilson [Dennis Bryant], Australian musical comedian, born in Sydney, Australia
- Feb 13 Mike Krzyzewski, American basketball coach (Duke University, 1980-2022 - 5 x NCAA National Championships; Olympic gold - 2008, 2012, 2016), born in Chicago, Illinois
- Feb 14 Heidemarie Rosendahl, German athlete (Olympic gold FRG long jump, 4×100m relay, silver pentathlon 1972), born in Hückeswagen, Germany
- Feb 14 Judd Gregg, American politician (Senator-R-NH 1993-2011, Governor of NH 1989-93, Rep-R-NH, 1981-89), born in Nashua, New Hampshire
- Feb 14 Pham Tuan, Vietnam, cosmonaut (Soyuz 37/36)
- Feb 14 Salahuddin Mulla, Pakistani cricket all-rounder (5 Tests, HS 34no, 7 wickets; Karachi, Pakistan International Airlines), born in Aligarh, India
- Feb 14 Tim Buckley, singer-songwriter, born in Washington, D.C. (d. 1975)
- Feb 15 David Brown, American rock bassist (Santana, 1967-1971, 1974-76), born in New York City (d. 2000)
- Feb 15 John Adams, American composer (Nixon In China), born in Worcester, Massachusetts
- Feb 15 Marisa Berenson, American actress (Barry Lyndon; Death in Vienna; SOB), born in New York City
- Feb 15 Russell "Rusty "Hamer, American actor (Make Room for Daddy - "Rusty"), born in Tenafly, New Jersey (d. 1990)
- Feb 16 Franz West, artist (Flause), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 2012)
- Feb 17 Ben Cramer, Dutch pop and musical theater singer ("De Clown"), born in Amsterdam. Holland
- Feb 17 Dallas Adams, British actor, painter and writer (Terror From Within)
- Feb 17 Dodie Stevens [Geraldine Pasquale], American pop singer ("Pink Shoe Laces"), born in Chicago, Illinois
- Feb 18 Carlos A Lopes, Portuguese marathon runner (Olympic gold 1984)
- Feb 18 Dennis De Young, American rock vocalist (Styx, 1970-99 - "Come Sail Away"; "Babe"), born in Chicago, Illinois
- Feb 18 Eliot Engel, American politician (Rep-D-NY), born in New York City
- Feb 18 Keith Nelson, New Zealand soccer striker (20 caps; Mount Wellington), born in Renfrew, Scotland (d. 2020)
- Feb 18 Leroy Keyes, American College Football Hall of Fame running back / safety (Purdue; Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs), born in Newport News, Virginia (d. 2021)
- Feb 18 Princess Christina [Maria Christina], Dutch royal, singer, and dance therapist, born in Soestdijk Palace, Baarn, the Netherlands (d. 2019)
- Feb 19 Ferdousi Priyabhashini, Bangladeshi sculptor (Independence Day Award-2010), born in Khulna District, British India (d. 2018)
- Feb 19 Peter Bird, British ocean rower (1st to row non-stop solo across the Pacific), (d. 1996)
- Feb 19 Tim Shadbolt, New Zealand politician (Mayor of Invercargill), born in Auckland, New Zealand
- Feb 20 Andre van Duin [né Kloot, later Kyvon], Dutch comedian, screenwriter, and actor (Hotel de Botel), and singer-songwriter ("'k Heb hele grote bloemkoole"), born in Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Feb 20 Eggert Magnusson, Icelandic football executive
- Feb 20 Jennifer O'Neill, American actress (Summer of '42), born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Feb 20 Peter Osgood, English soccer striker (4 caps; Chelsea, Southampton), born in Clewer, Berkshire, England (d. 2006)
- Feb 20 Peter Strauss, American actor (The Jericho Mile; Rich Man Poor Man), born in Croton-on-Hudson, New York
- Feb 20 Vladimir Kuzyutkin, Russian volleyball coach (Russia Women - World Cup gold 2010; Bulgaria Women), born in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia (d. 2022)
- Feb 21 Olympia Snowe, American politician (Rep-R-Maine, 1979-95, Senator-R-Maine 1995-2013), born in Augusta, Maine
- Feb 21 Victor Sokolov, Russian dissident journalist and priest (d. 2006)
- Feb 22 John Bryant, American politician (Rep-D-TX, 1983- ), born in Lake Jackson, Texas
- Feb 23 Anton Mosimann, Swiss chef (Dorchester Hotel), born in Solothurn, Swiss Jura
- Feb 23 Colin Sanders, British computer engineer (Solid State Logic), born in England (d. 1998)
- Feb 23 Geoff Cope, cricketer (England off-spinner 1977-78)
- Feb 23 John McWethy, American journalist (d. 2008)
- Feb 23 Pia Kjærsgaard, Danish politician
- Feb 23 Shakira Caine, Guyana, actress (Man Who be King)/Miss Guyana (1967)
Edward James Olmos (77 years old)
Feb 24 American actor (Miami Vice, Stand & Deliver, Triumph), born in Los Angeles, California
- Feb 24 Lonnie Turner, American rock and blues bassist (Steve Miller Band - "Fly Like An Eagle"), born in Berkeley, California (d. 2013)
- Feb 24 Rupert Holmes [David Goldstein], British pop songwriter ("Escape (The Piña Colada Song)"; "Him"), and Tony Award-winning composer (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), born in Northwich, England
- Feb 25 Anne Beatts, American comedy writer (National Lampoon magazine; Saturday Night Live, 1975-79; Square Pegs), born in Buffalo, New York (d. 2021) [1]
- Feb 25 Doug Yule, American bassist and singer (Velvet Underground, 1968-73), born in Mineola, Long Island, New York
- Feb 25 Eddie Thomson, Australian soccer coach (Socceroos 1990-96), born in Rosewell, Scotland (d. 2003)
- Feb 25 Lee Evans, American athlete (Olympic gold men's 400m, 4x400m relay 1968), born in Madera, California (d. 2021)
- Feb 25 Lewis Moonie, British MP
- Feb 25 Ryo Kawasaki, Japanese jazz fusion guitarist, composer, bandleader, and synthesizer software programmer, born in Kōenji, Tokyo, Japan (d. 2020)
- Feb 26 Guy Klucevsek, American jazz and free-improv accordionist and composer, born in New York City
- Feb 26 Sandie Shaw [Sandra Goodrich], English rocker (Girl Don't Come), born in Essex, England
- Feb 27 Ashley Woodcock, Australian cricketer (one Test Aust v NZ 1974, only knock 27), born in Adelaide, Australia
- Feb 27 Gidon Kremer, Latvian violinist (Tchaikovsky Prize, 1970), born in Riga, Latvia
- Feb 27 Louis Clark, British musical arranger and keyboard player (Electric Light Orchestra), born in Kempston, England
- Feb 28 Alex Taylor, American southern rock singer, born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1993)
- Feb 28 Stephanie Beacham, England, (Devil's Widow, Schizo, Dallas, Colbys)
Famous Deaths
- Feb 3 Marc Mitscher, American naval commander (WWII - Task Force 58 in the Pacific), dies at 60
- Feb 5 Ganzefles, Dutch nazi spy/Jews hunter, executed
- Feb 5 Hans Fallada [Rudolf Wilhelm Friedrich Ditzen], German writer (Little Man, What Now?), dies at 53
- Feb 6 Luigi Russolo, Italian Futurist composer (The Art of Noises), dies at 61
- Feb 8 Ernest Williams, American composer, dies at 65
- Feb 12 [Hooper] Sidney Toler, American theater director, playwright, stage and screen actor (Madame X; Meeting at Midnight; Charlie Chan films, 1938-46), dies of cancer at 72
- Feb 24 Pierre Janet, French psychologist and neurologist (contributed to the modern concept of mental and emotional disorders involving anxiety, phobias, and other abnormal behaviour), dies at 87
- Feb 25 Friedrich Paschen, German physicist (Paschen series), dies at 82
- Feb 26 Ben Webster, British actor (Old Curiosity Shop), dies at 82
- Feb 26 Heinrich Häberlin, Swiss politician, member of the Federal Council, dies at 78
- Feb 26 Kálmán Tihanyi, Hungarian physicist and engineer (invented cathode ray tube for television), dies at 49
- Feb 27 Francis MacKinnon, English cricket batsman (1 Test; Kent CCC) and 35th Chief of MacKinnon clan, dies at 98
