Historical Events
- Feb 1 Nyasaland (now Malawi) becomes self-governing under Hastings Banda
- Feb 2 Helen Shapiro begins tour (Beatles are part of undercard)
- Feb 5 Maarten Schmidt discovers enormous red shifts in quasars
- Feb 5 Soviet lunar probe failure
- Feb 8 1st transmission of Clandestine Voice of Iraqi People (Communist)
- Feb 8 AFL's Dallas Texans become KC Chiefs
- Feb 8 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
- Feb 9 1st test flight of Boeing 727 jet
- Feb 9 7th largest snowfall in NYC history (42.4 cm, 16.7")
- Feb 10 US female Figure Skating championship won by Lorraine Hanlon
- Feb 10 US male Figure Skating championship won by Thomas Litz
- Feb 11 American chef Julia Child's show "The French Chef" premieres on WGBH in Boston - one of the first cooking shows in the US
- Feb 11 Beatles record 10 of the 14 tracks for their 1st UK album "Please Please Me"
- Feb 11 CIA Domestic Operations Division created
Event of Interest
Feb 12 Argentina requests the extradition of ex-president Juan Perón
8½
Feb 14 "8½" film directed by Federico Fellini, starring Marcello Mastroianni and Claudia Cardinale, is released (Academy Awards Best Foreign Language Film 1964)
- Feb 14 US launches communications satellite Syncom 1
Sports History
Feb 15 1st US female world figure skating champ (Tenley Albright)
- Feb 15 Ken Lynch records "Misery," 1st Lennon-McCartney song by someone else
- Feb 16 1st round-trip swim of Strait of Messina, Italy (Mary Revell of US)
- Feb 16 Beatles top British rock charts with "Please, Please Me"
- Feb 16 C & A Building in Amsterdam burns down
NBA Record
Feb 16 North Carolina forward Billy Cunningham grabs a record 27 rebounds in a game vs Clemson
The Banality of Evil
Feb 16 Philosopher Hannah Arendt's controversial account of the trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann is first published in "The New Yorker"
- Feb 17 Japanese runner Toru Terasawa runs a world record marathon (2:15:15.8) at the Beppu Marathon on the island of Kyushu, Japan
The Feminine Mystique
Feb 19 "The Feminine Mystique" by Betty Friedan, widely credited as the start of second-wave feminism, is published
Event of Interest
Feb 19 Robert Frost wins Bollingen Prize
- Feb 20 Australian cricket greats Neil Harvey and Alan Davidson play final Test match in drawn 5th Test vs England at the Sydney Cricket Ground
Mays Signs Record Contract
Feb 20 Future Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder Willie Mays becomes the highest-paid player in MLB, signing a record $100,000 contract with the San Francisco Giants
Music History
Feb 23 Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti makes his debut at the Vienna State Opera in Giuseppe Verdi's "La traviata"
Contract of Interest
Feb 27 Mickey Mantle of NY Yankees sign a baseball contract worth $100,000
Famous Birthdays
- Feb 1 Takashi Murakami, Japanese artist, born in Tokyo, Japan
- Feb 2 Eva Cassidy, American singer, born in Washington D.C (d. 1996)
- Feb 2 Philip Laats, Belgian judoka
- Feb 2 Stephen McGann, British actor (Catherine the Great), born in Liverpool, England
- Feb 4 Noodles [Kevin Wasserman], American guitarist (The Offspring - "Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)"), born in Los Angeles, California.
- Feb 4 Pirmin Zurbriggen, Swiss alpine skier (Olympic gold 1988)
- Feb 4 Tracie Ruiz-Conforto, Hawaii, sync swimmer (Olympic 2 gold/silver-84, 88)
- Feb 5 Steven Shainberg, American film director
- Feb 6 David Capel, English cricket all-rounder (15 Tests; 21 wickets; 23 ODIs), born in Northampton, England (d. 2020)
- Feb 6 Kevin Trudeau, American entrepreneur, born in Lynn, Massachusetts
- Feb 6 Mike Hough, Canadian NHL left wing (Florida Panthers), born in Montreal, Quebec
- Feb 7 Heidemarie M Stefanyshyn-Piper, Lt Cmdr USN/astronaut, born in Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Feb 7 Roland Lefebvre, Dutch cricket all-rounder (11 ODIs, captain), born in Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Feb 8 Joshua Kadison, American pop-rock singer-songwriter and piano player ("Jessie"), born in Los Angeles, California
- Feb 8 Mohammad Azharuddin, Indian politician and cricketer, born in Hyderabad, India
- Feb 9 Brian Greene, American physicist
- Feb 9 David Rotheray, British rock guitarist and songwriter (The Beautiful South - "A Little Time"), born in Hull, Yorkshire, England
- Feb 9 Lolo Ferrari [Eve Valois], French adult actress and dancer, born in Clermont-Ferrand, Puy-de-Dôme, France (d. 2000)
- Feb 9 Madusa Miceli [Debra Ann], wrestler (WCW), born in Milan, Italy
- Feb 9 Mike Rindel, cricketer (N Transvaal opening bat ODI ton v Pak 1995)
- Feb 9 Travis Tritt, American country vocalist ("Country Club"), born in Marietta, Georgia
- Feb 10 Bennie Thompson, American football safety (Saints, Chiefs, Cleveland Browns/Ravens), born in New Orleans, Louisiana
- Feb 10 Joakim Nystrom, Swedish tennis star, born in Skellefteå, Sweden
- Feb 10 Lenny Dykstra, American MLB centerfielder (NY Met, Philadelphia Phillies), born in Santa Ana, California
- Feb 10 Philip Glenister, British Actor (Outkast, Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes), born in Harrow, Middlesex, England
- Feb 10 Smiley Culture [David Victor Emmanuel], British reggae singer ("Police Officer"; "Cockney Translation"), born in Stockwell, South London (d. 2011)
- Feb 11 José Mari Bakero, Spanish footballer, born in Goizueta, Spain
- Feb 12 Brent Jones, American College Football Hall of Fame tight end (Santa Clara Uni; Super Bowl 1988, 89, 95; SF 49ers; Pro Bowl 1992–95; All Pro 1992-94), born in Santa Clara, California
- Feb 12 Ed Lover, US radio personality, born in Hollis, New York
- Feb 13 Roberta Vasquez, American actor and model (November, 1984), born in Los Angeles, California
- Feb 14 D'Wayne Wiggins, American musician (Tony! Toni! Tone!), born in Oakland, California
- Feb 14 Enrico Colantoni, Canadian actor, born in Toronto, Ontario
- Feb 14 Zach Galligan, American actor (Gremlins), born in New York City
- Feb 15 Srettha Thavisin, Thai real estate tycoon and politician (Prime Minister of Thailand 2023-), born in Bangkok, Thailand
- Feb 17 Jensen Huang, Taiwanese-American businessman and engineer (Nvidia Corporation), born in Tainan, Taiwan
- Feb 17 Larry the Cable Guy [Daniel Lawrence Whitney], American comedian (Blue Collar Comedy Tour), born in Pawnee City, Nebraska
Michael Jordan (61 years old)
Feb 17 American Basketball Hall of Fame forward, owner (5-time NBA MVP, 6-time NBA champion Chicago Bulls), born in Brooklyn, New York
- Feb 18 Henry Winter, English football journalist, born in London
- Feb 18 John Gesek, American NFL center (Washington Redskins), born in San Francisco, California
- Feb 18 Rob Andrew, English rugby player, born in Richmond, United Kingdom
- Feb 19 Jessica Tuck, American actress (Megan-1 Life to Live), born in New York City
- Feb 19 Laurell K. Hamilton, American writer (Anita Blake books), born in Heber Springs, Arkansas
Seal (61 years old)
Feb 19 British Grammy and Brit Award-winning singer-songwriter ("Crazy"; "Kiss From A Rose"; "Love's Divine"), born in London, England
Charles Barkley (61 years old)
Feb 20 American basketball forward (NBA MVP 1993, 11-time All Star, Olympic gold 1996), born in Leeds, Alabama
- Feb 20 Cui Yongyuan, Chinese television personality and anchor (Tell It Like It Is), born in Tianjin, China
- Feb 20 Darek Oleszkiewicz [formerly known as Oles], Polish jazz bassist, composer (Los Angeles Jazz Quartet), and educator, born in Wrocław, Poland
- Feb 20 Ian Brown, British rock singer and musician (Stone Roses - "Love Spreads"; "Fools Gold"), born in Warrington, England
- Feb 20 Jon Lynn Christensen, former Nebraska Congressman
- Feb 20 Marilisa Xenogiannakopoulou, Greek politician
- Feb 21 Greg Turner, New Zealand golfer (4 European Tour titles), born in Dunedin, New Zealand
- Feb 21 Michael Gostigian, American pentathlete (Olympic 16th-88, 92, 96), born in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
- Feb 21 Ranking Roger [Roger Charlery], British rock vocalist (The Beat; General Public), born in Birmingham, England (d. 2019)
- Feb 21 William Baldwin, American actor (Backdraft, Sliver, Flatliners), born in Massapequa, New York
- Feb 22 Dave Besteman, American speed skater (Olympics 1994), born in Madison, Wisconsin
- Feb 22 Devon Malcolm, Jamaican cricket fast bowler (40 tests England, 128 wickets, BB 9/57; Derbyshire CCC, Northamptonshire CCC, Leicestershire CCC), born in Kingston, Jamaica
- Feb 22 Pebbles Flintstone, fictional character on "The Flintstones"
Vijay Singh (61 years old)
Feb 22 Fijian golfer (Masters 2000, PGA C'ship 1998, 2004), born in Lautoka, Fiji
- Feb 23 Bobby Bonilla, American outfielder (NY Mets, Baltimore Orioles, Marlins), born in New York City
- Feb 23 Debbie Kruck, Ms. Fitness USA (1994), born in Danbury, Connecticut
- Feb 23 Radosław Sikorski, Polish politician, born in Bydgoszcz, Poland
- Feb 23 Reza Abdoh, Iranian born American theater director and playwright, born in Tehran, Iran (d. 1995)
- Feb 23 Robert Collins, English keyboard player (The Charlatans), born in Rowley Regis, England (d. 1996)
- Feb 24 Fuad Reveiz, NFL kicker (Minnesota Vikings)
- Feb 24 Matias Carrillo, Mexican-American baseball outfielder (Florida Marlins)
- Feb 24 Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Indian Bollywood director (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas), born in Mumbai, India
- Feb 25 Alison Roberts, fashion designer
Paul O'Neill (61 years old)
Feb 25 MLB right fielder (Cincinnati Reds, NY Yankees), born in Columbus, Ohio
Famous Weddings
Francis Ford Coppola
Feb 2 Filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola (23) weds documentary filmmaker Eleanor Jessie Neil (26) in Las Vegas, Nevada
Famous Deaths
- Feb 1 Fleetwood Lindley, American man & last living person to see Abraham Lincoln's face, dies at 75
- Feb 2 Herman Bouber, Dutch actor and playwright (Sailor's Wives), dies at 77
- Feb 2 William Gaxton [Arthur Gaxiola], American stage and screen actor (A Connecticut Yankee; Destry; Convoy), dies of cancer at 73
- Feb 6 Abd el-Krim [Mohamed ibn Abdelkrim El-Khattabi], Moroccan political and military leader (Republic of the Rif), dies at 85
- Feb 6 Charles "Specs" Wright, American jazz drummer (Dizzy Gillespie; Cannonball Adderly; Red Garland), dies at 35
- Feb 6 Werner Erich Josten, German composer (Jungle), dies at 77
- Feb 7 Arthur Carr, English cricket batsman and captain (11 Tests, 1 x 50; Nottinghamshire CCC), dies at 69
- Feb 7 Learco Guerra, Italian road racing cyclist, dies at 60
- Feb 8 Abd al-Karīm Qāsim, Prime Minister of Iraq (1958-63), assassinated in Baghdad at 48
- Feb 8 George Dolenz [Jure Dolenc], Italian actor (Scared Stiff, Count of Monte Cristo), dies from a heart attack at 55
- Feb 11 Karl Frederick, American pistol shooter (Olympic gold 1920), dies at 82
Sylvia Plath (1932-1963)
Feb 11 American poet (The Colossus; Three Women), novelist (The Bell Jar), and posthumous Pulitzer Prize winner (Poetry, 1982), commits suicide at 30
- Feb 13 Harry Steers, American bowling hall of famer (1st man to bowl in 50 USB championships), dies
- Feb 16 Friedrich Dessauer, German physicist (radiologist), dies at 81
- Feb 16 László Lajtha, Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist and conductor, dies at 70
- Feb 18 Monte Blue, American silent and sound screen actor (White Shadows in the South Seas; Key Largo; Apache), dies of a heart attack at 76
- Feb 18 Todd "Hugh" Gaitskell, leader British Labour Party, dies at 56
- Feb 19 Bartolomé "Beny" Moré, Cuban guaracha and mambo singer, guitarist, songwriter, and bandleader, dies of liver cirrhosis at 43
- Feb 20 Ferenc Fricsay, Hungarian-Austrian conductor, dies at 48
- Feb 20 Jacob Gade, Danish violinist and composer (Jalousie ; Cinema Music), dies at 83
- Feb 23 Algeria Junius "June" Clark, American jazz trumpeter and cornetist, dies at 62
- Feb 26 Artturi Leinonen, Finnish journalist and writer (Kati), dies at 74
- Feb 27 William Auchterlonie, Scottish golfer (British Open 1893), dies at 90
- Feb 28 Bobby Jaspar, Belgian jazz saxophonist, flautist and composer dies of a heart attack at 37
- Feb 28 Eppa Rixey Jr., American Baseball HOF pitcher (NL wins leader 1922; 266 career wins; Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds), dies at 71
Rajendra Prasad (1884-1963)
Feb 28 Indian independence activist and 1st President of India (1950-62), dies at 78
- Feb 28 Theodore Newton, American actor (Voltaire, Ace of Aces), dies at 58
