On This Day — February 29

🕰️ Notable Events on February 29

• 2012 — Tokyo Skytree construction completed. It is, as of 2017, the tallest tower in the world, 634 meters high, and second tallest (man-made) structure on Earth, next to Burj Khalifa. Wikipedia ↗
• 2008 — The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence decides to withdraw Prince Harry from a tour of Afghanistan "immediately" after a leak led to his deployment being reported by foreign media. Wikipedia ↗
• 2008 — Misha Defonseca admits to fabricating her memoir, Misha: A Mémoire of the Holocaust Years, in which she claimed to have lived with a pack of wolves in the woods during the Holocaust. Wikipedia ↗
• 2004 — Jean-Bertrand Aristide is removed as President of Haiti following a coup. Wikipedia ↗
• 2000 — Second Chechen War: Eighty-four Russian paratroopers are killed in a rebel attack on a guard post near Ulus Kert. Wikipedia ↗
• 1996 — Faucett Flight 251 crashes in the Andes, all 123 passengers and crew died. Wikipedia ↗
• 1996 — Siege of Sarajevo officially ends. Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — First day of Bosnia and Herzegovina independence referendum. Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — South African archbishop Desmond Tutu is arrested along with 100 clergymen during a five-day anti-apartheid demonstration in Cape Town. Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Svend Robinson becomes the first member of the Canadian House of Commons to come out as gay. Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Gordie Howe of the then Hartford Whalers makes NHL history as he scores his 800th goal. Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Vietnam War: Vietnamization: South Korea withdraws 11,000 of its 48,000 troops from Vietnam. Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — In Sydney, Australian swimmer Dawn Fraser sets a new world record in the 100-meter freestyle swimming competition (58.9 seconds). Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — The 5.7 Mw Agadir earthquake shakes coastal Morocco with a maximum perceived intensity of X (Extreme), destroying Agadir, and leaving 12,000 dead and another 12,000 injured. Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — The island of Heligoland is restored to West German authority. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — World War II: The Admiralty Islands are invaded in Operation Brewer led by American General Douglas MacArthur. Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — For her performance as "Mammy" in Gone with the Wind, Hattie McDaniel becomes the first African American to win an Academy Award. Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Finland initiates Winter War peace negotiations. Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — In a ceremony held in Berkeley, California, because of the war, physicist Ernest Lawrence receives the 1939 Nobel Prize in Physics from Sweden's Consul General in San Francisco. Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — February 26 Incident in Tokyo ends. Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Czechoslovak National assembly adopted the Constitution. Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Tokelau is annexed by the United Kingdom. Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Child labor: In South Carolina, the minimum working age for factory, mill, and mine workers is raised from twelve to fourteen years old. Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — The Piedra Movediza (Moving Stone) of Tandil falls and breaks. Wikipedia ↗
• 1892 — St. Petersburg, Florida is incorporated. Wikipedia ↗
• 1864 — American Civil War: Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid fails: Plans to free 15,000 Union soldiers being held near Richmond, Virginia are thwarted. Wikipedia ↗
• 1796 — The Jay Treaty between the United States and Great Britain comes into force, facilitating ten years of peaceful trade between the two nations. Wikipedia ↗
• 1768 — Polish nobles formed Bar Confederation. Wikipedia ↗
• 1752 — King Alaungpaya founds Konbaung Dynasty, the last dynasty of Burmese monarchy. Wikipedia ↗
• 1720 — Ulrika Eleonora, Queen of Sweden abdicates in favour of her husband, who becomes King Frederick I on 24 March. Wikipedia ↗
• 1712 — February 29 is followed by February 30 in Sweden, in a move to abolish the Swedish calendar for a return to the Julian calendar. Wikipedia ↗
• 1704 — Queen Anne's War: French forces and Native Americans stage a raid on Deerfield, Massachusetts Bay Colony, killing 56 villagers and taking more than 100 captive. Wikipedia ↗
• 1644 — Abel Tasman's second Pacific voyage began. Wikipedia ↗
• 1504 — Christopher Columbus uses his knowledge of a lunar eclipse that night to convince Native Americans to provide him with supplies. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on February 29

• 1996 — Nelson Asofa-Solomona, New Zealand rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1996 — Claudia Williams, New Zealand tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Sean Abbott, Australian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Ben Hampton, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Perry Kitchen, American soccer player Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Caitlin EJ Meyer, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Saphir Taïder, French-Algerian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Lena Gercke, German model and television host Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Scott Golbourne, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Benedikt Höwedes, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Brent Macaffer, Australian Rules footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Bobby Sanguinetti, American ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Darren Ambrose, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Megan Bernard, Australian audio artist Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Mark Foster, American musician (Foster the People) Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Rica Imai, Japanese model and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Cullen Jones, American swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Nuria Martínez, Spanish basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Adam Sinclair, Indian field hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Rakhee Thakrar, English actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Dennis Walger, German rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Cam Ward, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Çağdaş Atan, Turkish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Chris Conley, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Patrick Côté, Canadian mixed martial artist Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Simon Gagné, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Rubén Plaza, Spanish cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Clinton Toopi, New Zealand rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Taylor Twellman, American soccer player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Zoë Baker, English-New Zealand swimmer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Terrence Long, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Ja Rule, American rapper and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Mike Pollitt, English footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Antonio Sabàto, Jr., Italian-American model and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Pedro Sánchez, Spanish politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Dave Williams, American singer (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Saul Williams, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Pedro Zamora, Cuban-American activist and educator (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Suanne Braun, South African-English actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Chucky Brown, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Pete Fenson, American curler and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Naoko Iijima, Japanese actress and model Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Bryce Paup, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Howard Tayler, American author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Eugene Volokh, Ukrainian-American lawyer and educator Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Frank Woodley, Australian actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Dave Brailsford, English cyclist and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Lyndon Byers, Canadian ice hockey player and radio host Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Mervyn Warren, American tenor, composer, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Lucian Grainge, English businessman Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Khaled, Algerian singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Richard Ramirez, American serial killer (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Tony Robbins, American motivational speaker and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Jonathan Coleman, English-Australian radio and television host Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Bob Speller, Canadian businessman and politician, 30th Canadian Minister of Agriculture Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Aileen Wuornos, American serial killer (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Sharon Dahlonega Raiford Bush, American journalist and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Tim Powers, American author and educator Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Raisa Smetanina, Russian cross-country skier Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Bart Stupak, American police officer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Hermione Lee, English author, critic, and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Patricia A. McKillip, American author Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Henry Small, American-born Canadian singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Ene Ergma, Estonian physicist and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Dennis Farina, American police officer and actor (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Nicholas Frayling, English priest and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Phyllis Frelich, American actress (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Steve Mingori, American baseball player (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Paolo Eleuteri Serpieri, Italian author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Bartholomew I of Constantinople Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — William H. Turner, Jr. American horse trainer Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Jack R. Lousma, American colonel, astronaut, and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Henri Richard, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Alex Rocco, American actor (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Gene H. Golub, American mathematician and academic (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Masten Gregory, American race car driver (d. 1985) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Reri Grist, American soprano and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Jaguar, Brazilian cartoonist Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Gavin Stevens, Australian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Joss Ackland, English actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Vance Haynes, American archaeologist, geologist, and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Seymour Papert, South African mathematician and computer scientist, co-created the Logo programming language (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — David Beattie, New Zealand judge and politician, 14th Governor-General of New Zealand (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Carlos Humberto Romero, Salvadoran politician, President of El Salvador (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Al Rosen, American baseball player and manager (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Fyodor Abramov, Russian author and critic (d. 1983) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Arthur Franz, American actor (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — James Mitchell, American actor and dancer (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Michèle Morgan, French-American actress and singer (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Howard Nemerov, American poet and academic (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Rolland W. Redlin, American lawyer and politician (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Dinah Shore, American singer and actress (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — James B. Donovan, American lawyer (d. 1970) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Leonard Shoen, founder of U-Haul Corp. (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Balthus, French-Swiss painter and illustrator (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Dee Brown, American historian and author (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Alf Gover, English cricketer and coach (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Louie Myfanwy Thomas, Welsh writer (d. 1968) Wikipedia ↗
• 1904 — Rukmini Devi Arundale, Indian dancer and choreographer (d. 1986) Wikipedia ↗
• 1904 — Jimmy Dorsey, American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader (d. 1957) Wikipedia ↗
• 1904 — Pepper Martin, American baseball player and manager (d. 1965) Wikipedia ↗
• 1896 — Morarji Desai, Indian civil servant and politician, 4th Prime Minister of India (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1896 — William A. Wellman, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 1975) Wikipedia ↗
• 1892 — Augusta Savage, American sculptor (d. 1962) Wikipedia ↗
• 1884 — Richard S. Aldrich, American lawyer and politician (d. 1941) Wikipedia ↗
• 1860 — Herman Hollerith, American statistician and businessman, co-founded the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (d. 1929) Wikipedia ↗
• 1852 — Frank Gavan Duffy, Irish-Australian lawyer and judge, 4th Chief Justice of Australia (d. 1936) Wikipedia ↗
• 1836 — Dickey Pearce, American baseball player and manager (d. 1908) Wikipedia ↗
• 1828 — Emmeline B. Wells, American journalist, poet, and activist (d. 1921) Wikipedia ↗
• 1812 — James Milne Wilson, Scottish-Australian soldier and politician, 8th Premier of Tasmania (d. 1880) Wikipedia ↗
• 1792 — Gioachino Rossini, Italian pianist and composer (d. 1868) Wikipedia ↗
• 1736 — Ann Lee, English-American religious leader, founded the Shakers (d. 1784) Wikipedia ↗
• 1724 — Eva Marie Veigel, Austrian-English dancer (d. 1822) Wikipedia ↗
• 1692 — John Byrom, English poet and educator (d. 1763) Wikipedia ↗
• 1640 — Benjamin Keach, Particular Baptist preacher and author whose name was given to Keach's Catechism (d. 1704) Wikipedia ↗
• 1576 — Antonio Neri, Florentine priest and glassmaker (d. 1614) Wikipedia ↗
• 1572 — Edward Cecil, 1st Viscount Wimbledon (d. 1638) Wikipedia ↗
• 1528 — Albert V, Duke of Bavaria (d. 1579) Wikipedia ↗
• 1528 — Domingo Báñez, Spanish theologian (d. 1604) Wikipedia ↗
• 1468 — Pope Paul III (d. 1549) Wikipedia ↗

🕯️ Notable Deaths on February 29

• 2016 — Wenn V. Deramas, Filipino director and screenwriter (b. 1968) Wikipedia ↗
• 2016 — Gil Hill, American police officer, actor and politician (b. 1931) Wikipedia ↗
• 2016 — Josefin Nilsson, Swedish singer (b. 1969) Wikipedia ↗
• 2016 — Louise Rennison, English author (b. 1951) Wikipedia ↗
• 2012 — Roland Bautista, American guitarist (b. 1951) Wikipedia ↗
• 2012 — Davy Jones, English singer, guitarist and actor (b. 1945) Wikipedia ↗
• 2012 — Sheldon Moldoff, American illustrator (b. 1920) Wikipedia ↗
• 2012 — P. K. Narayana Panicker, Indian social leader (b. 1930) Wikipedia ↗
• 2008 — Janet Kagan, American author (b. 1946) Wikipedia ↗
• 2008 — Erik Ortvad, Danish painter and illustrator (b. 1917) Wikipedia ↗
• 2008 — Akira Yamada, Japanese scholar and philosopher (b. 1922) Wikipedia ↗
• 2004 — Kagamisato Kiyoji, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 42nd Yokozuna (b. 1923) Wikipedia ↗
• 2004 — Jerome Lawrence, American playwright and author (b. 1915) Wikipedia ↗
• 2004 — Harold Bernard St. John, Barbadian lawyer and politician, 3rd Prime Minister of Barbados (b. 1931) Wikipedia ↗
• 2004 — Lorrie Wilmot, South African cricketer (b. 1943) Wikipedia ↗
• 2000 — Dennis Danell, American guitarist (b. 1961) Wikipedia ↗
• 1996 — Wes Farrell, American singer-songwriter and producer (b. 1939) Wikipedia ↗
• 1996 — Ralph Rowe, American baseball player, coach and manager (b. 1924) Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Ruth Pitter, English poet and author (b. 1897) Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Sidney Harmon, American screenwriter and producer (b. 1907) Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Ludwik Starski, Polish screenwriter and songwriter (b. 1903) Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Yigal Allon, Israeli general and politician, Prime Minister of Israel (b. 1918) Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Gil Elvgren, American painter and illustrator (b. 1914) Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Florence P. Dwyer, American politician (b. 1902) Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Tom Davies, American football player and coach (b. 1896) Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Lena Blackburne, American baseball player, coach and manager (b. 1886) Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Tore Ørjasæter, Norwegian poet and educator (b. 1886) Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Frank Albertson, American actor and singer (b. 1909) Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Melvin Purvis, American police officer and FBI agent (b. 1903) Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Walter Yust, American journalist and author (b. 1894) Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Elpidio Quirino, Filipino lawyer and politician, 6th President of the Philippines (b. 1890) Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Quo Tai-chi, Chinese politician and diplomat, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations (b. 1888) Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Robert Barrington-Ward, English lawyer and journalist (b. 1891) Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Rebel Oakes, American baseball player and manager (b. 1883) Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Pehr Evind Svinhufvud, Finnish lawyer, judge and politician, 3rd President of Finland (b. 1861) Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — E. F. Benson, English archaeologist and author (b. 1867) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Adolphe Appia, Swiss architect and theorist (b. 1862) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Ina Coolbrith, American poet and librarian (b. 1841) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Ernie Courtney, American baseball player (b. 1875) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Pat Garrett, American sheriff (b. 1850) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — John Hope, 1st Marquess of Linlithgow, Scottish-Australian politician, 1st Governor-General of Australia (b. 1860) Wikipedia ↗
• 1880 — James Milne Wilson, Scottish-Australian soldier and politician, 8th Premier of Tasmania (b. 1812) Wikipedia ↗
• 1868 — Ludwig I of Bavaria (b. 1786) Wikipedia ↗
• 1852 — Matsudaira Katataka, Japanese daimyo (b. 1806) Wikipedia ↗
• 1848 — Louis-François Lejeune, French general, painter and lithographer (b. 1775) Wikipedia ↗
• 1820 — Johann Joachim Eschenburg, German historian and critic (b. 1743) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on February 29 (Calendar.cx)