Events on Feb 7
- 1301Edward of Caernarion (later Edward II) becomes 1st Prince of Wales
- 1522Treaty of Brussels: Habsburgers split into Spanish / Austrian Branches
- 1550Giovanni Maria del Monte elected Pope Julius III
- 1569King Philip II forms inquistion in South America
- 1613Michail Romanov (16) becomes Czar of Russia
- 1653Nicolas Fouquet appointed superintendant of Finance of France
- 1668Dutch Prince William III dances in premiere of "Ballet of Peace"
- 1792Austria and Prussia sign anti-French covenant
- 179511th Amendment to US Constitution ratified, affirms power of states
- 1795Dutch Prince William V accepts British occupation of Dutch Indies
- 18128.2 earthquake shakes New Madrid, Missouri
- 1812Lord Byron makes his maiden speech in House of Lords
- 18181st successful US educational magazine "Academician, " begins (NYC)
- 1827Ballet (Deserter) introduced to US at Bowery Theater (NYC)
- 1836"Sketches by Boz" (essays) published by Charles Dickens
- 1839Henry Clay declares in Senate "I had rather be right than President"
- 1862Federal fleet attack on Roanoke Island, North Carolina
- 1864Federal troops occupy Jacksonville, Florida
- 1872Alcorn A&M College opens
- 18771st Guernsey Cattle Club organizes (NYC)
- 1881Battle at Ingogo, Transvaal: Boers beat superior British forces
- 1882Last bare knuckle champion John L Sullivan KOs Paddy Ryan in Mississippi
- 1883Lieutenant Colonel Borgnis-Desbordes founds Fort Bamako Niger
- 1884Canadian Rugby Football Union forms
- 1889Astronomical Society of Pacific holds 1st meeting in San Francisco
- 1891Great Blizzard of 1891 begins
- 1900British troops vacate Vaal Krantz, Natal
- 1900Labour Party forms in England
- 1901Queen Wilhelmina marries Prince Heinrich von Mecklenburg-Schwerin
- 1904Baltimore catches fire (1500 buildings destroyed in 80 blocks)
Born on Feb 7
- 1478Thomas More: Lawyer / lord chancellor of England / Saint (Utopia)
- 1556Maria van Nassau: Dutch Countess of Buren
- 1589Jacob de Witt: Dutch Mayor (Dordrecht) / mathematician
- 1655Jean-Francois Regnard: French comedy writer (Slave in Algeria)
- 1688Maria Louise van Hessen-Kassel [Marijke Meu]: Princess of Orange
- 1700Philippe Buache: French geographer / cartographer (Contourlijnen)
- 1707Carl August Thielo: Composer
- 1710William Boyce: English Organist / composer of Cathedral music
- 1739Joseph Pouteau: Composer
- 1740Adam-Philippe Custine: French Earl / General / MP
- 1753Rhijnvis Feith: Dutch Mayor / writer (Zwolle / Thirsa)
- 1758Benedikt Emanuel Schack: Composer
- 1801John Rylands: England, United Kingdom -- Merchant / philanthropist
- 1817Leroy Pope Walker: US lawyer / Confederate Minister of War (1861)
- 1822Joaquin y Garbayo Gaztambide: Composer
- 1823Richard Genee: Composer
- 1824William Higgins: Discoverer (nature of spiral nebulae)
- 1825Crystobal Oudrid y Segura: Composer
- 1833Ricardo Palma: Peru -- Writer / poet (Tradiciones Peruanas)
- 1834Dmitri I Mendelejev: Russian chemist (Periodic Table)
- 1837James Augustus Henry Murray: Scotland, United Kingdom -- Created Oxford Dictionary
- 1839Nicolaas G Pierson: Dutch banker / Suriname Premier (1897-1901)
- 1842Alexandre Ribit: Premier (France)
- 1847Ernst Franck: German composer / conductor
- 1862Bernard Maybeck: US architect (Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco)
- 1863Mieczyslaw Soltys: Composer
- 1864Arthur Collins: Singer / comedian (Peerless Quartet)
- 1864Ricardo Castro Herrera: Composer
- 1866Raf[ael] Verhulst [Koen Ravestein]: Flemish writer (Jesus of Nazarus)
- 1867Laura Ingalls Wilder: Wisconsin, United States -- Kid book author (Little House on Prarie)
Died on Feb 7
- 0590Pelagius II: Gothic Pope (579-90), dies from plague
- 1593Jacques Amyot: French humanist / abbot of Bellozanne, dies at 79
- 1609Ferdinand I: Cardinal / ruler of Toscane
- 1743Lodovico Giustini: Composer, dies at 57
- 1749Andre Cardinal Destouches: Composer, dies at 76
- 1820Samuel Adams Holyoke: Composer, dies at 57
- 1823Ann Radcliffe (Ward): English Poet / Author of horror novels, dies at 58
- 1827Franz Anton Dimmler: Composer, dies at 73
- 1830Marcus Antonio da Fonseca Portugal: Portuguese composer, dies at 67
- 1862Frantisek Jan Skroup: Composer, dies at 61
- 1865John Henry Winder: US Confederate Brigadier General / provost marshal, dies at 64
- 1878Pius IX: "Pio Nono", [Giovanni Ferretti], Pope (1846-78), dies at 85
- 1881Fredrik Cygnaeus: Finnish Poet / literature critic, dies at 73
- 1897Galileo Ferraris: Italian physicist (Ferrari), dies at 49
- 1901Benjamin Edward Woolf: Composer, dies at 64
- 1915Wladyslaw Gorski: Composer, dies at 68
- 1918Alexander Sergeyevich Taneyev: Composer, dies at 68
- 1920Alexander Koltsjak: Admiral / leader Russian counter-revolutionary, executed
- 1921Peter Kropotkin: Russ Prince / geologist / revolut anarchist, dies at 78
- 1931Ion Vidu: Composer, dies at 67
- 1937Elihu Root: US Minister of War / Foreign affairs (Nobel 1912), dies at 91
- 1942Dorando di Desiderio Pietri: Marathoner (1908 Olympics - Gold Medalist), dies at 56
- 1948"Red" McKenzie: Blues-jazz singer (played comb-with-tissue-paper)
- 1954Jan Adam Maklakiewicz: Composer, dies at 54
- 1957Rudolph Reti: Composer, dies at 71
- 1958Walter Kingsford: Actor (My Favorite Blonde, Fly by Night), dies at 76
- 1959Daniel F Malan: Premier of South Africa (1948-54), dies at 84
- 1959Napoleon Lajorie: Baseball player, dies at 83
- 1959Slim [Eddie Jones] Guitar: Rocker, dies at 32
- 1960Igor V Kurtshatov: Russian nuclear physicist, dies at 57
Historical events on February 8
- 0421Flavius Constantine becomes Emperor Constantine III of West Roman Empire
- 1526Heavy storm strikes Dutch coast, many die
- 1575University of Leiden Neth opens
- 1600Vatican convicts Scholar Giordano Bruno to death
- 1601Earl Robert Devereux of Essex armies draws into London
- 1622King James I disbands the English parliament
- 1672Isaac Newton reads 1st optics paper before Royal Society in London
- 1690French and Indian troops set Schenectady settlement New York on fire
- 1690Lord Halifax resigns as Lord Privy Seal
- 1693William and Mary college is 2nd college chartered in US
- 17351st opera in US "Flora, " opens in Charleston, South Carolina
- 1743Comet C / 1743 C1 approaches within 0.0390 AUs of Earth
- 1744French / Spanish fleet leaves Toulon
- 1750Minor earthquake in London
- 1775Leidse U 400th anniversary dinner
- 1802Simon Willard patents banjo clock
- 1807Napoleon defeats Russians in battle of Eylau
- 1809Franz I of Austria declares war on France
- 18371st VP chosen by Senate, Richard Johnson (Van Buren admin)
- 1861Confederate States of America organizes in Montgomery, Ala
- 1862Battle of Roanoke Island NC, Federals gain control of Pamlico Sound
- 1862Opera "Lily of Killarney, " premieres in London
- 18651st black Major in US army, Martin Robinson Delany
- 1883Louis Waterman begins experiments to invents fountain pen
- 1887Aurora Ski Club of Red Wing, Minn became the 1st US ski club
- 1887Dawes Act passed (indians living apart from tribe granted citizenship)
- 1889Flood ravages Dutch coast
- 1894Enforcement Act repealed, making it easier to disenfranchise blacks
- 1896Western Conference forms of Midwestern University, later renamed Big 10 Conf
- 1898John Ames Sherman patents 1st envelope folding and gumming mach (Mass)
Born on February 8
- 0412St Proclus: Patriarch of Constantinople
- 1291Afonso IV: King of Portugal (1325-57)
- 1577Robert Burton: Writer, Anglican clergyman (Anatomy of Melancholy)
- 1586Jacob Praetorius: Composer
- 1612Samuel Butler: England, United Kingdom -- Poet / satirist (Hudibras)
- 1708Vaclav Jan Kopriva: Composer
- 1741Andre-Ernest-Modeste Gretry: Composer
- 1764Joseph Leopold von Eybler: Austrian composer
- 1789Ludwig Wilhelm Maurer: Composer
- 1795Friedlieb F Runge: German chemist (Chinoline)
- 1795Moritz G [Moses] Saphir: Hungarian journalist / serial writer
- 1807Franciscus J van Vree: Dutch Catholic foreman
- 1810Norbert Burgmuller: Composer
- 1811Edwin Denison Morgan: Confederate States Secretary of War, died in 1883
- 1813Jacob G Agarah: Swedish algologist
- 1817Richard Stoddert Ewell: Lieutenant General (Confederate Army), died in 1872
- 1818Austin Blair: Gov / MC (Union), died in 1894
- 1819John Ruskin: Writer / critic / artist / Gothic Revivalist (Prerafaelite)
- 1820William Tecumseh Sherman: Major General (Union Army), died in 1891
- 1822Maxime Du Camp: France -- Writer / traveler (Les Buveurs de Cendres)
- 1824Barnard Elliot Bee: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1861
- 1828Antonio Cagnoni: Composer
- 1876Paula Modersohn-Becker: German "entartet" painter
- 1878Martin Buber: German / Israeli philosopher / theologist (Ich und Du)
- 1880Franz Marc: German painter (Blaue Reiter)
- 1882George Siegmann: Actor (Birth of Nation, Queen of Sheba, Oliver Twist)
- 1883Joseph A Schumpeter: Austria -- Economist / Minister of finance
- 1885Edith Evans: London, England -- Actress (Tom Jones, David Copperfield)
- 1886Charlie Ruggles: Los Angeles, California -- Actor (Ruggles, Aesop-Bullwinkle Show)
- 1888Matthijs Vermeulen: Dutch composer / music critic
Died on February 8
- 1124Stefanus of Thiers / Muret: Founder of order of Grammond / saint
- 1245Johannes de Rupella / de la Rochelle: French theologist
- 1303Nanshu: Zen teacher (Rinzai line) / founder (Zounan temple)
- 1513Alonso de Ojeda: Spanish explorer (Curacao & Bonaire)
- 1611Jan H Van Linschoten: Traveller / writer (Reys-Gheschrift)
- 1650John Adriaensz: Hydraulic engineer (Haarlemmermeer), dies at about 74
- 1676Aleksei M Romanov: 1st Romanov-Czar of Russia, dies at 46
- 1686Francois Tak: Dutch diplomat on Java, murdered
- 1691Carlo di Girolamo Rainaldi: Italian Architect / composer, dies at 79
- 1691Carlo Rainaldi: Composer, dies at 79
- 1709Giuseppi Torelli: Italian composer, dies at 50
- 1725Peter I "the Great" Romanov: Czar of Russia (1682-1725), dies at 52
- 1740Clement XII [Lorenzo Corsini]: Blind Pope (1730-40), dies at 87
- 1749Jan van Huysum: Dutch still life painter, dies at 66
- 1771Augusta von Saxen-Gotha: German Prince Frederick Louis of Wales
- 1797Johann Friedrich Doles: Composer, dies at 81
- 1801Johann Chrysostomus Drexel: Composer, dies at 43
- 1821Paul Anton Wineberger: Composer, dies at 62
- 1824Rhijnvis Feith: Dutch mayor / writer (Zwolle, Julia), dies at 71
- 1849France Preseren: Slovenian Poet (Sonetni Venec), dies at 48
- 1849Francois-Antoine Habeneck: Composer, dies at 68
- 1874David F Strauss: German theologist, dies at 66
- 1878Elias M Fries: Swedish Botanist (mycologicum), dies at 83
- 1884Arnold Henry Guyot: Swiss / US geologist / meteorologist, dies at 76
- 1907Hendrik W Bakhuis Roozeboom: Chemist (fasenleer), dies at 52
- 1909Edouard Silas: Composer, dies at 80
- 1909Mieczyslaw Karlowicz: Composer, dies at 32
- 1920Richard Dehmel: Writer, dies at 56
- 1921Pjotr A Kropotkin: Russian ruler / anarchist, dies at 78
- 1924Gee John: US mobster (1st executed in gas chamber-Nevada)
Events on Feb 9
- 1267Synod of Breslau orders Jews of Silesia to wear special caps
- 1499France and Venice sign treaty against Milan
- 1537Pope Paul III routes Cardinal Pole to England
- 1540The 1st recorded race meet in England (Roodee Fields, Chester)
- 1554Battle at London: Sir Thomas Wyatt defeated
- 1574Louis of Nassau ends siege of Maastricht
- 1621Alexander Ludovisi is elected Pope Gregory XV (-1623)
- 1674English reconquer New York from Netherlands
- 1742British ex-premier Walpole becomes Earl of Orford
- 1744Battle at Toulon (French / Spanish vs. English fleet of Admiral Matthews)
- 1775English Parliament declares Mass colony is in rebellion
- 1788Austria declares war on Russia
- 1799USS Constellation captures French frigate Insurgents off Nevis, W I
- 1807French Sanhedrin convened by Napoleon
- 1822American Indian Society organizes
- 1825House of Representatives elects John Quincy Adams 6th US President
- 1849Roman Republic declared
- 1861Confederate Provisional Congress declares all laws under the US Constitution were consistent with constitution of Confederate states
- 1861Jefferson Davis and Alexander Stephens elected President and VP of CSA
- 1861Tennessee votes against secession
- 1863Fire extinguisher patented by Alanson Crane
- 1867Nebraska becomes 37th US state
- 1870US Army establishes US National Weather Service
- 1871Federal fish protection office authorized by Congress
- 18851st Japanese arrive in Hawaii
- 1886President Cleveland declares a state of emergency in Seattle because of anti-Chinese violence
- 18911st shipment of asparagus arrives in SF from Sacramento
- 1893Canal builder De Lesseps and others sentenced to prison for fraud
- 18951st intercollegiate basketball game (Minn Agricult beats Hamline, 9-3)
- 1895Volleyball invented by W G Morgan in Massachusetts
Born on Feb 9
- 1404Constantine XI Dragases: Last Byzantine Emperor
- 1579John Meursius [van Meurs]: Dutch historian
- 1602Franciscus van de Enden: Flemish Jesuit / free thinker / tutor of Spinoza
- 1607Abraham Megerle: Composer
- 1735Adriaan Kluit: Dutch historian
- 1741Henri-Joseph Rigel: Composer
- 1744Amos Bull: Composer
- 1756Karel Blazej Kopriva: Composer
- 1771Daniel Belknap: Composer
- 1773William Henry Harrison: Virginia, United States -- (Whigs) 9th President (March 4-April 4, 1841)
- 1775Farkas / Wolfgang Bolyai: Hungary -- Mathematician (parallel axiom)
- 1780Walenty Karol Kratzer: Composer
- 1808Francesco Gomez da Rocha: Composer
- 1814Samuel Jones Tilden: Philanthropist for New York Public Library
- 1822Charles T Stork: Dutch industrialist
- 1826John Alexander Logan: Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1886
- 1834Felix Dahn: Writer
- 1834Franz Xaver Witt: Composer
- 1846Wilhelm Maybach: German engineer, designer of 1st Mercedes
- 1853Leander Starr Jameson: Prime Minister of South African Cape colony
- 1854Edward Carson: 1st Baron Carson, lawyer / leader (Irish Unionist Party)
- 1857Johannes T de Visser: Theologist / Dutch 1st Minister of Education
- 1863Anthony Hope [Hopkins]: London, England -- Novelist
- 1865Erich von Drygalski: Germany -- Geographer / glaciologist / Antarctic expl
- 1865Mrs [Beatrice] Patrick Campbell: England, United Kingdom -- Actress (Pygmalion)
- 1866George Ade: United States -- Journalist / playwright / humorist (Fables in Slang)
- 1867Edward Naylor: Composer
- 1871Franc S Finzgar: Slovenian clergyman / writer (Our Blood)
- 1871Howard T Ricketts: US pathologist (studied typhus fever)
- 1874Amy Lowell: US poet / critic (Patterns, Sword Blades & Poppy Seed)
Died on Feb 9
- 1555John Hooper: Deprived Bishop of Gloucester, burnt for heresy
- 1567Henry Stuart: Earl of Darnley / Consort of Mary Queen of Scots, murdered
- 1583Jeseph Sanalbo: Jewish convert in Rome, burned at stake
- 1588Marquis of Santa Cruz: Spanish Admiral
- 1617Hans Christoph Haiden: Composer, dies at 44
- 1640Murad IV: Sultan of Turkey (1623-40), dies in Baghdad at 27
- 1670Frederik III: King of Denmark / Norway (1648-70), dies at 60
- 1675Gerard Dou: Dutch painter, buried
- 1740Vincenz Lubeck: Composer, dies at 85
- 1765Elisabetta de Gambarini: Composer, dies at 33
- 1811Nevil Maskelyne: 5th Astronomer Royal of England (1765-1811)
- 1812Franz Anton Hoffmeister: Composer, dies at 57
- 1817Franz Wilhelm Tausch: Composer, dies at 54
- 1824Anna K Emmerick / Emmerich: German poet, dies at 49
- 1846Henry Gally Knight: Architect / writer
- 1849Corneille Vander Planken: Composer, dies at 76
- 1860Eduard W van Dam van Isselt: Dutch Military / liberal politician, dies at 63
- 1874Jules Michelet: French Historian (History of France), dies at 75
- 1881Feodor M Dostoevski: Russian Novelist (Crime & Punishment), dies at 59
- 1891Johan B Jongkind: Dutch / French Painter (Winter View), dies at 71
- 1906Paul Laurence Dunbar: Black dialect poet, dies at 33 in Dayton, Ohio
- 1916Hynek Ignac Frantisek Vojacek: Composer, dies at 90
- 1918Emiel van der Straeten [Delrue]: Flemish playwright, dies at 30
- 1932Junnosuke Inouye: Japanese Minister of Finance, murdered
- 1935Karl Nef: Swiss musicologist, dies at 61
- 1936Jacques Bainville: French Historian / essayist / journalist, dies at 57
- 1938Truby King: Pioneer of mothercraft
- 1943Reydons: Wife of General Reydons, shot to death by resistance
- 1945George J L Maduro: Resistance fighter (Madurodam), dies in Dachau
- 1945Jan Bakker: Resistance fighter, executed at 26