Events on Feb 12
- 1049Bruno Count of Egesheim and Dagsburg crowned Pope Leo IX
- 1111German King Hendry V arrives at St. Peter, Rome
- 1130Pope Innocent II elected
- 1502Granada: Moslems forced to convert to Catholicism
- 1528Treaty of Dordrecht between Emperor and ecclesiastical power
- 1577Spanish land guardian Don Juan of Habsburg signs "Eternal Edict"
- 1624English parliament comes together
- 1733Georgia founded by James Oglethorpe, at site of Savannah
- 1736Maria Theresa Habsburg marries French Stefanus (Emperor Francois I)
- 1762English fleet occupies Martinique
- 1763John Casteret appointed British Minister of Foreign Affairs
- 1772Yves de Kerguelen of France discovers Kerguelen Archipelago, India
- 17931st US fugitive slave law passed; requires return of escaped slaves
- 1818Chile gains independence from Spain
- 1821Mercantile Library of City of New York opens
- 1825Creek Indian treaty signed. Tribal chiefs agree to turn over all their land in Georgia to the government and migrate west by September 1, 1826
- 1832Ecuador annexes Gal pagos Islands
- 1839Aroostock War: Boundary dispute between Maine and New Brunswick
- 1840Housatonic Railroad opens
- 1848Ballet "Faust" premieres, Milan
- 1861State troops seize US munitions in Napoleon, Arkansas
- 1865Henry Highland Garnet, is 1st black to speak in US House of Reps
- 1870Official proclamation sets April 15 as last day of grace for US silver coins to circulate in Canada
- 1873Congress abolishes bimetallism and authorizes $1 and $3 gold coins
- 1874King David Kalakaua of Sandwich Is Hawaii, is 1st King to visit US
- 1876Al Spalding opens his sporting good shop
- 18771st news dispatch by telephone, between Boston and Salem, Massachusetts
- 1877US railroad builders strike against wage reduction
- 18791st artificial ice rink in North America (Madison Square Garden, NYC)
- 1879News about slaughtering of Isandlwana reaches London
Born on Feb 12
- 1211Henry VII: Roman Catholic German King (1220-35)
- 1438Adolf van Egmond: Duke of Gelre / Earl of Zutphen
- 1474Lorenzo Campeggio: Archbishop of Bologna / diplomat
- 1567Thomas Campion: England, United Kingdom -- Composer / poet / Physician
- 1584Casparus Barleaus: Flemish theologist / poet (Muiderkring)
- 1636Herman Witsius [Wits]: Dutch reformed theologist
- 1637John Swammerdam: Dutch anatomist / entomologist (Bible of Nature)
- 1663Cotton Mather: Witchcraft authority
- 1665Rudolph J Camerarius: German Botanist / Physician (sexuality plant)
- 1706Josef Christian: German sculptor
- 1740Matej Sojka: Composer
- 1751Joseph Waast Aubert Nonot: Composer
- 1753Lambert-Francois Godecharle: Composer
- 1758Christian Ignatius Latrobe: Composer
- 1760Jan Ladislav Dussek: Bohemia -- Pianist / composer
- 1768Francis II: Florence, Italy -- Last Holy Roman Emperor (1792-1806)
- 1775Louise Catherine Johnson Adams: 1st lady (1825-1829)
- 1778Franz Joseph Volkert: Composer
- 1791Jan D Zocher, Jr.: Dutch garden architect (Vondelpark, Amsterdam)
- 1791Peter Cooper: Industrialist / philanthropist (Cooper Union)
- 1792Ferdinand de Braekeleer: Belgian painter
- 1809Charles Darwin: England, United Kingdom -- Discovered evolution (Origin of species)
- 1818Otto Ludwig: German writer (Die Heiterethei)
- 1824Arya Samaj Maha Rishi Dayanand Sarsvati: Indian hindu leader
- 1828George Meredith: England, United Kingdom -- Poet / Novelist (Shaving of Shagpat)
- 1828Robert Ransom, Jr.: Major General (Confederate Army), died in 1892
- 1831John Morrissey: Boxer / developer of Saratoga Springs horse race track
- 1838Charles Carroll Walcott: Bvt Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1898
- 1841Bert van Tienhoven: Mayor (Amsterdam) / Foreign Minister
- 1841Gijsbert van Tienhoven: Dutch Mayor (Amsterdam) / Foreign Minister
Died on Feb 12
- 1128Toghtekin: Slave / atabek of Damascus
- 1242Hendrik VII: Roman Catholics German King (1220-35), commits suicide
- 1538Albrecht Altdorfer: German painter, dies at about 57
- 1554Jane Grey: Queen of England for 13 days, beheaded at 17
- 1590Francois Hotman / Hotomanus: French lawyer / diplomat, dies at 65
- 1616John Drusius: Of Driesschen, Flemish Hebraist, dies at 65
- 1684Pietro Andrea Ziani: Composer, dies at 67
- 1728Agostino Steffani: Italian / German diplomat / composer, dies at 73
- 1738James Sherard: Composer, dies at 71
- 1762Laurent Belissen: Composer, dies at 68
- 1771Adolf Frederik: King of Sweden (1751-70), dies at 60
- 1787Ruggiero Boscovich: Ital physicist / astronomer / philosopher, dies at 75
- 1799Frantisek Xaver Dusek: Composer, dies at 67
- 1804Immanuel Kant: German philosopher (Zum ewigen Frieden), dies at 79
- 1820Guillaume Albert Teniers: Composer, dies at 71
- 1834Friedrich Schleiermacher: German Theologist / philosopher, dies at 65
- 1861Hippolyte-Andre-Baptiste Chelard: Composer, dies at 72
- 1896Charles Louis Ambrose Thomas: French Composer (Mignon), dies at 84
- 1896Isaac Murphy: Jockey, 628 wins on 1, 412 mounts (44.5%), dies at 35
- 1905Marcel Schwob: French writer / journalist (Coeur double)
- 1915Charles Emile Waldteufel: Composer, dies at 77
- 1916J W Richard Dedekind: German mathematician
- 1920Emile Sauret: Composer, dies at 67
- 1920Jean Allemane: French socialist / communard (allemanisten), dies at 77
- 1929Freiherr Albert von Schrenk-Notzing: German para-psychologist, dies at 66
- 1933Henri Duparc: French composer, dies at 85
- 1942Grant Wood: US Painter (American Gothic), dies at 49
- 1945de Jong: Dutch vicar / resistance fighter, executed
- 1945Henrietta Szold: Founder (Hadassah, Youth Aliyah)
- 1945Walraven [Wally] van Hall: Dutch banker / resisted Nazis, executed at 39
Historical events on February 13
- 1349Jews are expelled from Burgsordf Switzerland
- 1510Charles of Gelre conquerors Oldenzaal
- 1545Willem of Nassau becomes Prince of Orange
- 1566St. Augustine, Florida founded
- 1601John Lancaster leads 1st East India Company voyage from London
- 1633Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei arrived in Rome for trial before Inquisition for professing belief that earth revolves around the Sun
- 1635Oldest US public institution, Boston Latin School founded
- 1651Flemish Missionary Joris van Geel departs to Congo
- 1668Treaty of Lisbon: Spain recognizes Portugal
- 1678Tycho Brahe 1st sketches "Tychonic system" of solar system
- 1689British Parliament adopts Bill of Rights
- 1692MacDonald clan murdered on orders of King William III
- 1693College of William and Mary opens
- 1706Battle at Fraustadt: Swedish army beats Russia / Saksen
- 1741Andrew Bedford publishes 1st American magazine (American Magazine)
- 1755Rebel leader Mangkubuni signs Treaty of Gianti Java
- 1777De Sade arrested without charge, imprisoned in Vincennes fortress
- 1782French fleet occupies St. Christopher
- 1786Abraham Baldwin selected President of University of Georgia
- 17951st state university in US opens, University of North Carolina
- 17991st US law regulating insurance passed, by Massachusetts
- 1809French take Saragossa, Spain after a long siege
- 1826American Temperance Society, forms in Boston
- 18321st appearance of cholera at London
- 1837Riot in New York over high price of flour
- 1858Sir Richard Burton and John Speake explore Lake Tanganyika, Africa
- 1860King Basse Kajuara departs Boni South-Celebes
- 18611st military action to result in Congressional Medal of Honor, Arizona
- 1861Abraham Lincoln declared President
- 1861Colonel Bernard Irwin attacks and defeats hostile Chiricahua Indians
Born on February 13
- 1440Hartmann Schedel: German Physician / humanist / historian
- 1599Alexander VII [Fabio Chigi]: Siena, Italy -- Pope (1655-67)
- 1610Jean de la Badie: French divine, founder of Lagardists
- 1622Adam Pijnacker: Landscape painter / etcher, baptized
- 1658Jan B Wellekens: Dutch poet / painter
- 1660Johann Sigismund Kusser: Composer
- 1682Giovanni Battista Piazzetta: Venice, Italy -- Painter (Fortune Teller)
- 1713Domingo Miguel Bernaube Terradellas: Composer
- 1721John Reid: Composer
- 1755Francois Alexander Sallantin: Composer
- 1756Joannes van der Linden: Lawyer / judge (Ware Pleiter)
- 1757John C Hespe: Dutch journalist / politician
- 1778Fernando Sor: Composer
- 1787James P Carrell: Composer
- 1805David Dudley Field: Lawyer / law codifier
- 1805Peter G L Dirichlet: Germany -- Number theorist / analysist
- 1807Bartolommea Capitanio: Italian monastery founder (Liefdezusters)
- 1813Charles Pierre Schimpf: Governor of Suriname (1855-59)
- 1820Bela Albrecht Pal Keler: Composer
- 1822Lev A Mej: Russian nobleman / poet
- 1829Gerard Keller: Writer (Netherlands Spectator)
- 1831John Aaron Rawlins: Bvt Major General (Union Army), died in 1869
- 1833William Whedbee Kirkland: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1915
- 1837Valentin de Zubiaurre y Unionbarrenechea: Composer
- 1840Georg Jacobi: Composer
- 1852Johan L E Dreyer: Danish astronomer (New gen catalogue of nebulae)
- 1859Frank van de Goes: Dutch writer / marxist theorist
- 1859William Strang: Scottish painter / engraver
- 1861Uchimura Kanzo: Tokyo, Japan -- Religious writer (How I Became a Christian)
- 1862Karel Weis: Composer
Died on February 13
- 1130Honorius II [Lamberto]: Pope (1124-30)
- 1199Stefanus Nemanja (Symeon): Monk
- 1237Jordanus of Saxon: 2nd General of Dominicans, drowns
- 1332Andronicus II Paleologus: Byzantine Emperor (1282-1328) / monk
- 1542Catharine Howard: Queen of England / 5th Wife of Henry VIII, beheaded
- 1629Girolamo Giacobbi: Composer, dies at 61
- 1635Georg R Weckerlin: German poet, dies at 50
- 1662Elisabeth Stuart: English Daughter of James I, dies at 65
- 1693Johann Kaspar von Kerll: German composer, dies at 65
- 1724Francisco Jose Coutinho: Composer, dies at 43
- 1741Johann Joseph Fux: Austrian Composer / music theorist, dies at about 80
- 1784Charles Gravier: French Earl of Vergennes / Minister of Foreign Affairs
- 1798Wilhelm H Wackenroder: German writer (Fantasies of Art), dies at 24
- 1814Augustin Holler: Composer, dies at 69
- 1841Thomas Ainsworth: English / Dutch industrialist, dies at 45
- 1849Christian Rummel: Composer, dies at 61
- 1873Petrus AS van Limburg Brouwer [Abraham van Luik]: Literary
- 1882Henry Highland Garnet: Diplomat, dies at 66 in Monrovia, Liberia
- 1883Wilhelm Richard Wagner: Composer, dies at 69
- 1891David Dixon Porter: US rear Admiral (Union), dies at 77
- 1893Ignacio M Altamirano: Mexican Author (El Zarco), dies at 58
- 1894Franjo Racki: Croatian Historian / politician, dies at 65
- 1896Karl Reinthaler: Composer, dies at 73
- 1907Marcel Bertrand: French mine engineer, dies at 59
- 1917Joel Angel: Russian musicologist / composer, dies at 48
- 1921Willem P C Knuttel: Dutch bibliography / librarian, dies at 67
- 1927Brooks Adams: US philosopher (New Empire), dies at 78
- 1935Violet Paget: British Author (Gospels of Anarchy), dies at 78
- 1937C A Bernoulli: Writer
- 1943William Walraven: Journalist / writer (Neglected Grouser), dies at 55
Events on Feb 14
- 0842Charles II and Louis the German sign treaty
- 1014Pope Benedict VIII crowns Henry II, Roman German Emperor
- 1076Pope Gregory VII excommunicates Henry IV
- 1130Jewish Cardinal Pietro Pierleone elected as anti-pope Anacletus II
- 1540Emperor Charles V enters Ghent without resistance, executes rebels
- 1556Archbishop Thomas Cranmer declared a heretic
- 1610Polish King Sigismund III, Forges Dimitri #2 and Romanov family sign covenant against Czar Vasili Shushki
- 1630Dutch fleet of 69 ships reaches Pernambuco Brazil
- 1670Roman Catholic Emperor Leopold I chases Jews out of Vienna
- 1689English parliament places Mary Stuart / Prince Willem III on the throne
- 1746Henry Pelham appointed English Premier
- 1766Dutch Governor Falck signs Treaty of Batticaloa with rebels
- 1778"Stars & Stripes" arrives in foreign port for 1st time (France)
- 17941st US textile machinery patent granted, to James Davenport, Philadelphia
- 1803Apple parer patented by Moses Coats, Downington, Penn
- 1848James K Polk became 1st President photographed in office (Matthew Brady)
- 1859Oregon admitted as 33rd state
- 1862Galena, 1st US iron-clad warship for service at sea, launched, Conn
- 1867Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Co issues 1st policy
- 1867Morehouse College organizes (Augusta Georgia)
- 18721st state bird refuge authorized (Lake Merritt CA)
- 1876A G Bell and Elisha Gray apply separately for telephone patents Supreme Court eventually rules Bell rightful inventor
- 1879Chilean troops occupy Antofagasta
- 18831st state labor union legislation; New Jersey legalizes unions
- 1887Cubs sell Mike King Kelly to Boston for record $10,000
- 18891st train load of fruit (oranges) leaves LA for east
- 1894Venus is both a morning star and evening star
- 1896George Lohmann takes a hat-trick vs. South Africa, 8-7 for inning
- 1896South Africa all out for 30 vs. England - their lowest ever
- 1896Stanley Cup: Winnipeg Victorias beat Montreal Victorias, 2-0
Born on Feb 14
- 1462Edzard I Cirksena [the Great]: Earl of East-Friesia (1494-1528)
- 1483Zahir al-Din Mohammed Babur Shah: Prince / founder Mogols-dynasty
- 1487Henry II of Bavaria: Bishop of Utrecht / Worms / Freising
- 1513Domenico Maria Ferrabosco: Italian composer
- 1515Frederick III [the Pious]: Elect of the Palts
- 1533Christianus Adrichomius: Dutch priest / writer (Vita Jesu Christi)
- 1546Johann Pistorius: German theologist / historian
- 1572Hans Christoph Haiden: Composer
- 1602Pier Francesco Cavalli: Italian opera composer
- 1638Sybilla Schwarz: Writer
- 1670Georg Gabriel Schutz: Composer
- 1679Georg Friedrich Kauffman: Composer
- 1760Richard Allen: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- 1st black ordained by Methodist-Episcopal church
- 1778Fernando Joseph Maria Sor: Composer
- 1806Lajos: Count Batthy, New York -- Revolutionary Premier of Hungary (1848-49)
- 1813Alexander Sergeyevich Dargomyzhsky: Composer
- 1813John McNeil: Bvt Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1891
- 1817Frederick Douglass: African-American abolitionist / lecturer / editor
- 1819James Green Martin: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1878
- 1824Winfield Scott Hancock: Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1886
- 1829Alfred Iverson, Jr.: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1911
- 1835Francois Haverschmidt: Dutch writer (Snikken en grimlachjes)
- 1838Margaret Knight: Inventor "the female Thomas Edison"
- 1845Cecil De Vere: 1st official British chess champion (1866)
- 1847Anna Howard Shaw: United States -- Suffragette
- 1853Jan van Rijswijck: Flemish journalist / Mayor (Antwerp)
- 1856Frank Harris: England, United Kingdom -- Journalist / writer (My Life & Loves)
- 1858Charles Beach Hawley: Composer
- 1859George Washington Gale Ferris: Engineer / inventor (Ferris Wheel)
- 1864Israel Zangwill: England, United Kingdom -- Jewish author / Zionist (Children of Ghetto)
Died on Feb 14
- 0869Cyrillus: Greek apostle of Slaves
- 1405Timur / Tamerlan "Lenk" [Crippled]: Mongols monarch, dies at about 68
- 1528Edzard I the Great: Count of Austria-E Frisia (1494-1528), dies at 66
- 1571Benvenuto Cellini: Ital Sculptor / writer (Perseus), dies at 70
- 1681Francesco Nigetti: Composer, dies at 77
- 1760Francois Collin de Blamont: Composer, dies at 69
- 1790Capel Bond: Composer, dies at 59
- 1818John C Hespe: Dutch journalist / politician, dies at 61
- 1820Charles F: Duke of Berry, murdered at 42
- 1831Vincente Guerrero: Mexican revolutionary hero
- 1841Antun Sorkocevic: Composer, dies at 65
- 1846Cornelis F van Maanen: Dutch Supreme Court Justice, dies at 76
- 1857Johannes B van Bree: Dutch violinist / Composer / conductor, dies at 56
- 1857John B van Bree: Violinist / Composer / conductor, dies at 56
- 1873Charles Samvei Bovy-Lysberg: Composer, dies at 52
- 1891William Tecumseh Sherman: Union Civil War General, dies at 71
- 1901Edward John Hopkins: Composer, dies at 82
- 1908Georges Jean Pfeiffer: Composer, dies at 72
- 1916Petko J Todorov: Bulgaria writer (Zmejova), dies at 36
- 1937Erkki Gustav Melartin: Composer, dies at 62
- 1943David Hilbert: German Mathematician (Hilbert Space), dies at 81
- 1943Frieda Reiss: French 11 month old baby, murdered in Auschwitz
- 1950Eduard Hermann: German linguist (Homer), dies at 80
- 1950Karl G Jansky: Czech discoverer of cosmic radio sources, dies at 44
- 1955Charles Cuvillier: Composer, dies at 77
- 1961Wallis Clark: Actress (Easy Money), dies at 78
- 1965Desire-Emile Inghelbrecht: French Composer / conductor, dies at 84
- 1967James Schneider: Actor (Keystone Kops), dies at 85
- 1967Sig Ruman: Actor (Schultz-Life With Luigi), dies at 82
- 1969Vito Genovese: US mafia chief, dies at 71