Events on Feb 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 Feb 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 Feb 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
Historical events on February 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 February 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 February 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
Events on Feb 15
- 0399Philosopher Socrates sentenced to death
- 1145Bernardo elected Pope Eugene III
- 1313Peace of Angleur
- 1386Duke Philip the Stout forms Council of Flanders
- 1539Emperor Charles receives Cardinal Pole in Toledo
- 1552Dutch coast hit by heavy storm
- 1563Russian troops occupy Polotsk Lithuania
- 1637Ferdinand III succeeds Ferdinand II as Holy Roman Emperor
- 1677King Charles II reports anti-French covenant with Netherlands
- 1689German Parliament declares war on France
- 1745Colley Cibbers "Papal Tyranny, " premieres in London
- 1763Austria, Prussia and Saxony sign Peace of Hubertusburg
- 1764St. Louis founded as a French trading post by Pierre Laclade Ligue
- 17681st mustard manufactured in America advertised, Philadelphia
- 1775Angelo Braschi chosen as Pope Pius VI
- 1797Battle of Cape St. Vincent
- 17991st US printed ballots authorized, Pennsylvania
- 1804New Jersey becomes last northern state to abolish slavery
- 18421st adhesive postage stamps in US (private delivery company), New York City
- 1845William Parsons, Earl of Rosse, 1st uses 72" (183 cm) reflector
- 1848Sarah Roberts barred from white school in Boston
- 1851Black abolitionists invade Boston courtroom rescueing a fugitive slave
- 1852Great Ormond St. Hospital for Sick Children, London, admits 1st patient
- 1861Ft Point completed and garrisoned (but has never fired cannon in anger)
- 1864Fire in Rotterdam Netherlands damages Museum Boymans
- 1869Charges of Treason against Jefferson Davis are dropped
- 1870Ground broken for Northern Pacific Railway near Duluth, Minnesota
- 1876Historic Elm at Boston blown down
- 1879Congress authorizes women lawyers to practice before Supreme Court
- 18821st cargo of frozen meat leaves New Zealand for Britain, on SS Dunedin
Born on Feb 15
- 0037Claudius Drusus Germanicus Caesar Nero: Emperor of Rome (54-68)
- 1483Babur: Founder of Mughal dynasty in India (1526-30)
- 1519Pedro Menendez de Aviles: Explorer (found St. Augustine Florida)
- 1524Charles de Guise: Archbishop / Cardinal of Reims
- 1557Alfonso Fontanelli: Composer
- 1564Galileo Galilei: Pisa, Italy -- Astronomer / physicist
- 1571Michael Praetorius: Kreuzberg, Germany -- Composer (Syntagma music)
- 1620Francois Charpentier: French Scholar / archaeologist
- 1650Anne Jules Duke de Noailles: Marshal of France (hugenot)
- 1660Frans Anneessens: Belgian Merchant / Dean of artisans
- 1666Antonio M Valsalva: Italian anatomist (eardrums, glottis)
- 1705Charles A Vanloo: French painter
- 1707Claude Prosper: Paris, France -- Novelist
- 1710Louis XV the Well-Beloved: Versailles, France -- King of France (1715-74)
- 1726Abraham Clark: Farmer / lawyer, signed Declaration of Independence
- 1740Ernst Eichner: Composer
- 1748Jeremy Bentham: London, England -- Philosopher / originator (Utilitarian)
- 1759Friedrich A Wolfius [Wolf]: German philological (Prolegomena)
- 1760Jean-Francois Le Sueur: Composer
- 1768Jozef B Cannaert [Olim]: Flemish lawyer
- 1774W G Frederik: Prince of Orange
- 1780Carel Asser: Dutch jurist
- 1783Johann Nepomuk Poissl: Composer
- 1785Claude Louis Marie Navier
- 1789Friedrich Fesca: Composer
- 1795Charles Niellon: Belgian brigade General (10 day campaign)
- 1797Henry Engelhard Steinway: Piano maker (Steinway)
- 1800Frederik W Conrad: Dutch hydraulic engineer / railway pioneer
- 1803John Augustus Sutter: Swiss / US colonist (New Helvetia Ca, Sutter Mill)
- 1807Ignacy Feliks Dobrzynski: Composer
Died on Feb 15
- 1043Gisela: Wife of RC-German Emperor Conrad II the Salier, dies at 52
- 1145Lucius II [Gherardo Caccianemici]: Italian Pope (1144-45)
- 1152Konrad III: Roman-German King (1138-1152), dies at about 58
- 1503Henry Deane: Archbishop of Canterbury (1501-03)
- 1568Hendrik van Brederode: Dutch noble (Compromise of Nobles), dies at 36
- 1580Cunerus Petri: Dutch Theologist / Bishop of Leeuwarden
- 1597Pieter J Kies: Dutch Mayor of Haarlem (1572-73), dies at about 66
- 1600Jose the Acosta: Spanish Missionary (Peru)
- 1621Michael Praetorius: German Composer (In Dulce Jubilo), dies at 50
- 1637Ferdinand II: King of Bohemia / Hun / German Emperor (1619-37), dies at 58
- 1660Klaas Geritsz Compaen: Dutch buccaneer / merchant, dies at 72
- 1680Jan Swammerdam: Dutch entomologist (Bible of Nature), dies at 41
- 1680John Swammerdam: Anatomist / entomologist (Bible of Nature), dies at 43
- 1701Adam Drese: German composer, dies at 80
- 1713Anthony Ashley Cooper: 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury, writer
- 1744Frantisek Antonin Mica: Composer, dies at 49
- 1744John Hadley: Inventor (sextant)
- 1759Alexander von Papenhoven: Flemish religious sculptor, dies at 89
- 1761Carlo Cecere: Composer, dies at 54
- 1778Johann Gottlieb Gorner: Composer, dies at 80
- 1781G E Lessing: Writer, dies at 52
- 1781Gotthold Ephraim Lessing: Saxon playwright / critic
- 1818Charles XIII: King of Sweden (1809-18) / Norway (1814-18), dies at 69
- 1820Pierre-Joseph Cambon: Member of Committee the Salut Public, dies at 63
- 1820William Ellery: US attorney (signed Declaration of Independence), dies at 92
- 1831Henry Maudslay: Inventor (metal lathe)
- 1832Hardenack Otto Conrad Zinck: Composer, dies at 85
- 1835Henry Hunt: British politican
- 1841Sibrand Acker Stratingh: Dutch dr / chemist (electrical car), dies at 53
- 1844Henry Addington Lord Sidmouth: British Premier (1801-04), dies at 86