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
Historical events on February 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 February 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 February 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
Events on Feb 16
- 0600Pope Gregory the Great decreea saying "God bless You" is the correct response to a sneeze
- 1486Diet of Frankfort
- 1512Battle at Valeggio: French troops beat Venetianen
- 1559Pope Paul IV calls for deposition of sovereigns supporting heresy
- 1641English King Charles I accept Triennial Act
- 1655Dutch Grand Pensionary advisor Johan de Witt marries Wendela Bicker
- 1666Netherlands and Brandenburg sign treaty
- 1677Earl of Shaftesbury arrested / confined in London Tower
- 1742Earl of Wilmington becomes British Premier
- 1760Native American hostages killed in Ft Prince George, South Carolina
- 1771Messier presents his original list of 45 M-objects to French Academy
- 1777Messier adds M53 to his catalog (globular cluster in Coma Berenice)
- 1804Lt Stephen Decatur raids Tripoli Harbor and burns Navy frigate "Philadelphia" after pirates seized it
- 1824Athenaeum founded
- 1838Kentucky passes law permitting women to attend school under conditions
- 1840American Charles Wilkes discovers Shackleton Ice Shelf, Antarctica
- 1846Battle of Sobraon ends 1st Sikh War in India
- 1854Franz Liszts symphony "Orpheus, " premieres
- 1857Gallaudet College (National Deaf Mute college) forms (Washington, DC)
- 1860Dutch Rochussen / Van Bosse government resigns
- 1862Ft Donelson captured by General Grant (1,400 confederates surrender)
- 1864Battle of Mobile, AL - operations by Union Army
- 1868Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks forms (NY)
- 1878Silver dollar became US legal tender
- 1880American Society of Mechanical Engineers forms (NYC)
- 1883"Ladies Home Journal" begins publishing
- 18871st newspaper convention (Rochester NY)
- 1887Eduard Douwes Dekker writes his last text (Lf8-c5)
- 1892Opera "Werther, " premieres in Vienna
- 1894British troops occupy Ilorin, Gold Coast
Born on Feb 16
- 1075Ordericus Vitalis: French Monk / historian / poet
- 1519Gaspard de Coligny: Huguenot leader / French Admiral
- 1620Frederick William: Great Elector, founder of Brandenburg-Prussia
- 1669Arnold Boonen: Dutch portrait painter
- 1698Pierre Bouguer: French mathematician (heliometer)
- 1709Charles Avison: Composer
- 1740Giambattista Bodoni: Saluzzo, Italy -- Printer / typeface designer (Bodoni)
- 1746Johann Heinse: German Sturm und Drang Novelist / art critic
- 1774Pierre Rode: Composer
- 1787Andreas Schelfhout: Dutch painter / etcher / lithographer
- 1788Juan van Halen: Dutch / Spanish officer / adventurer
- 1790Chretien Urhan: Composer
- 1807Lysander Cutler: Bvt Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1866
- 1812Henry Wilson: (R) 18th VP (1873-75)
- 1813Joseph Reid Anderson: Brigadier General (Confederate Army) died in 1892
- 1813Semyon Stepanovich Gulak-Artemovsky: Composer
- 1821Heinrich Barth: Hamburg, Germany -- Geographer / explorer (Central Africa)
- 1822Francis Galton: Birmingham, England -- Anthropologist and geneticist
- 1822James Patton Anderson: Major General (Confederate Army), died in 1872
- 1823John Daniel Imboden: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1895
- 1826Franz von Holstein: Composer
- 1826Joseph V von Scheffel: German writer (Gaudeamus)
- 1831Nikolai Leskow: Writer
- 1832Camille Armand Jules Marie de Polignac: Major General (Confederate Army)
- 1834Ernst Heinrich Haeckel: Potsdam, Germany -- Biologist (Causes of Evolution)
- 1836Benjamin Edward Woolf: Dutch composer
- 1838Henry Adams: Boston, Massachusetts -- Historian, writer (Education of Henry Adams)
- 1847Ludwig Philipp Scharwenka: German composer (Album polonaise)
- 1848Hugo de Vries: Dutch Botanist (How species emerge)
- 1852William Scarborough: Macon, Georgia -- Linguist / author (Birds of Aristophanes)
Died on Feb 16
- 0309Pamphilus van Caesarea: Palestinian Scholar / martyr, beheaded
- 1279Afonso III: King of Portugal (1248-79)
- 1391Johannes V Palaeologus: Emperor of Byzantium (1341-91)
- 1538Everhard / Erardus van de Mark: Prince-bishop of Liege, dies at 65
- 1653Johannes Schultz: Composer, dies at 70
- 1754Richard Mead: Physician
- 1799Charles Theoby: Ruler (Palts & Bayern), dies at 74
- 1803Jan V clav Stich: Bohemian composer, dies at 56
- 1823Johann Gottfried Schict: Composer, dies at 69
- 1825George Gerson: Composer, dies at 34
- 1829Francois-Joseph Gossec: Belg / Fr Composer (Messe of Morts), dies at 95
- 1834Lionel Lukin: Life boat pioneer
- 1851Anne Nagell van Ampsen: Dutch politician, dies at 95
- 1857Auguste-Gaspard-Louis Desnoyers: French engraver, dies at 77
- 1857Elisha Kent Kane: Arctic explorer (Kane Basin), dies at 37
- 1858Georg F Creuzer: German philological / historian, dies at 86
- 1864Vaclav Jindrich Veit: Composer, dies at 58
- 1892Henry Walter Bates: Naturalist / explorer (South America)
- 1900George Labram: US mine engineer in South Africa, dies in battle
- 1910Albert Heinrich Zabel: Composer, dies at 75
- 1912Edgar Evans: British explorer (Antarctica)
- 1915Emil Waldteufel [Charles Levy]: French Composer (Estudiantina)
- 1916[Gerard] Jan Ligthart: Dutch educator (Ot & Sien), dies at 57
- 1916Jeltje de Bosch Kemper: Dutch feminist, dies at 79
- 1934Eduard Bagritsky [Dzjubin]: Russ Poet / journalist, dies at 38
- 1938Otto zur Linde: German Author (Lieder of the Leids), dies at 64
- 1939Jura Soyfer: Writer, dies at 26
- 1944Edmund von Borck: Composer, dies at 37
- 1951Henri Velge: 1st Chairman (Belgian Council of State), dies at 65
- 1952Knut [Pedersen] Hamsun: Norwegian writer (Wanders, Nobel 1920)