February, 28th in History

[Spiritus Temporis]

Events

Saturday 28, 2004:
Over 1 million Taiwanese participating in the 228 Hand-in-Hand Rally form a 500-kilometre (300-mile) long human chain to commemorate the 228 Incident in 1947

Thursday 28, 2002:
Ethnic conflict in India: At least 55 are killed in Ahmadabad, India when Hindus burn Muslim homes.

Wednesday 28, 2001:
An earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter Scale hits the Nisqually Valley area of Washington. There were no reports of any deaths.

Saturday 28, 1998:
Kosovo War: Serbian police begin the offensive againt the KLA in Kosovo.

Sunday 28, 1993:
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents raid the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas with a warrant to arrest cult leader David Koresh. Four BATF agents and five Davidians die in the initial raid, starting a 51-day standoff.

Friday 28, 1986:
Olof Palme, Prime Minister of Sweden, is assassinated in Stockholm.

Monday 28, 1983:
The final episode of M*A*S*H is broadcast in the USA, becoming the most watched television episode in history, with 106–125 million viewers in the U.S. (estimate varies by source).

Friday 28, 1975:
A major tube train crash at Moorgate station, London kills 43 people.

Thursday 28, 1974:
After seven years, the United States and Egypt re-establish diplomatic relations.

Monday 28, 1972:
Sino-American relations: The United States and People's Republic of China sign the Shanghai Communiqué.

Sunday 28, 1960:
End of 10th Winter Olympic Games in Squaw Valley, California

Saturday 28, 1953:
James D. Watson and Francis Crick announce to friends that they have determined the chemical structure of DNA; formal announcement April 25 following publication in April Nature (pub. April 2).

Thursday 28, 1952:
End of 8th Winter Olympic Games in Oslo.

Saturday 28, 1948:
Bud Gartiser sets a new world record after clearing the 50-yard low hurdles in 6.8 seconds.

Friday 28, 1947:
February 28 Incident: In Taiwan, civil disorder is put down with large loss of civilian lives.

Wednesday 28, 1940:
Basketball is televised for the first time (Fordham University vs. the University of Pittsburgh in Madison Square Garden).

Tuesday 28, 1939:
The word "Dord" is discovered in the Webster's New International Dictionary, Second Edition, prompting an investigation.

Thursday 28, 1935:
Nylon is discovered by Wallace Carothers.

Tuesday 28, 1933:
Gleichschaltung: The Reichstag Fire Decree is passed in Germany a day after the Reichstag fire.

Tuesday 28, 1922:
The United Kingdom accepts the independence of Egypt.

Wednesday 28, 1900:
The Boer War: The 118-day "Siege of Ladysmith" is lifted.

Sunday 28, 1897:
Queen Ranavalona III, the last monarch in Madagascar, was deposed by a French military force.

Saturday 28, 1885:
The American Telephone and Telegraph Company is incorporated in New York State as the subsidiary of American Bell Telephone. (American Bell would later merge with its subsidiary.)

Wednesday 28, 1883:
The first vaudeville theater opens in Boston, Massachusetts.

Monday 28, 1870:
The Bulgarian Exarchate is established by decree of Sultan Abd-ul-Aziz of the Ottoman Empire.

Thursday 28, 1861:
Colorado is organized as a United States territory.

Tuesday 28, 1854:
The United States Republican Party is organized in Ripon, Wisconsin.

Thursday 28, 1850:
The University of Utah opens in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Wednesday 28, 1849:
Regular steamboat service from the west to the east coast of the United States begins with the arrival of the SS California in San Francisco Bay, 4 months 21 days after leaving New York Harbor.

Wednesday 28, 1844:
A gun on USS Princeton explodes while the boat is on a Potomac River cruise, killing two United States Cabinet members and several others.

Wednesday 28, 1827:
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad is incorporated, becoming the first railroad in America offering commercial transportation of both people and freight.

Saturday 28, 1784:
John Wesley charters the Methodist Church.

Sunday 28, 1700:
Today is followed by March 1 in Sweden, thus creating the Swedish calendar.

Friday 28, 364:
Valentinian I is elevated as Roman Emperor.

Source: http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/28-february/on-this-day.html


People born on February 28

1985:
Jelena Jankovic, Serbian tennis player (b: February 28, 1985) (Biography of Jelena Jankovic)

1980:
Pascal Bosschaart, Dutch footballer (b: February 28, 1980) (Biography of Pascal Bosschaart)

1979:
Primož Peterka, Slovenian ski jumper (b: February 28, 1979) (Biography of Primoz Peterka)

1973:
Eric Lindros, Canadian hockey player (b: February 28, 1973) (Biography of Eric Lindros)

1971:
Tristan Louis, American writer (b: February 28, 1971) (Biography of Tristan Louis)

1970:
Daniel Handler (AKA Lemony Snicket), American writer (b: February 28, 1970) (Biography of Daniel Handler)

1969:
Robert Sean Leonard, American actor (b: February 28, 1969) (Biography of Robert Sean Leonard)

1961:
Mark Latham, Australian politician (b: February 28, 1961) (Biography of Mark Latham)
Rae Dawn Chong, Canadian actress (b: February 28, 1961) (Biography of Rae Dawn Chong)

1960:
Dorothy Stratten, Canadian actress and model (b: February 28, 1960 ; d: August 14, 1980) (Biography of Dorothy Stratten)

1957:
John Turturro, American actor (b: February 28, 1957) (Biography of John Turturro)

1955:
Gilbert Gottfried, American comedian and actor (b: February 28, 1955) (Biography of Gilbert Gottfried)

1952:
William Finn, American composer and lyricist (b: February 28, 1952) (Biography of William Finn)

1948:
Steven Chu, American physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b: February 28, 1948) (Biography of Steven Chu)
Mike Figgis, English director, writer, and composer (b: February 28, 1948) (Biography of Mike Figgis)
Bernadette Peters, American actress and singer (b: February 28, 1948) (Biography of Bernadette Peters)
Mercedes Ruehl, American actress (b: February 28, 1948) (Biography of Mercedes Ruehl)

1947:
Stephanie Beacham, British actress (b: February 28, 1947) (Biography of Stephanie Beacham)

1946:
Robin Cook, British politician (b: February 28, 1946 ; d: August 6, 2005) (Biography of Robin Cook)
Syreeta Wright, American singer (b: February 28, 1946) (Biography of Syreeta Wright)

1945:
Bubba Smith, American football player and actor (b: February 28, 1945) (Biography of Bubba Smith)

1944:
Sepp Maier, German footballer (b: February 28, 1944) (Biography of Sepp Maier)
Kelly Bishop, American actress (b: February 28, 1944) (Biography of Kelly Bishop)

1942:
Joe South, American musician (b: February 28, 1942) (Biography of Joe South)
Brian Jones, English musician (The Rolling Stones) (b: February 28, 1942) (Biography of Brian Jones)
Dino Zoff, Italian footballer (b: February 28, 1942) (Biography of Dino Zoff)
Frank Bonner, American actor, director (b: February 28, 1942) (Biography of Frank Bonner)

1940:
Mario Andretti, American race car driver (b: February 28, 1940) (Biography of Mario Andretti)

1933:
Rein Taagepera, Estonian politician (b: February 28, 1933) (Biography of Rein Taagepera)
Daniel C. Tsui, Chinese-born physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b: February 28, 1933) (Biography of Daniel C. Tsui)
Tommy Tune, American dancer, choreographer, and actor (b: February 28, 1933) (Biography of Tommy Tune)

1931:
Dean Smith, American basketball coach (b: February 28, 1931) (Biography of Dean Smith)

1930:
Leon Neil Cooper, American physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b: February 28, 1930) (Biography of Leon Neil Cooper)
Gavin MacLeod, American actor (b: February 28, 1930) (Biography of Gavin MacLeod)

1929:
Hayden Fry, American football coach (b: February 28, 1929) (Biography of Hayden Fry)
Frank Gehry, Canadian-American architect (b: February 28, 1929) (Biography of Frank Gehry)

1926:
Svetlana Alliluyeva, Soviet defector, daughter of Joseph Stalin (b: February 28, 1926) (Biography of Svetlana Alliluyeva)

1923:
Charles Durning, American actor (b: February 28, 1923) (Biography of Charles Durning)

1915:
Zero Mostel, American actor (b: February 28, 1915 ; d: September 8, 1977) (Biography of Zero Mostel)

1909:
Stephen Spender, English poet (b: February 28, 1909 ; d: July 16, 1995) (Biography of Stephen Spender)

1908:
Billie Bird, American actress (b: February 28, 1908) (Biography of Billie Bird)

1906:
Bugsy Siegel, American gangster (b: February 28, 1906 ; d: June 20, 1947) (Biography of Bugsy Siegel)

1903:
Vincente Minnelli, American director (b: February 28, 1903 ; d: January 24, 1986) (Biography of Vincente Minnelli)

1901:
Linus Pauling, American chemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and Peace (b: February 28, 1901 ; d: August 19, 1994) (Biography of Linus Pauling)

1900:
Wolfram Hirth, German pilot and aircraft designer (b: February 28, 1900) (Biography of Wolfram Hirth)

1894:
Ben Hecht, American playwright, film writer (b: February 28, 1894 ; d: April 18, 1964) (Biography of Ben Hecht)

1882:
Geraldine Farrar, American soprano (b: February 28, 1882 ; d: March 11, 1967) (Biography of Geraldine Farrar)

1878:
Pierre Fatou, French mathematician (b: February 28, 1878) (Biography of Pierre Fatou)

1833:
Alfred von Schlieffen, German field marshal (b: February 28, 1833) (Biography of Alfred von Schlieffen)

1827:
Blondin, French tightrope walker (b: February 28, 1827) (Biography of Blondin)

1823:
Ernest Renan, French philosopher (b: February 28, 1823) (Biography of Ernest Renan)

1820:
John Tenniel, English illustrator (b: February 28, 1820) (Biography of John Tenniel)

1704:
Louis Godin, French astonomer (b: February 28, 1704 ; d: September 11, 1760) (Biography of Louis Godin)

1683:
René Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur, French scientist (b: February 28, 1683 ; d: October 17, 1757) (Biography of Rene Antoine Ferchault de Reaumur)

1675:
Guillaume Delisle, French cartographer (b: February 28, 1675 ; d: January 25, 1726) (Biography of Guillaume Delisle)

1670:
Benjamin Wadsworth, American President of Harvard University (b: February 28, 1670 ; d: March 16, 1737) (Biography of Benjamin Wadsworth)

1612:
John Pearson, English theologian (b: February 28, 1612 ; d: July 16, 1686) (Biography of John Pearson (scholar))

1552:
Joost Bürgi, Swiss clockmaker and mathematician (b: February 28, 1552 ; d: January 31, 1632) (Biography of Joost Bürgi)

1533:
Michel de Montaigne, French writer and philosopher (b: February 28, 1533 ; d: September 13, 1592) (Biography of Michel de Montaigne)

Source: http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/28-february/births.html

[Spiritus Temporis]

People who died on February 28

2004:
Daniel J. Boorstin, American historian, writer, and Librarian of Congress (b: October 1, 1914 ; d: February 28, 2004) (Biography of Daniel J. Boorstin)
Andres Nuiamäe, Estonian soldier KIA in Iraq (b: June 2, 1982 ; d: February 28, 2004) (Biography of Andres Nuiamäe)

2003:
Chris Brasher (d: February 28, 2003) (Biography of Chris Brasher)
Roger Michael Needham (d: February 28, 2003) (Biography of Roger Michael Needham)

2002:
Helmut Zacharias, German violinist (b: January 27, 1920 ; d: February 28, 2002) (Biography of Helmut Zacharias)
Mary Stuart (actress) (d: February 28, 2002) (Biography of Mary Stuart (actress))

1998:
Dermot Morgan (d: February 28, 1998) (Biography of Dermot Morgan)
Arkady Shevchenko (d: February 28, 1998) (Biography of Arkady Shevchenko)

1993:
Ruby Keeler, Canadian singer and actress (b: August 25, 1909 ; d: February 28, 1993) (Biography of Ruby Keeler)

1991:
Reinhard Bendix, German sociologist (b: February 25, 1916 ; d: February 28, 1991) (Biography of Reinhard Bendix)

1986:
Olof Palme, Prime Minister of Sweden (b: January 30, 1927 ; d: February 28, 1986) (Biography of Olof Palme)

1985:
David Byron (d: February 28, 1985) (Biography of David Byron)
Ray Ellington, British singer (b: March 17, 1916 ; d: February 28, 1985) (Biography of Ray Ellington)

1978:
Zara Cully, American actress (b: January 26, 1892 ; d: February 28, 1978) (Biography of Zara Cully)
Philip Ahn, Korean-American actor (b: March 29, 1905 ; d: February 28, 1978) (Biography of Philip Ahn)

1977:
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson, American actor (b: September 18, 1905 ; d: February 28, 1977) (Biography of Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson)

1967:
Henry Luce, American publisher (b: April 3, 1898 ; d: February 28, 1967) (Biography of Henry Luce)

1959:
Maxwell Anderson, American writer (b: December 15, 1888 ; d: February 28, 1959) (Biography of Maxwell Anderson)

1942:
Karel Doorman, Dutch admiral (b: April 23, 1889 ; d: February 28, 1942) (Biography of Karel Doorman)

1941:
Alfonso XIII of Spain (b: May 17, 1886 ; d: February 28, 1941) (Biography of Alfonso XIII of Spain)

1936:
Charles Nicolle, French bacteriologist, Nobel Prize laureate (b: September 21, 1866 ; d: February 28, 1936) (Biography of Charles Nicolle)

1916:
Henry James, American author (b: April 15, 1843 ; d: February 28, 1916) (Biography of Henry James)

1746:
Hermann von der Hardt, German historian (b: November 15, 1660 ; d: February 28, 1746) (Biography of Hermann von der Hardt)

1648:
Christian IV of Denmark and Norway (d: February 28, 1648) (Biography of Christian IV of Denmark and Norway)

1621:
Cosimo II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (b: May 12, 1590 ; d: February 28, 1621) (Biography of Cosimo II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany)

1572:
Aegidius Tschudi, Swiss historian (b: February 5, 1505 ; d: February 28, 1572) (Biography of Aegidius Tschudi)

1510:
Juan de la Cosa (d: February 28, 1510) (Biography of Juan de la Cosa)

1485:
Niclas, Graf von Abensberg (d: February 28, 1485) (Biography of Niclas, Graf von Abensberg)

1453:
Isabella, Duchess of Lorraine (d: February 28, 1453) (Biography of Isabella, Duchess of Lorraine)

1326:
Duke Leopold I of Austria (b: August 4, 1290 ; d: February 28, 1326) (Biography of Leopold I of Austria (Habsburg))

1261:
Henry III, Duke of Brabant (d: February 28, 1261) (Biography of Henry III, Duke of Brabant)

Source: http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/28-february/deaths.html