Historical Events
- Feb 3 World's first commercial cheese factory established, in Switzerland
- Feb 6 New Jersey issues 1st US railroad charter (John Stevens)
- Feb 13 The Cambridge Union Society is founded.
Treaty of Ghent
Feb 17 Treaty of Ghent ratified by the US Senate and signed by President James Madison ending War of 1812, over a month after it was signed in Europe
Famous Birthdays
- Feb 2 Nathaniel Collins McLean, American Brigadier General (Union Army), born in Cincinnati, Ohio (d. 1905)
- Feb 12 Edward Forbes, English Naturalist and pioneer in the field of biogeography, born in Douglas, Isle of Man (d. 1854)
- Feb 18 Henri Leys, Flemish painter
- Feb 21 Ernest Meissonier, French painter and sculptor
- Feb 25 Robert Hall Chilton, Brigadier General (Confederate Army), (d. 1879)
Famous Deaths
Robert Fulton
Feb 24 Robert Fulton, American inventor and engineer (first commercial steamboat), dies of tuberculosis at 49
- Feb 26 Prince Josias of Coburg, Austrian general (b. 1737)