Events in History Feb 1 France declares war on Great Britain and Netherlands Feb 1 Patent granted Ralph Hodgson, NY, for oiled silk & linen Feb 11 Prussian troops occupy Venlo, Netherlands Feb 12 1st US fugitive slave law passed; requires return of escaped slaves Feb 24 French troops conquer Breda Deaths in History Feb 1 William Wildman Shute Barrington, British statesman, dies at 76 Feb 2 William Aiton, English botanist (Kew Gardens), dies at 61 Feb 6 Carlo Goldoni, Italian playwright and librettist (Belisario, Servant of Two Masters), dies at 85 1792 On This Day in History 1794