Events in History
Event of Interest
Feb 18 Bibliothèque nationale de France purchases the memoirs of Giacomo Casanova a for €7 million
- Feb 20 On the Portuguese Atlantic island of Madeira heavy rain causes floods and mudslides, leaving at least 32 deaths in the worst disaster on the history of the archipelago.
- Feb 22 Taiwan's economy exits from the recession with 9.22% growth in the last quarter of 2009 after increased demand from China and other key markets in the region
Historic Publication
Feb 23 Danielle Steel’s novel “Big Girl” is published
- Feb 23 Unknown criminals pour more than 2.5 million litres of diesel oil and other hydrocarbons into the river Lambro, in Northern Italy, causing an environmental disaster.
- Feb 24 Europe risks a double-dip recession after bad results emerge from France, Germany and Italy, it is reported today; the Eurozone only grew by 0.1% in the last quarter of 2009
- Feb 27 8.8 magnitude earthquake rattles central Chile; epicenter just off the coast also triggers a tsunami
Deaths in History
- Feb 3 Regina, Crown Princess of Austria (b. 1925)
- Feb 4 Kostas Axelos, Greek-French philosopher, dies at 85
- Feb 5 Harry Schwarz, South African lawyer, politician and diplomat, leader of the anti-apartheid movement (b. 1924).
- Feb 8 John Murtha, American politician (Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania), dies at 77
- Feb 9 Phil Harris, American fisherman from Discovery Channel's Deadliest Catch (b. 1956)
- Feb 9 Walter Frederick Morrison, American inventor (b. 1920)
- Feb 10 Charles Wilson, American politician (b. 1933)
- Feb 11 [Lee} Alexander McQueen, English fashion designer, commits suicide at 40
- Feb 13 Lucille Clifton, American poet (Two-Headed Woman), dies at 73
- Feb 18 John Babcock, Last known Canadian veteran of World War I (b. 1900)
- Feb 19 Laura Spurr, Tribal Chairperson, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (b. 1945)
Alexander Haig (1924-2010)
Feb 20 American General and 59th Secretary of State (1981-82), dies from a staphylococcal infection at 85
- Feb 23 Mervyn Jones, English author (Nobody's Fault, 5 Hungarian Writers), dies at 87
- Feb 25 İhsan Doğramacı, Turkish paediatrician, academic and the founder of YÖK, dies at 94
- Feb 26 Nujabes, Japanese Hip Hop producer and inspiration to many around the world.
- Feb 26 Violet Barclay, American illustrator, dies at 87
- Feb 27 Madeleine Ferron, French Canadian writer, dies at 87
Authors
Civil Rights Activists
Inventors
Kings
Revolutionaries
Scientists