On this day in American historyFebruary
29 dates, 232 cited events. Every entry links to the day’s full story.
- 1Feb
President Abraham Lincoln signs the Thirteenth Amendment to the…
8 moments from the American record, 1861 to 2007 · 5 births · 2 observances. The 32nd day of the year.
George Hendric Houghton, b. 1820★ National Freedom Day
- 2Feb
During the American occupation of Mexico City
8 moments from the American record, 1848 to 2025 · 5 births. The 33rd day of the year.
Albert Sidney Johnston, b. 1803
- 3Feb
The Sixteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution is…
8 moments from the American record, 1781 to 2023 · 5 births. The 34th day of the year.
Samuel Osgood, b. 1747
- 4Feb
In Montgomery, Alabama, delegates from six breakaway U.S. states…
8 moments from the American record, 1789 to 2003 · 5 births · 2 observances. The 35th day of the year.
Oliver Ames, b. 1831★ Rosa Parks Day
- 5Feb
The U.S. Congress overrode President Woodrow Wilson's veto to…
8 moments from the American record, 1861 to 2020 · 5 births. The 36th day of the year.
Gilbert Tennent, b. 1703
- 6Feb
In Paris the Treaty of Alliance and the Treaty of Amity and…
8 moments from the American record, 1778 to 1976 · 5 births · 3 observances. The 37th day of the year.
Charles Lee, b. 1732★ International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation
- 7Feb
The U.S. state of Mississippi officially certifies the Thirteenth…
8 moments from the American record, 1783 to 2013 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 38th day of the year.
Louisa Jane Hall, b. 1802★ National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
- 8Feb
Delaware refuses to ratify the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S.…
8 moments from the American record, 1693 to 1968 · 5 births. The 39th day of the year.
Richard S. Ewell, b. 1817
- 9Feb
Jefferson Davis is elected the Provisional President of the…
8 moments from the American record, 1775 to 2001 · 5 births. The 40th day of the year.
Thomas Paine, b. 1737
- 10Feb
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower warns against United States…
8 moments from the American record, 1861 to 2021 · 5 births. The 41st day of the year.
Benjamin Smith Barton, b. 1766
- 11Feb
The United States House of Representatives unanimously passes a…
8 moments from the American record, 1794 to 2024 · 5 births · 2 observances. The 42nd day of the year.
Lydia Maria Child, b. 1802★ Inventors' Day
- 12Feb
African American United States Army veteran Isaac Woodard is…
8 moments from the American record, 1733 to 2001 · 5 births · 2 observances. The 43rd day of the year.
John Winthrop the Younger, b. 1606★ Georgia Day
- 13Feb
African-American college students staged the first of the…
8 moments from the American record, 1914 to 2021 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 44th day of the year.
Rufus Wilmot Griswold, b. 1815★ Black Love Day
- 14Feb
President Franklin D. Roosevelt meets King Ibn Saud of Saudi…
8 moments from the American record, 1779 to 1945 · 5 births · 2 observances. The 45th day of the year.
Emory Washburn, b. 1800★ Statehood Day
- 15Feb
Confederates commanded by Brig. Gen. John B. Floyd attack General…
8 moments from the American record, 1764 to 1954 · 5 births · 2 observances. The 46th day of the year.
Abraham Clark, b. 1725★ Susan B. Anthony Day
- 16Feb
General Ulysses S. Grant captures Fort Donelson
8 moments from the American record, 1804 to 2006 · 5 births. The 47th day of the year.
Phineas Quimby, b. 1802
- 17Feb
United States presidential election
8 moments from the American record, 1801 to 1974 · 5 births. The 48th day of the year.
Lola Montez, b. 1821
- 18Feb
President Harry S. Truman signed the Rescission Act
8 moments from the American record, 1861 to 2021 · 5 births. The 49th day of the year.
Lewis Armistead, b. 1817
- 19Feb
World War II
8 moments from the American record, 1807 to 2002 · 5 births. The 50th day of the year.
Louis Calhern, b. 1895
- 20Feb
The U.S. Congress approves the Blaine Act to repeal federal…
8 moments from the American record, 1792 to 1943 · 5 births. The 51st day of the year.
William Prescott, b. 1726
- 21Feb
Watergate scandal
8 moments from the American record, 1828 to 1975 · 5 births. The 52nd day of the year.
Charles Scribner I, b. 1821
- 22Feb
Samuel Byck attempted to hijack an aircraft at…
8 moments from the American record, 1770 to 1980 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 53rd day of the year.
George Washington, b. 1732★ Washington's Birthday, federal holiday in the United States. A holiday on February 22 as well as the third Monday in February.
- 23Feb
President-elect Abraham Lincoln arrives secretly in Washington
8 moments from the American record, 1778 to 2008 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 54th day of the year.
W. E. B. Du Bois, b. 1868★ National Day
- 24Feb
In Marbury v. Madison, the Supreme Court declared an act of…
8 moments from the American record, 1803 to 2022 · 5 births. The 55th day of the year.
John McKinly, b. 1721
- 25Feb
Mississippi senator Hiram Rhodes Revels became the first African…
8 moments from the American record, 1836 to 1994 · 5 births · 1 observance. The 56th day of the year.
Emma Catherine Embury, b. 1806★ National Day
- 26Feb
World Trade Center bombing
8 moments from the American record, 1919 to 2019 · 5 births. The 57th day of the year.
Nathan Kelley, b. 1808
- 27Feb
A challenge to the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States…
8 moments from the American record, 1776 to 1973 · 5 births. The 58th day of the year.
José Antonio Navarro, b. 1795
- 28Feb
The United Kingdom ends its protectorate over Egypt through a…
8 moments from the American record, 1893 to 2026 · 5 births. The 59th day of the year.
William Zorach, b. 1887
- 29Feb
James Madison University is founded at Harrisonburg
8 moments from the American record, 1704 to 2020 · 5 births. The 60th day of the year.
Ann Lee, b. 1736