February 31488 - The Portuguese navigator Bartholomeu Diaz landed at Mossal Bay in the Cape, the first European known to have landed on the southern extremity of Africa. 1690 - The first paper money in America was issued by the Massachusetts colony. The currency was used to pay soldiers that were fighting in the war against Quebec. 1783 - Spain recognized the independence of the United States. 1809 - The territory of Illinois was created. 1815 - The world's first commercial cheese factory was established in Switzerland. 1862 - Thomas Edison printed the "Weekly Herald" and distributed it to train passengers traveling between Port Huron and Detroit, MI. It was the first time a newspaper had been printed on a train. 1869 - Edwin Booth opened his new theatre in New York City. The first production was "Romeo and Juliet". 1874 - A patent was issued to Samuel W. Francis for the spork. 1900 - In Frankfort, KY, gubernatorial candidate William Goebels died from an assasin's bullet wounds. On August 18, 1900, Ex-Sec. of State Caleb Powers was found guilt of conspiracy to murder Gov. Goebels. 1913 - The 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. It authorized the power to impose and collect income tax. 1916 - In Ottawa, Canada's original parliament buildings burned down. 1917 - The U.S. broke off diplomatic relations with Germany, which had announced a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare. 1918 - The Twin Peaks Tunnel began service. It is the longest streetcar tunnel in the world at 11,920 feet. 1927 - The Federal Radio Commission was created when U.S. President Calvin Coolidge signed a bill. 1941 - In Vichy, France, the Nazis used force to restore Pierre Laval to office. 1945 - Russia agreed to enter World War II against Japan. 1946 - The first issue of "Holiday" magazine appeared. 1947 - Percival Prattisbecame the first black news correspondent admitted to the House and Senate press gallery in Washington, DC. He worked for "Our World" in New York City. 1951 - Dick Button won the U.S. figure skating title for the sixth time. 1951 - The Tennessee Williams play, "The Rose Tattoo", opened on Broadway in New York. 1966 - The first rocket-assisted controlled landing on the Moon was made by the Soviet space vehicle Luna IX. 1969 - At the Palestinian National Congress in Cairo, Yasser Arafat was appointed leader of the PLO. 1972 - The first Winter Olympics in Asia were held at Sapporo, Japan. 1984 - Challenger 4 was launched as the tenth space shuttle mission. 1989 - South African politician P.W. Botha unwillingly resigned both party leadership and the presidency after suffering a stroke. 1998 - Texas executed Karla Faye Tucker. She was the first woman executed in the U.S. since 1984. 1998 - In Italy, a U.S. Military plane hit a cable causing the death of 20 skiers on a lift. 2009 - Eric Holder was sworn in as attorney general. He was the first African-American to hold the post. 2010 - The Alberto Giacometti sculpture L'Homme qui marche sold for $103.7 million. 2015 - The British House of Commons voted to approve letting scientist create babies from the DNA of three people. |