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On This Day in History — February 2

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Highlights of February 2

2012 — The passenger ferry MV Rabaul Queen capsized and sank in rough conditions in the Solomon Sea, resulting in at least 88 deaths. Read more
2009 — Omid, Iran's first domestically made satellite, was launched from Semnan Space Center. Read more
2007 — Following a Derby di Sicilia match in Catania, football violence caused the death of police officer Filippo Raciti, leading to new safety regulations at Italian sporting events. Read more
2004 — Swiss tennis player Roger Federer became the top-ranked men's singles player, a position he held for a record 237 consecutive weeks. Read more
1974 — The F-16 Fighting Falcon (pictured), the most numerous fixed-wing aircraft currently in military service, made its first flight. Read more
1972 — The Troubles: Protestors burned the British Embassy in Ireland following the massacre of 14 civilians in Derry by British forces. Read more
1963 — Cold War in Asia: 113 alleged communists were arrested and detained without trial by Singapore's security agencies. Read more
1942 — The first act of the Norwegian resistance movement took place with the bombing of Oslo East Station by the Osvald Group to protest the inauguration of Vidkun Quisling. Read more
1934 — The Export–Import Bank of the United States, the country's official export credit agency, was established. Read more
1913 — New York City's Grand Central Terminal, the world's largest train station by number of platforms, opened immediately after midnight. Read more
1848 — Mexican–American War: During the American occupation of Mexico City, diplomats signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the war and had Mexico cede 1.36 million square kilometres (530,000 sq mi) of territory and the United States pay US$15 million. Read more
1725 — J. S. Bach led the first performance of his chorale cantata Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin, BWV 125, based on Luther's paraphrase of the Nunc dimittis. Read more
1709 — Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk was rescued by English captain Woodes Rogers and his crew after spending four years as a castaway on an uninhabited island in the Pacific, providing the inspiration for Daniel Defoe's novel Robinson Crusoe. Read more
1659 — Jan van Riebeeck, the founder of Cape Town, produced the first bottle of South African wine. Read more
1594 — Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina dies at the age of 68. Read more
1438 — Nine leaders of the Transylvanian peasant revolt were executed in Torda. Read more
1207 — Terra Mariana, comprising present-day Estonia and Latvia, was established as a principality of the Holy Roman Empire. Read more
1033 — An assembly at the Abbey of Payerne crowned Conrad II (pictured) king of Burgundy. Read more
506 — Alaric II, King of the Visigoths, promulgated a collection of Roman law known as the Breviary of Alaric (excerpt pictured). Read more

Events

2025 — Slovenian NBA player Luka Doncic is traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis in one of the largest trades in American sports history. Read more
2021 — The Burmese military establishes the State Administration Council, the military junta, after deposing the democratically elected government in the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état. Read more
2012 — The ferry MV Rabaul Queen sinks off the coast of Papua New Guinea near the Finschhafen District, with an estimated 146–165 dead. Read more
2007 — Police officer Filippo Raciti is killed when a clash breaks out in the Sicily derby between Catania and Palermo, in the Serie A, the top flight of Italian football. This event led to major changes in stadium regulations in Italy. Read more
2005 — The Government of Canada introduces the Civil Marriage Act. This legislation would become law on July 20, 2005, legalizing same-sex marriage. Read more
2004 — Swiss tennis player Roger Federer becomes the No. 1 ranked men's singles player, a position he will hold for a record 237 weeks. Read more
2000 — First digital cinema projection in Europe (Paris) realized by Philippe Binant with the DLP CINEMA technology developed by Texas Instruments. Read more
1998 — Cebu Pacific Flight 387 crashes into Mount Sumagaya in the Philippines, killing all 104 people on board. Read more
1990 — Apartheid: F. W. de Klerk announces the unbanning of the African National Congress and promises to release Nelson Mandela. Read more
1989 — Soviet–Afghan War: The last Soviet armoured column leaves Kabul. Read more
1987 — After the 1986 People Power Revolution, the Philippines enacts a new constitution. Read more
1982 — Hama massacre: The government of Syria attacks the town of Hama. Read more
1980 — Reports surface that the FBI is targeting allegedly corrupt Congressmen in the Abscam operation. Read more
1971 — Idi Amin replaces President Milton Obote as leader of Uganda. Read more
1971 — The international Ramsar Convention for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands is signed in Ramsar, Mazandaran, Iran. Read more
1966 — Pakistan suggests a six-point agenda with Kashmir after the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965. Read more
1959 — Nine experienced ski hikers in the northern Ural Mountains in the Soviet Union die under mysterious circumstances. Read more
1954 — The Detroit Red Wings played in the first outdoor hockey game by any NHL team in an exhibition against the Marquette Branch Prison Pirates in Marquette, Michigan. Read more
1943 — World War II: The Battle of Stalingrad comes to an end when Soviet troops accept the surrender of the last organized German troops in the city. Read more
1942 — The Osvald Group is responsible for the first, active event of anti-Nazi resistance in Norway, to protest the inauguration of Vidkun Quisling. Read more
1935 — Leonarde Keeler administers polygraph tests to two murder suspects, the first time polygraph evidence was admitted in U.S. courts. Read more
1934 — The Export-Import Bank of the United States is incorporated. Read more
1925 — Serum run to Nome: Dog sleds reach Nome, Alaska with diphtheria serum, inspiring the Iditarod race. Read more
1922 — Ulysses by James Joyce is published. Read more
1922 — The uprising called the "pork mutiny" starts in the region between Kuolajärvi and Savukoski in Finland. Read more
1920 — The Tartu Peace Treaty is signed between Estonia and Russia. Read more
1913 — Grand Central Terminal opens in New York City. Read more
1909 — The Paris Film Congress opens, an attempt by European producers to form an equivalent to the MPPC cartel in the United States. Read more
1901 — Funeral of Queen Victoria. Read more
1899 — The Australian Premiers' Conference held in Melbourne decides to locate Australia's capital city, Canberra, between Sydney and Melbourne. Read more
1887 — In Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, the first Groundhog Day is observed. Read more
1881 — The sentences of the trial of the warlocks of Chiloé are imparted. Read more
1876 — The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs of Major League Baseball is formed. Read more
1870 — The Seven Brothers (Seitsemän veljestä), a novel by Finnish author Aleksis Kivi, is published first time in several thin booklets. Read more
1868 — Pro-Imperial forces capture Osaka Castle from the Tokugawa shogunate and burn it to the ground. Read more
1850 — Brigham Young declares war on Timpanogos in the Battle at Fort Utah. Read more
1848 — Mexican–American War: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is signed. Read more
1814 — The last of the River Thames frost fairs comes to an end. Read more
1797 — The siege of Mantua ends after eight months when Count Dagobert Sigmund von Wurmser surrenders the fortress of Mantua to Napoleon Bonaparte. The fall of Mantua secures French control over Northern Italy and marks the beginning of the conclusion of the Italian campaign of 1796-1797, and sets the stage for the end of the War of the First Coalition. Read more
1725 — J. S. Bach leads the first performance of his chorale cantata Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin, BWV 125, based on Luther's paraphrase of the Nunc dimittis. Read more
1709 — Alexander Selkirk is rescued after being shipwrecked on a desert island, inspiring Daniel Defoe's adventure book Robinson Crusoe. Read more
1653 — New Amsterdam (later renamed The City of New York) is incorporated. Read more
1645 — Wars of the Three Kingdoms: In Scotland, the Battle of Inverlochy results in a Royalist/Irish victory. Read more
1536 — Spaniard Pedro de Mendoza founds Buenos Aires, Argentina. Read more
1461 — Wars of the Roses: The Battle of Mortimer's Cross results in the death of Owen Tudor. Read more
1438 — Nine leaders of the Transylvanian peasant revolt are executed at Torda. Read more
1428 — An intense earthquake struck the Principality of Catalonia, with the epicenter near Camprodon. Widespread destruction and heavy casualties were reported. Read more
1347 — Byzantine Empress Anna convenes a synod to depose patriarch Joseph XIV in Constantinople. The same night, conspirators let in her rival John VI Kantakouzenos which ends the Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347. Read more
1207 — Terra Mariana, eventually comprising present-day Latvia and Estonia, is established. Read more
1141 — The Battle of Lincoln, at which Stephen, King of England is defeated and captured by the allies of Empress Matilda. Read more
1032 — Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor becomes king of Burgundy. Read more
962 — Translatio imperii: Pope John XII crowns Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, the first Holy Roman Emperor in nearly 40 years. Read more
880 — Battle of Lüneburg Heath: King Louis III of France is defeated by the Norse Great Heathen Army at Lüneburg Heath in Saxony. Read more
506 — Alaric II, eighth king of the Visigoths, promulgates the Breviary of Alaric (Breviarium Alaricianum or Lex Romana Visigothorum), a collection of "Roman law". Read more

Born on February 2

2006 — Lucas Bergvall, Swedish footballer Read more
2004 — Eleonore Caburet, French rhythmic gymnast Read more
2001 — Westcol, Colombian online streamer Read more
2000 — Munetaka Murakami, Japanese baseball player Read more
1999 — Jeff Okudah, American football player Read more
1998 — Shiho Katō, Japanese singer and model Read more
1997 — Ellie Bamber, English actress Read more
1996 — Christian Dvorak, American ice hockey player Read more
1996 — Paul Mescal, Irish actor Read more
1996 — Harry Winks, English footballer Read more
1995 — Paul Digby, English footballer Read more
1995 — Aleksander Jagiełło, Polish footballer Read more
1995 — Arfa Karim, Pakistani student and computer prodigy (died 2012) Read more
1995 — Curtis Lazar, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
1995 — Remilia, American professional gamer (died 2019) Read more
1994 — Caterina Bosetti, Italian volleyball player Read more
1993 — Bobby De Cordova-Reid, English-Jamaican footballer Read more
1993 — Ravel Morrison, English footballer Read more
1992 — Lammtarra, American race horse (died 2014) Read more
1992 — Joonas Tamm, Estonian footballer Read more
1991 — Nathan Delfouneso, English footballer Read more
1991 — Gregory Mertens, Belgian footballer (died 2015) Read more
1991 — Shohei Nanba, Japanese actor Read more
1989 — Harrison Smith, American football player Read more
1989 — Southside, American record producer Read more
1988 — JuJu Chan, Hong Kong-American actress, martial artist, singer, and writer Read more
1988 — Zosia Mamet, American actress Read more
1988 — Brad Peacock, American baseball player Read more
1987 — Anthony Fainga'a, Australian rugby player Read more
1987 — Saia Fainga'a, Australian rugby player Read more
1987 — Faydee, Australian singer Read more
1987 — Athena Imperial, Filipino journalist, Miss Earth-Water 2011 Read more
1987 — Mimi Page, American singer-songwriter and composer Read more
1987 — Gerard Piqué, Spanish footballer Read more
1987 — Javon Ringer, American football player Read more
1987 — Jill Scott, English footballer Read more
1987 — Martin Spanjers, American actor and producer Read more
1986 — Gemma Arterton, English actress and singer Read more
1986 — Miwa Asao, Japanese volleyball player Read more
1985 — Morris Almond, American basketball player Read more

Died on February 2

2025 — Brian Murphy, English comic actor (born 1932) Read more
2024 — Don Murray, American actor (born 1929) Read more
2024 — Carl Weathers, American football player and actor (born 1948) Read more
2023 — K. Viswanath, Indian actor, director and screenwriter (born 1930) Read more
2023 — Butch Miles, American jazz drummer (born 1944) Read more
2021 — Captain Sir Tom Moore, British Army officer and charity campaigner (born 1920) Read more
2020 — Bernard Ebbers, Canadian businessman, the co-founder and CEO of WorldCom (born 1941) Read more
2020 — Mad Mike Hoare, British-Irish military officer and mercenary (born 1919) Read more
2016 — Bob Elliott, American comedian, actor, and screenwriter (born 1923) Read more
2015 — Joseph Alfidi, American pianist, composer, and conductor (born 1949) Read more
2015 — Dave Bergman, American baseball player (born 1953) Read more
2015 — Andriy Kuzmenko, Ukrainian singer-songwriter and actor (born 1968) Read more
2015 — Molade Okoya-Thomas, Nigerian businessman and philanthropist (born 1935) Read more
2015 — Stewart Stern, American screenwriter (born 1922) Read more
2015 — The Jacka, American rapper and producer (born 1977) Read more
2014 — Gerd Albrecht, German conductor (born 1935) Read more
2014 — Tommy Aquino, American motorcycle racer (born 1992) Read more
2014 — Nicholas Brooks, English historian (born 1941) Read more
2014 — Eduardo Coutinho, Brazilian actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1933) Read more
2014 — Philip Seymour Hoffman, American actor, director, and producer (born 1967) Read more
2014 — Luis Raúl, Puerto Rican comedian and actor (born 1962) Read more
2014 — Bunny Rugs, Jamaican singer (born 1948) Read more
2014 — Nigel Walker, English footballer (born 1959) Read more
2013 — Abraham Iyambo, Namibian politician (born 1961) Read more
2013 — John Kerr, American actor and lawyer (born 1931) Read more
2013 — Chris Kyle, American soldier and sniper (born 1974) Read more
2013 — Lino Oviedo, Paraguayan general and politician (born 1943) Read more
2013 — Pepper Paire, American baseball player (born 1924) Read more
2013 — P. Shanmugam, Indian politician, 13th Chief Minister of Puducherry (born 1927) Read more
2013 — Walt Sweeney, American football player (born 1941) Read more
2013 — Guy F. Tozzoli, American architect (born 1922) Read more
2012 — Joyce Barkhouse, Canadian author (born 1913) Read more
2012 — Frederick William Danker, American lexicographer and scholar (born 1920) Read more
2012 — George Esper, American journalist and academic (born 1932) Read more
2012 — Dorothy Gilman, American author (born 1923) Read more
2012 — James F. Lloyd, American pilot and politician (born 1922) Read more
2011 — Edward Amy, Canadian general (born 1918) Read more
2011 — Defne Joy Foster, Turkish actress (born 1975) Read more
2011 — Margaret John, Welsh actress (born 1926) Read more
2008 — Barry Morse, Canadian actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1918) Read more

Holidays & observances

Groundhog Day; Anniversary of Treaty of Tartu (Estonia); Christian Feast Day: Adalbard; Christian Feast Day: Catherine de' Ricci; Christian Feast Day: Jeanne de Lestonnac; Christian Feast Day: Martyrs of Ebsdorf; Christian Feast Day: Presentation of Jesus; Christian Feast Day: February 2 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple or Candlemas (Western Christianity), and its related observances: A quarter day in the Christian liturgical calendar (due to Candlemas). (Scotland); Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple or Candlemas (Western Christianity), and its related observances: Celebration of Yemanja or Our Lady of Navigators (Candomblé); Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple or Candlemas (Western Christianity), and its related observances: Chandeleur (France); Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple or Candlemas (Western Christianity), and its related observances: Liichtmëssdag (Luxembourg); Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple or Candlemas (Western Christianity), and its related observances: Our Lady of the Candles (Filipino Catholics); Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple or Candlemas (Western Christianity), and its related observances: Virgin of Candelaria (Tenerife, Spain); Victory of the Battle of Stalingrad (Russia); World Wetlands Day

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Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “February 2”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.