# Today in History **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [July 10, 2016, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530 "2016-07-10T04:53:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 53
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1044 "2018-02-05T04:43:34Z")
**February 4, 2004:** Facebook is founded by Mark Zuckerberg. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2018, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1045 "2018-02-05T07:54:14Z")
**February 5, 1805** : [\*The Earl of Abergavenny \*](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.regencyhistory.net/2012/02/last-voyage-of-earl-of-abergavenny.html%3Fm%3D1&ved=2ahUKEwjRqPGCpI7ZAhWFo1kKHSl2BkgQFjADegQIBxAB&usg=AOvVaw0t9z3Y5xf14xwQ_7LSU31F) sinks in the English Channel. 260 are killed including Captain John Wordsworth, brother of poet William Wordsworth. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1046 "2018-02-06T06:59:02Z")
**February 6, 1822** : The Chinese ship [\*Tek Sing \*](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://mfame.guru/tek-sing-the-titanic-of-the-east/&ved=2ahUKEwj57aaZvpDZAhUywFkKHaaDDTs4FBAWMAB6BAgREAE&usg=AOvVaw0IiJ4pknJ4284Hyolvrg1Y) sinks in the Gaspar Strait. Over 1500 die. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1047 "2018-02-07T08:14:20Z")
**February 7, 1863** : [The HMS \*Orpheus \*](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/sinking-of-hms-em-orpheus-em-nzs-worst-shipwreck&ved=2ahUKEwjV2PaWrJPZAhXHslkKHRjeCkAQFjAYegQIDxAB&usg=AOvVaw13diWnFWUPOVVMxKU0iLMa) sinks off the coast of Auckland, New Zealand. 189 die. This is the deadliest shipwreck ever in New Zealand waters. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1048 "2018-02-07T16:09:01Z")
**February 7, 1990** : The [Central Committee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Committee) of the [Soviet Communist Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Communist_Party) agrees to give up its monopoly on power. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2018, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1049 "2018-02-08T05:48:48Z")
**February 8, 1947** : 81 are killed in Berlin in [the Karlslust Dance Hall fire.](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://alchetron.com/Karlslust-dance-hall-fire&ved=2ahUKEwicqZqKzpXZAhXppVkKHUwJAUMQFjALegQIDhAB&usg=AOvVaw3WldgBtrhjqzybAw4kd91g) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2018, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1050 "2018-02-08T06:06:08Z")
**February 8, 1952:** Elizabeth II is proclaimed Queen of the United Kingdom. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2018, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1051 "2018-02-09T05:14:31Z")
**February 9, 1971** : [San Fernando Valley earthquake kills 64 and injures 2500.](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.dailynews.com/2016/02/08/sylmar-san-fernando-earthquake-45-years-ago-tuesday-64-killed/amp/&ved=2ahUKEwjvzsjYiJjZAhVooFkKHUFrCRsQFjAWegQIBxAB&usg=AOvVaw3Vj42girBy6jxQMkfqfCsB&cf=1) ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2018, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1052 "2018-02-10T08:45:29Z")
**February 10, 1945** : The German transport ship [SS \*General von Steuben \*](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_General_von_Steuben&ved=2ahUKEwiI8aHD-JrZAhXjUt8KHbgbDhAQFjAVegQIBRAB&usg=AOvVaw3ianj0s3E7-2G48Fg9A9PP) is sunk by a Soviet Submarine in the Baltic Sea. Approximately 4500 die. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2018, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1053 "2018-02-11T05:51:31Z")
**February 11, 1823** : [The Carnival Tragedy of 1823](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival_tragedy_of_1823) 110 young boys are killed after a human crush in a line distributing free bread to poor children at a convent in Malta. ---
**Author:** ![boson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boson/32/11407_2.png) [@boson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boson)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2018, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1054 "2018-02-11T06:06:01Z")
February 11, 2011 Egyptian Revolution culminates in the resignation of Hosni Mubarak and the transfer of power to the Supreme Military Council after 18 days of protests (Arab Spring) ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1055 "2018-02-12T07:51:58Z")
**February 12, 1909** : The [SS \*Penguin \*](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.theprow.org.nz/yourstory/wreck-of-the-penguin/&ved=2ahUKEwjh8PzL8J_ZAhXIUt8KHTVTAgAQFjACegQICBAB&usg=AOvVaw1i5AgfyYQZEPWfAV5QSlx9) passenger ferry runs upon something in the water in rough seas near Wellington Harbor, New Zealand. Women and children were placed in the supposedly sturdier lifeboats, but these capsized. A few of the men survived in life rafts. 75 lives were lost. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1056 "2018-02-12T11:10:47Z")
**February 12, 1909:** The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is founded. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1057 "2018-02-13T07:54:33Z")
**February 13, 1857** : [The SS\* Tempest\*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Tempest) was a transatlantic steamship that ran from Glasgow to New York City and back. Her initial crossing and return in the fall of 1856 went well, as did the second crossing to New York. But on this date in 1857 the ship left New York City for Glasgow and was never seen again. The fate of the ship and the 150 people aboard remains a mystery. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1058 "2018-02-13T14:28:43Z")
**February 13, 1961:** An allegedly 500,000-year-old rock is discovered near Olancha, California, US, that appears to anachronistically encase a “1920s-style spark plug”. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1059 "2018-02-14T21:19:42Z")
**February 14, 2012** : [The Comayagua Prison Fire](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2012/feb/16/honduras-jail-fire-prisoners-comayagua&ved=2ahUKEwj1jqnVqKbZAhXiUN8KHdpYCrIQFjAfegQICBAB&usg=AOvVaw1lBqb25TGOYPWkiK4Y97mQ&cf=1) kills at least 358. This is the deadliest prison fire in recorded history. Half of those who died had not yet been convicted of any crime. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1060 "2018-02-15T06:52:05Z")
**February 15, 1855** : [The French frigate \*Semillante \*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_frigate_S%C3%A9millante_(1841)) sinks in the Strait of Bonifacio after being pushed upon rocks during fog and storm. All 691 aboard die. It is said that bodies washed up on the shores of nearby Ile Lavezza for weeks afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1061 "2018-02-15T20:09:20Z")
**February 15, 1992:** Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer (aka The Milwaukee Cannibal) is sentenced in Milwaukee to life in prison. On November 28, 1994, Dahmer was beaten to death by Christopher Scarver, a fellow inmate at the Columbia Correctional Institution. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1062 "2018-02-16T01:50:51Z")
**February 15, 1965** : Canada’s new maple leaf flag is hoisted on Parliament Hill for the first time, after a bitter parliamentary debate that lasted over half a year. The designer of the flag, George Stanley, attended the ceremony in spite of getting death threats. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530/1063 "2018-02-18T03:03:51Z")
**February 17, 1801:** An electoral tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr is resolved when Jefferson is elected President of the United States, and Burr Vice President, by the United States House of Representatives. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530.md?page=52) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-history/759530.md?page=54)