February 29 is a ''

leap day A leap year (also known as an intercalary year or bissextile year) is a calendar year that contains an additional day (or, in the case of a lunisolar calendar, a month) compared to a common year. The 366th day (or 13th month) is added to kee ...

'' (or "leap year day")—an intercalary date added periodically to create

leap year A leap year (also known as an intercalary year or bissextile year) is a calendar year that contains an additional day (or, in the case of a lunisolar calendar, a month) compared to a common year. The 366th day (or 13th month) is added to keep t ...

s in the Julian and

Gregorian calendar The Gregorian calendar is the calendar used in most parts of the world. It went into effect in October 1582 following the papal bull issued by Pope Gregory XIII, which introduced it as a modification of, and replacement for, the Julian cale ...

s. It is the 60th day of a leap year in both Julian and Gregorian calendars, and 306 days remain until the end of the leap year. It is the last day of

February February is the second month of the year in the Julian calendar, Julian and Gregorian calendars. The month has 28 days in common years and 29 in leap years, with the February 29, 29th day being called the ''leap day''. February is the third a ...

in leap years only. It is also the last day of

meteorological winter Winter is the coldest and darkest season of the year in temperate and polar climates. It occurs after autumn and before spring. The tilt of Earth's axis causes seasons; winter occurs when a hemisphere is oriented away from the Sun. Differe ...

in the

Northern Hemisphere The Northern Hemisphere is the half of Earth that is north of the equator. For other planets in the Solar System, north is defined by humans as being in the same celestial sphere, celestial hemisphere relative to the invariable plane of the Solar ...

and the last day of

meteorological summer Summer or summertime is the hottest and brightest of the four temperate seasons, occurring after spring and before autumn. At or centred on the summer solstice, daylight hours are the longest and darkness hours are the shortest, with day ...

in the Southern Hemisphere in leap years. In the Gregorian calendar, the standard

civil calendar The civil calendar is the calendar, or possibly one of several calendars, used within a country for civil, official, or administrative purposes. The civil calendar is almost always used for general purposes by people and private organizations. Th ...

used in most of the world, February 29 is added in each year that is an integer multiple of four, unless it is evenly divisible by 100 but not by 400. For example,

1900 As of March 1 ( O.S. February 17), when the Julian calendar acknowledged a leap day and the Gregorian calendar did not, the Julian calendar fell one day further behind, bringing the difference to 13 days until February 28 ( O.S. February 15 ...

was not a leap year, but

2000 2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year. Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...

was. The Julian calendar— since 1923 a

liturgical calendar The liturgical year, also called the church year, Christian year, ecclesiastical calendar, or kalendar, consists of the cycle of liturgical days and seasons that determines when feast days, including celebrations of saints, are to be obs ...

—has a February 29 every fourth year without exception. Consequently, February 29 in the Julian calendar, since 1900, falls 13 days later than February 29 in the Gregorian, until the year 2100. The convention of using February 29 was not widely accepted before the 15th century; from Julius Caesar's edict in 45 BC until the 16th century (formally), February 24 was doubled instead. In one of its attempts to adopt the Gregorian calendar, Sweden tried (unsuccessfully) to phase in the change by omitting leap days in the 11 successive leap-years, 17001740.

Events

Pre-1600

888 888 commonly refers to: * 888 (number), an integer * 888 BC, a year of the 9th century BC * AD 888, a year of the Julian calendar 888 or triple eight may also refer to: Telecommunication * 888 is prefix/area code for toll-free telephone num ...

–

Odo Odo is a name typically associated with historical figures from the Middle Ages and before. Odo is etymologically related to the names Otho and Otto, and to the French name Odon and modern version Eudes, and to the Italian names Ottone and Udo; a ...

count of Paris Count of Paris () was a title for the local magnate of the district around Paris in Carolingian times. After Hugh Capet was elected King of the Franks in 987, the title merged into the crown and fell into disuse. However, it was later revived ...

, is crowned king of

West Francia In medieval historiography, West Francia (Medieval Latin: ) or the Kingdom of the West Franks () constitutes the initial stage of the Kingdom of France and extends from the year 843, from the Treaty of Verdun, to 987, the beginning of the Capet ...

(France) by Archbishop Walter of Sens at

Compiègne Compiègne (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Oise Departments of France, department of northern France. It is located on the river Oise (river), Oise, and its inhabitants are called ''Compiégnois'' (). Administration Compiègne is t ...

. *

1504 __NOTOC__ Year 1504 ( MDIV) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. Events January–March * January 1 – French troops of King Louis XII surrender Gaeta to the Spanish, under Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba. * J ...

–

Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus (; between 25 August and 31 October 1451 – 20 May 1506) was an Italians, Italian explorer and navigator from the Republic of Genoa who completed Voyages of Christopher Columbus, four Spanish-based voyages across the At ...

uses his knowledge of a lunar eclipse that night to convince Jamaican natives to provide him with supplies.

1601–1900

1644 It is one of eight years (CE) to contain each Roman numeral once (1000(M)+500(D)+100(C)+(-10(X)+50(L))+(-1(I)+5(V)) = 1644). Events January–March * January 22 – The Royalist Oxford Parliament is first assembled by King Cha ...

–

Abel Tasman Abel Janszoon Tasman (; 160310 October 1659) was a Dutch sea explorer, seafarer and exploration, explorer, best known for his voyages of 1642 and 1644 in the service of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). He was the first European to reach New ...

's second Pacific voyage begins as he leaves Batavia in command of three ships. *

1704 In the Swedish calendar it was a leap year starting on Friday, one day ahead of the Julian and ten days behind the Gregorian calendar. Events January–March * January 7 – Partial solar eclipse, Solar Saros 146, is visible i ...

– In

Queen Anne's War Queen Anne's War (1702–1713) or the Third Indian War was one in a series of French and Indian Wars fought in North America involving the colonial empires of Great Britain, France, and Spain; it took place during the reign of Anne, Queen of Gr ...

, French forces and

Native American Native Americans or Native American usually refers to Native Americans in the United States. Related terms and peoples include: Ethnic groups * Indigenous peoples of the Americas, the pre-Columbian peoples of North, South, and Central America ...

s stage a raid on Deerfield, Massachusetts Bay Colony, killing 56 villagers and taking more than 100 captive. *

1712 In the Swedish calendar it began as a leap year starting on Monday and remained so until Thursday, February 29. By adding a second leap day, Friday, February 30, Sweden reverted to the Julian calendar and the rest of the year (from Saturday, M ...

– February 29 is followed by

February 30 Several non-standard dates are used in calendars for various purposes: some are expressly fictional, some are intended to produce a rhetorical effect (such as sarcasm), and others attempt to address a particular mathematical, scientific or acc ...

in Sweden, in a move to abolish the

Swedish calendar The Swedish calendar () or Swedish style () was a calendar in use in Sweden and its possessions from 1 March 1700 until 30 February 1712. It was one day ahead of the Julian calendar and ten days behind the Gregorian calendar. Easter was calculat ...

for a return to the

Julian calendar The Julian calendar is a solar calendar of 365 days in every year with an additional leap day every fourth year (without exception). The Julian calendar is still used as a religious calendar in parts of the Eastern Orthodox Church and in parts ...

. *

1720 Events January–March * January 21 – Sweden and Prussia sign the Treaty of Stockholm (Great Northern War). * February 10 – Edmond Halley is appointed as Astronomer Royal for England. * February 17 – The Treaty o ...

–

Ulrika Eleonora, Queen of Sweden Ulrika Eleonora or Ulrica Eleanor (23 January 1688 – 24 November 1741), also known as Ulrika Eleonora the Younger, was Queen of Sweden from 5 December 1718 until her abdication on 29 February 1720 in favour of Frederick, her husband. Upon h ...

abdicates in favour of her husband, who becomes King

Frederick I Frederick I or Friedrich I may refer to: * Frederick of Utrecht or Frederick I (815/16–834/38), Bishop of Utrecht. * Frederick I, Duke of Upper Lorraine (942–978) * Frederick I, Duke of Swabia (1050–1105) * Frederick I ...

on March 24. *

1768 Events January–March * January 9 – Philip Astley stages the first modern circus, with acrobats on galloping horses, in London. * February 11 – Samuel Adams's circular letter is issued by the Massachusetts House of Re ...

– Polish nobles form the

Bar Confederation The Bar Confederation (; 1768–1772) was an association of Polish nobles (''szlachta'') formed at the fortress of Bar, Ukraine, Bar in Podolia (now Ukraine), in 1768 to defend the internal and external independence of the Polish–Lithuanian C ...

. *

1796 Events January–March * January 16 – The first Dutch (and general) elections are held for the National Assembly of the Batavian Republic. (The next Dutch general elections are held in 1888.) * February 1 – The capital of Upper Can ...

– The

Jay Treaty The Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, Between His Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, commonly known as the Jay Treaty, and also as Jay's Treaty, was a 1794 treaty between the United States and Great Britain that averted ...

between the United States and Great Britain comes into force, facilitating ten years of peaceful trade between the two nations. *

1892 In Samoa, this was the only leap year spanned to 367 days as July 4 repeated. This means that the International Date Line was drawn from the east of the country to go west. Events January * January 1 – Ellis Island begins processing imm ...

–

St. Petersburg, Florida St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 258,308, making it the List of municipalities in Florida, fifth-most populous city in Florida and the most populous city in the sta ...

is incorporated.

1901–present

1908 This is the longest year in either the Julian or Gregorian calendars, having a duration of 31622401.38 seconds of Terrestrial Time (or ephemeris time), measured according to the definition of mean solar time. Events January * January ...

–

James Madison University James Madison University (JMU, Madison, or James Madison) is a public university, public research university in Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1908, the institution was renamed in 1938 in honor of the fourth president of the ...

is founded at

Harrisonburg, Virginia Harrisonburg is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Shenandoah Valley region of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. It is also the county seat of the surrounding Rockingham Cou ...

, United States as The State Normal and Industrial School for Women by the

Virginia General Assembly The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the oldest continuous law-making body in the Western Hemisphere, and the first elected legislative assembly in the New World. It was established on July 30, ...

. *

1912 This year is notable for Sinking of the Titanic, the sinking of the ''Titanic'', which occurred on April 15. In Albania, this leap year runs with only 353 days as the country achieved switching from the Julian to Gregorian Calendar by skippin ...

– The Piedra Movediza (Moving Stone) of

Tandil Tandil is the main city of the homonymous partido (department), located in Argentina, in the southeast of Buenos Aires Province, just north-northwest of Tandilia hills. The city was founded in 1823, and its name originates from the '' Piedra M ...

falls and breaks. *

1916 Events Below, the events of the First World War have the "WWI" prefix. January * January 1 – The British Empire, British Royal Army Medical Corps carries out the first successful blood transfusion, using blood that has been stored ...

–

Tokelau Tokelau (; ; known previously as the Union Islands, and, until 1976, known officially as the Tokelau Islands) is a dependent territory of New Zealand in the southern Pacific Ocean. It consists of three tropical coral atolls: Atafu, Nukunonu, an ...

is annexed by the United Kingdom. * 1916 – In

South Carolina South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...

, the minimum

working age The legal working age is the minimum age required by law in each country or jurisdiction for a young person who has not yet reached the age of majority to be allowed to work. Activities that are dangerous, harmful to the health or that may aff ...

for factory, mill and mine workers is raised from 12 to 14 years old. *

1920 Events January * January 1 ** Polish–Soviet War: The Russian Red Army increases its troops along the Polish border from 4 divisions to 20. ** Kauniainen in Finland, completely surrounded by the city of Espoo, secedes from Espoo as its ow ...

– The

Czechoslovak Czechoslovak may refer to: *A demonym or adjective pertaining to Czechoslovakia (1918–93) **First Czechoslovak Republic (1918–38) **Second Czechoslovak Republic (1938–39) **Third Czechoslovak Republic (1948–60) ** Fourth Czechoslovak Repu ...

National Assembly adopts the

Constitution A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organization or other type of entity, and commonly determines how that entity is to be governed. When these pri ...

. *

1936 Events January–February * January 20 – The Prince of Wales succeeds to the throne of the United Kingdom as King Edward VIII, following the death of his father, George V, at Sandringham House. * January 28 – Death and state funer ...

– The February 26 Incident in Tokyo ends. *

1940 A calendar from 1940 according to the Gregorian calendar, factoring in the dates of Easter and related holidays, cannot be used again until the year 5280. Events Below, events related to World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January *Janu ...

– For her performance as Mammy in ''

Gone with the Wind Gone with the Wind most often refers to: * Gone with the Wind (novel), ''Gone with the Wind'' (novel), a 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell * Gone with the Wind (film), ''Gone with the Wind'' (film), the 1939 adaptation of the novel Gone with the Wind ...

'',

Hattie McDaniel Hattie McDaniel (June 10, 1893 – October 26, 1952) was an African-American actress, singer-songwriter, and comedian. For her role as Mammy in ''Gone with the Wind'' (1939), she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the f ...

becomes the first

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

win Win or WIN most likely refers to: * A victory Win, Winning, WIN or Winner may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film * '' Win!'', a 2016 American film Literature * ''Win'' (Coben novel), 2021 * WIN (pacifist magazine) * WIN (wrestling ma ...

Academy Award The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence ...

. * 1940 – Finland initiates

Winter War The Winter War was a war between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet invasion of Finland on 30 November 1939, three months after the outbreak of World War II, and ended three and a half months later with the Moscow Peac ...

peace negotiations. * 1940 – In a ceremony held in

Berkeley, California Berkeley ( ) is a city on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in northern Alameda County, California, United States. It is named after the 18th-century Anglo-Irish bishop and philosopher George Berkeley. It borders the cities of Oakland, Cali ...

, physicist

Ernest Lawrence Ernest Orlando Lawrence (August 8, 1901 – August 27, 1958) was an American accelerator physicist who received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1939 for his invention of the cyclotron. He is known for his work on uranium-isotope separation for ...

receives the 1939

Nobel Prize in Physics The Nobel Prize in Physics () is an annual award given by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for those who have made the most outstanding contributions to mankind in the field of physics. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the ...

from Sweden's

consul general A consul is an official representative of a government who resides in a foreign country to assist and protect citizens of the consul's country, and to promote and facilitate commercial and diplomatic relations between the two countries. A consu ...

San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

. *

1944 Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January 2 – WWII: ** Free France, Free French General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny is appointed to command First Army (France), French Army B, part of the Sixt ...

– The

Admiralty Islands The Admiralty Islands are an archipelago group of 40 islands in the Bismarck Archipelago, to the north of New Guinea in the South Pacific Ocean. These are also sometimes called the Manus Islands, after the largest island. These rainforest-cov ...

are invaded in

Operation Brewer The Admiralty Islands campaign (Operation Brewer) was a series of battles in the New Guinea campaign of World War II in which the United States Army's 1st Cavalry Division took the Japanese-held Admiralty Islands. Acting on reports from airm ...

, led by American general

Douglas MacArthur Douglas MacArthur (26 January 18805 April 1964) was an American general who served as a top commander during World War II and the Korean War, achieving the rank of General of the Army (United States), General of the Army. He served with dis ...

, in World War II. *

1960 It is also known as the "Year of Africa" because of major events—particularly the independence of seventeen African nations—that focused global attention on the continent and intensified feelings of Pan-Africanism. Events January * Janu ...

– The 5.7 Agadir earthquake shakes coastal

Morocco Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It has coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to Algeria–Morocc ...

with a maximum perceived intensity of X (''Extreme''), destroying Agadir and leaving 12,000 dead and another 12,000 injured. *

1964 Events January * January 1 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved. * January 5 – In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patria ...

– British Eagle International Airlines Flight 802/6 crashes into the

Glungezer The Glungezer is a mountain in the Tux Alps in Tyrol southeast of Innsbruck in Austria. History Origin of the name The name "Glungezer" (historical spelling also ''Glunggezer'') probably goes back to an onomatopoeic imitation of gurgling ...

mountain in the

Tux Alps The Tux Alps () or Tux Prealps (''Tuxer Voralpen'') are a sub-group of the Austrian Central Alps, which in turn form part of the Eastern Alps within Central Europe. They are located entirely within the Austrian federal state of Tyrol. The Tux Al ...

of Austria, killing all 75 people aboard. *

1968 Events January–February * January 1968, January – The I'm Backing Britain, I'm Backing Britain campaign starts spontaneously. * January 5 – Prague Spring: Alexander Dubček is chosen as leader of the Communist Party of Cze ...

– Aeroflot Flight 15 crashes

Irkutsk Oblast Irkutsk Oblast (; ) is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia (an oblast), located in southeastern Siberia in the basins of the Angara River, Angara, Lena River, Lena, and Nizhnyaya Tunguska Rivers. The administrative center is ...

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

, due to a loss of control. Eighty-three of the 84 occupants onboard die. The exact cause of the accident is unknown. *

1972 Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using Solar time, ...

– South Korea withdraws 11,000 of its 48,000 troops from

South Vietnam South Vietnam, officially the Republic of Vietnam (RVN; , VNCH), was a country in Southeast Asia that existed from 1955 to 1975. It first garnered Diplomatic recognition, international recognition in 1949 as the State of Vietnam within the ...

as part of Nixon's

Vietnamization Vietnamization was a failed foreign policy of the Richard Nixon administration to end U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War through a program to "expand, equip, and train South Vietnamese forces and assign to them an ever-increasing combat role, a ...

policy in the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...

. *

1980 Events January * January 4 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter proclaims a United States grain embargo against the Soviet Union, grain embargo against the USSR with the support of the European Commission. * January 6 – Global Positioning Sys ...

–

Gordie Howe Gordon Howe (March 31, 1928 – June 10, 2016) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. From 1946 to 1980, he played 26 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) and six seasons in the World Hockey Association (WHA); his first 25 seaso ...

of the

Hartford Whalers The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its 25-year existence in Hartford, Connecticut. The club played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 until 1979, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1 ...

makes

NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

history as he scores his 800th goal. *

1984 Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeas ...

–

Pierre Trudeau Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau (October 18, 1919 – September 28, 2000) was a Canadian politician, statesman, and lawyer who served as the 15th prime minister of Canada from 1968 to 1979 and from 1980 to 1984. Between his no ...

announces his retirement as

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

leader and

Prime Minister of Canada The prime minister of Canada () is the head of government of Canada. Under the Westminster system, the prime minister governs with the Confidence and supply, confidence of a majority of the elected House of Commons of Canada, House of Commons ...

. *

1988 1988 was a crucial year in the early history of the Internet—it was the year of the first well-known computer virus, the Morris worm, 1988 Internet worm. The first permanent intercontinental Internet link was made between the United State ...

– South African archbishop

Desmond Tutu Desmond Mpilo Tutu (7 October 193126 December 2021) was a South African Anglican bishop and theologian, known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist. He was Bishop of Johannesburg from 1985 to 1986 and then Archbishop ...

is arrested along with 100 other clergymen during a five-day anti-

apartheid Apartheid ( , especially South African English: , ; , ) was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. It was characterised by an ...

demonstration in

Cape Town Cape Town is the legislature, legislative capital city, capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's List of municipalities in South Africa, second-largest ...

. * 1988 –

Svend Robinson Svend Robinson (born March 4, 1952) is a Canadian politician. He was a member of Parliament (MP) from 1979 to 2004, representing suburban Vancouver-area constituencies in the city of Burnaby for the New Democratic Party (NDP). He was the first ...

becomes the first member of the

House of Commons of Canada The House of Commons of Canada () is the lower house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Monarchy of Canada#Parliament (King-in-Parliament), Crown and the Senate of Canada, they comprise the Bicameralism, bicameral legislature of Ca ...

to come out as gay. *

1992 1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General. * January 6 ** The Republ ...

– A referendum is begun in

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...

for the determination of Bosnian independence. *

1996 1996 was designated as: * International Year for the Eradication of Poverty Events January * January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...

–

Faucett Perú Flight 251 Faucett Perú Flight 251 was a scheduled domestic flight from Lima to Tacna, with a stopover in Arequipa. On 29 February 1996, while completing the first leg, the Boeing 737-200 operating the route crashed on approach to Rodríguez Ballón Inte ...

crashes in

the Andes The Andes ( ), Andes Mountains or Andean Mountain Range (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long and wide (widest between 18°S ...

; all 123 passengers and crew are killed. * 1996 – The

Siege of Sarajevo The siege of Sarajevo () was a prolonged military blockade of Sarajevo, the capital of Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, during the ethnically charged Bosnian War. After it was initially besieged by Serbian forces of the Yugoslav People's Arm ...

officially ends. *

– Chechens attack a guard post near Ulus Kert, eventually killing 84 Russian paratroopers during the

Second Chechen War Names The Second Chechen War is also known as the Second Chechen Campaign () or the Second Russian Invasion of Chechnya from the Chechens, Chechen insurgents' point of view.Федеральный закон № 5-ФЗ от 12 января 19 ...

. *

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

–

Jean-Bertrand Aristide Jean-Bertrand Aristide (; born 15 July 1953) is a Haitian former Salesian priest and politician who became Haiti's first democratically elected president in 1991 before being deposed in a coup d'état. As a priest, he taught liberation theo ...

is removed as president of

Haiti Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti, is a country on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and south of the Bahamas. It occupies the western three-eighths of the island, which it shares with the Dominican ...

following a coup. *

2008 2008 was designated as: *International Year of Languages *International Year of Planet Earth *International Year of the Potato *International Year of Sanitation The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...

– The United Kingdom's

Ministry of Defence A ministry of defence or defense (see American and British English spelling differences#-ce.2C -se, spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and Mi ...

withdraws

Prince Harry Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, (Henry Charles Albert David; born 15 September 1984) is a member of the British royal family. As the younger son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales, he is fifth in the line of succession to ...

from a tour of Afghanistan after news of his deployment is leaked to foreign media. * 2008 –

Misha Defonseca Misha Defonseca (born Monique de Wael) is a Belgian-born impostor and the author of a fraudulent 1997 Holocaust memoir titled ''Misha: A Mémoire of the Holocaust Years'', initially presented as true. Background ''Misha'' became an instant success ...

admits to fabricating her memoir, '' Misha: A Mémoire of the Holocaust Years'', in which she claims to have lived with a pack of wolves in the woods during

the Holocaust The Holocaust (), known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as the (), was the genocide of History of the Jews in Europe, European Jews during World War II. From 1941 to 1945, Nazi Germany and Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy ...

. *

2012 2012 was designated as: *International Year of Cooperatives *International Year of Sustainable Energy for All Events January *January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins. * January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...

–

North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu River, Yalu (Amnok) an ...

agrees to suspend

uranium enrichment Enriched uranium is a type of uranium in which the percent composition of uranium-235 (written 235U) has been increased through the process of isotope separation. Naturally occurring uranium is composed of three major isotopes: uranium-238 (23 ...

and nuclear and long-range missile tests in return for US food aid. *

2016 2016 was designated as: * International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly. * International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...

– In the Miqdadiyah bombing: at least 40 people are killed and 58 others wounded following a

suicide bombing A suicide attack (also known by a wide variety of other names, see below) is a deliberate attack in which the perpetrators knowingly sacrifice their own lives as part of the attack. These attacks are a form of murder–suicide that is ofte ...

ISIL The Islamic State (IS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Daesh, is a transnational Salafi jihadist organization and unrecognized quasi-state. IS occupied signif ...

at a

Shi'ite Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political successor (caliph) and as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam). However, his right is understood to ...

funeral in the city of

Miqdadiyah Miqdadiyah (; , Şareban (Shareban, Sharaban)) is a city in the Diyala Governorate of Iraq. Its population is a mix of Arab, Kurdish and Turkmen. The city is located about 80 km (50 mi) northeast of Baghdad and 30 km (19 mi) northeast ...

, Diyala, Iraq. *

2020 The year 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of even ...

– During a demonstration, pro-government colectivos

shoot Shoot most commonly refers to: * Shoot (botany), an immature plant or portion of a plant * Shooting, the firing of projectile weapons * Photo shoot, a photography session; an event wherein a photographer takes photographs Shoot may also refer t ...

at disputed President and Speaker of the

National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the repr ...

Juan Guaidó Juan Gerardo Antonio Guaidó Márquez (born 28 July 1983) is a Venezuelan politician and opposition figure. He belonged to the social-democratic party Popular Will, and was a federal deputy to the National Assembly representing the state of V ...

and his supporters in

Barquisimeto Barquisimeto (; ) is a city in Venezuela. Barquisimeto is located in the Central-Western Region, Venezuela. It is the capital of the state of Lara (state), Lara and head of Iribarren Municipality. It is an important urban, industrial, commercial a ...

, Venezuela, leaving five injured. * 2020 – The

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

and the

Taliban , leader1_title = Supreme Leader of Afghanistan, Supreme leaders , leader1_name = {{indented plainlist, * Mullah Omar{{Natural Causes{{nbsp(1994–2013) * Akhtar Mansour{{Assassinated (2015–2016) * Hibatullah Akhundzada (2016–present) ...

sign the Doha Agreement for bringing peace to

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...

. * 2020 –

Muhyiddin Yassin Mahiaddin bin Md Yasin (born 15 May 1947), commonly known as Muhyiddin bin Mohd Yassin (; ), is a Malaysian politician who served as the eighth Prime Minister of Malaysia from 2020 to 2021. Appointed as prime minister amid a 2020–2022 Malay ...

is appointed as the 8th

Prime Minister of Malaysia The prime minister of Malaysia (; ) is the head of government of Malaysia. The prime minister directs the executive branch of the Government of Malaysia, federal government. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints the prime minister who is a membe ...

, amid the 2020 Malaysian political crisis. *

2024 The year saw the list of ongoing armed conflicts, continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), Myanmar civil war, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudane ...

– The

Flour Massacre The Flour Massacre () occurred in the Gaza Strip on 29 February 2024, when at least 118 Palestinians were killed and 760 injured after Israeli forces opened fire while the Palestinians were seeking food from aid trucks on the coastal Al-Rashid ...

(also known as the Al-Rashid massacre) took place on al-Rashid street at the Al-Nabulsi roundabout to the west of

Gaza City Gaza City, also called Gaza, is a city in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, and the capital of the Gaza Governorate. Located on the Mediterranean coast, southwest of Jerusalem, it was home to Port of Gaza, Palestine's only port. With a population of ...

in the

Palestinian territory Palestine, officially the State of Palestine, is a country in West Asia. Recognized by 147 of the UN's 193 member states, it encompasses the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, collectively known as the ...

of the

Gaza Strip The Gaza Strip, also known simply as Gaza, is a small territory located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea; it is the smaller of the two Palestinian territories, the other being the West Bank, that make up the State of Palestine. I ...

where more than 100 Palestinians were killed and over 750 were wounded after Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid amidst the

Gaza war The Gaza war is an armed conflict in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel fought since 7 October 2023. A part of the unresolved Israeli–Palestinian conflict, Israeli–Palestinian and Gaza–Israel conflict, Gaza–Israel conflicts dating ...

Births

Pre-1600

1468 Year 1468 ( MCDLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. Events January–December * June 30 – Catherine Cornaro is married by proxy to James II of Cyprus, beginning the Venetian conquest of Cyprus. * ...

–

Pope Paul III Pope Paul III (; ; born Alessandro Farnese; 29 February 1468 – 10 November 1549) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 13 October 1534 to his death, in November 1549. He came to the papal throne in an era follo ...

(died 1549) *

1528 __NOTOC__ Year 1528 ( MDXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar, there is also a Leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events January–March * January 12 – Gustav I of Sweden is ...

–

Albert V, Duke of Bavaria Albert V (German: ''Albrecht V.'') (29 February 1528 – 24 October 1579) was Duke of Bavaria from 1550 until his death. He was born in Munich to William IV and Maria Jacobäa of Baden. Early life Albert was educated at Ingolstadt by Catholic ...

(died 1579) * 1528 –

Domingo Báñez Domingo Báñez (29 February 1528 in Valladolid – 22 October 1604 in Medina del Campo) was a Spanish Dominican and Scholastic theologian. The qualifier ''Mondragonensis'' is sometimes attached to his name and seems to refer to the birthplace ...

, Spanish theologian (died 1604) *

1572 Year 1572 ( MDLXXII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. Events January–March * January 16 – Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, is tried for treason, for his part in the Ridolfi plot to restore Catholi ...

–

Edward Cecil, 1st Viscount Wimbledon Edward Cecil, 1st Viscount Wimbledon (29 February 1572 – 16 November 1638) was an English military commander and a politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1601 and 1624. Life Cecil was the third son of Thomas Ceci ...

(died 1638) *

1576 Year 1576 ( MDLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. Events January–March * January 20 – Martín Enríquez de Almanza, Viceroy of New Spain, founds the settlement of León, in what is later the s ...

– Antonio Neri, Florentine priest and glassmaker (died 1614)

1601–1900

1640 Events January–March * January 6 – The Siege of Salses ends almost six months after it had started on June 9, 1639, with the French defenders surrendering to the Spanish attackers. * January 17 – A naval battle over ...

–

Benjamin Keach Benjamin Keach (29 February 1640 – 18 July 1704) was an English Baptist minister and author whose name was given to '' Keach's Catechism''. Biography Keach was born on 29 February 1640 to John and Fedora Keeche at Stoke Hammond, Buck ...

Particular Baptist Reformed Baptists, also called Particular Baptists, or Calvinist Baptists, are Baptists that hold to a Calvinist soteriology (salvation belief teached by John Calvin). The name "Reformed Baptist" dates from the latter part of the 20th century ...

preacher and author whose name is given to

Keach's Catechism Keach's Catechism (also known as the 1677 Baptist Catechism or 1693 Baptist Catechism) is a Particular Baptist catechism consisting of a set of basic questions and answers from scripture teaching readers the basics of the Baptist faith. The Catec ...

(died 1704) *

1692 Events January–March * January 24 – At least 75 residents of what is now York, Maine are killed in the Raid on York (1692), Candlemas Massacre, carried out by French soldiers led by missionary Louis-Pierre Thury, along with a ...

–

John Byrom John Byrom, John Byrom of Kersal, or John Byrom of Manchester (29 February 1692 – 26 September 1763) was an English poet, the inventor of a revolutionary system of shorthand and later a significant landowner. He is most remembered as the wr ...

, English poet and educator (died 1763) *

1724 Events January–March * January 15 – King Philip V of Spain abdicates the throne in favour of his 16-year-old son Louis I. * January 18 – The Dutch East India Company cargo ship '' Fortuyn'', on its maiden voyage, dep ...

–

Eva Marie Veigel Eva Marie Veigel (also Eva Maria Violette, with variants Eva Maria and Ava-Maria) (29 February 1724 16 October 1822) was a dancer and the wife of actor David Garrick. Life Eva Marie Veigel was born in Vienna. She was a well-known dancer of her ...

, Austrian-English dancer (died 1822) *

1736 Events January–March * January 12 – George Hamilton, 1st Earl of Orkney, becomes the Second Field Marshal of Great Britain. * January 23 – The Civil Code of 1734 is passed in Sweden. * January 26 – Stanislaus I of P ...

–

Ann Lee Ann Lee (29 February 1736 – 8 September 1784), commonly known as Mother Ann Lee, was the founding leader of the Shakers, later changed to United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing following her death. She was born during ...

, English-American religious leader, founder of the

Shakers The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, more commonly known as the Shakers, are a Millenarianism, millenarian Restorationism, restorationist Christianity, Christian sect founded in England and then organized in the Unit ...

(died 1784) *

1792 Events January–March * January 9 – The Treaty of Jassy ends the Russian Empire's war with the Ottoman Empire over Crimea. * January 25 – The London Corresponding Society is founded. * February 18 – Thomas Holcrof ...

–

Gioachino Rossini Gioachino Antonio Rossini (29 February 1792 – 13 November 1868) was an Italian composer of the late Classical period (music), Classical and early Romantic music, Romantic eras. He gained fame for his 39 operas, although he also wrote man ...

, Italian composer (died 1868) *

1812 Events January–March * January 1 – The ''Allgemeines bürgerliches Gesetzbuch'' (the Austrian civil code) enters into force in the Austrian Empire. * January 19 – Peninsular War: The French-held fortress of Ciudad Rodrigo Siege ...

–

James Milne Wilson Sir James Milne Wilson (29 February 1812 – 29 February 1880) was a colonial Australian politician who served as premier of Tasmania from 1869 to 1872. Biography Wilson was born in 1812 in Banff, Aberdeenshire, Banff, Scotland; the third son ...

, Scottish-Australian soldier and politician, eighth

Premier of Tasmania The premier of Tasmania is the head of the Government of Tasmania, executive government in the Australian state of Tasmania. By convention, the leader of the party or political grouping which has majority support in the Tasmanian House of Assem ...

(died 1880) *

1828 Events January–March * January 4 – Jean Baptiste Gay, vicomte de Martignac succeeds the Jean-Baptiste de Villèle, Comte de Villèle, as Prime Minister of France. * January 8 – The Democratic Party of the United States is organiz ...

– Emmeline B. Wells, American journalist, poet and activist (died 1921) *

1836 Events January–March * January 1 — Hill Street Academy is named Colombo Academy and acquired by the Government, establishing the first public school in Sri Lanka. * January 1 – Queen Maria II of Portugal marries Prince Ferdinand ...

–

Dickey Pearce Richard J. Pearce (February 29, 1836 – September 18, 1908) known as Dickey Pearce was an American professional baseball player1840 Events January–March * January 3 – One of the predecessor papers of the ''Herald Sun'' of Melbourne, Australia, ''The Port Phillip Herald'', is founded. * January 10 – Uniform Penny Post is introduced in the United Kingdom. * Janu ...

– Theodor Leber, German

ophthalmologist Ophthalmology (, ) is the branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and surgery of eye diseases and disorders. An ophthalmologist is a physician who undergoes subspecialty training in medical and surgical eye care. Following a ...

(died 1917) *

1852 Events January–March * January 14 – President Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte proclaims a new constitution for the French Second Republic. * January 15 – Nine men representing various Jewish charitable organizations come to ...

–

Frank Gavan Duffy Sir Frank Gavan Duffy (29 February 1852 – 29 July 1936) was an Australian judge who served as the fourth Chief Justice of Australia, in office from 1931 to 1935. His total service on the High Court of Australia was from 1913 to 1935. Pri ...

, Irish-Australian lawyer and judge, fourth

Chief Justice of Australia The chief justice of Australia is the presiding justice of the High Court of Australia and the highest-ranking judicial officer in the Commonwealth of Australia. The incumbent is Stephen Gageler, since 6 November 2023. Constitutional basis Th ...

(died 1936) *1852 – Prince George Maximilianovich, 6th Duke of Leuchtenberg (died 1912) *

1860 Events January * January 2 – The astronomer Urbain Le Verrier announces the discovery of a hypothetical planet Vulcan (hypothetical planet), Vulcan at a meeting of the French Academy of Sciences in Paris, France. * January 10 &ndas ...

–

Herman Hollerith Herman Hollerith (February 29, 1860 – November 17, 1929) was a German-American statistician, inventor, and businessman who developed an electromechanical tabulating machine for punched cards to assist in summarizing information and, later, in ...

, American statistician and businessman, co-founder of the

Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company The Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR) was a holding company of manufacturers of record-keeping and measuring systems; it was subsequently known as IBM. In 1911, the financier and noted trust organizer Charles R. Flint, called the ...

(died 1929) *

1884 Events January * January 4 – The Fabian Society is founded in London to promote gradualist social progress. * January 5 – Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera '' Princess Ida'', a satire on feminism, premières at the Savoy The ...

–

Richard S. Aldrich Richard Steere Aldrich (February 29, 1884December 25, 1941) was an American politician. He was a Republican Party (United States), Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives, and served in the ...

, American lawyer and politician (died 1941) *

–

Augusta Savage Augusta Savage (born Augusta Christine Fells; February 29, 1892 – March 27, 1962) was an American sculptor associated with the Harlem Renaissance. She was also a teacher whose studio was important to the careers of a generation of artists who w ...

, American sculptor (died 1962) *

1896 Events January * January 2 – The Jameson Raid comes to an end as Jameson surrenders to the Boers. * January 4 – Utah is admitted as the 45th U.S. state. * January 5 – An Austrian newspaper reports Wilhelm Röntgen's dis ...

–

Morarji Desai Morarji Ranchhodji Desai (29 February 1896 – 10 April 1995) was an Indian politician and Indian independence activist, independence activist who served as the Prime Minister of India, prime minister of India between 1977 and 1979 leading th ...

, Indian civil servant and politician, fourth

Prime Minister of India The prime minister of India (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the head of government of the Republic of India. Executive authority is vested in the prime minister and his chosen Union Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers, despite the president of ...

(died 1995) * 1896 – William A. Wellman, American actor, director, producer and screenwriter (died 1975)

1901–present

1904 Events January * January 7 – The distress signal ''CQD'' is established, only to be replaced 2 years later by ''SOS''. * January 8 – The Blackstone Library is dedicated, marking the beginning of the Chicago Public Library system. * ...

–

Jimmy Dorsey James Francis Dorsey (February 29, 1904 – June 12, 1957) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, composer and big band leader. He recorded and composed the jazz and pop standards " I'm Glad There Is You (In This World of Ordinary Peopl ...

, American saxophonist, composer and bandleader (died 1957) * 1904 –

Pepper Martin Johnny Leonard Roosevelt "Pepper" Martin (February 29, 1904 – March 5, 1965) was an American professional baseball player and minor league manager. He was known as the "Wild Horse of the Osage" because of his daring, aggressive baserunning. M ...

, American baseball player and manager (died 1965) *

–

Balthus Balthasar Klossowski de Rola (February 29, 1908 – February 18, 2001), known as Balthus, was a Polish-French modern artist. He is known for his erotically charged images of pubescent girls, but also for the refined, dreamlike quality of his ima ...

, French-Swiss painter and illustrator (died 2001) * 1908 – Dee Brown, American historian and author (died 2002) * 1908 –

Alf Gover Alfred Richard Gover (29 February 1908 – 7 October 2001) was an English Test cricketer. He was the mainstay of the Surrey bowling attack during the 1930s and played four Tests before and after the Second World War. He also founded and ran ...

, English cricketer and coach (died 2001) * 1908 – Louie Myfanwy Thomas, Welsh writer (died 1968) *

–

Kamil Tolon Kamil Özdemir Tolon (29 February 1912 – 23 July 1978) was a Turkish people, Turkish businessperson, industrialist and inventor, known for the first manufacture of an electric engine in Turkey. Tolon was born in 1912 in Istanbul. He had his s ...

, Turkish industrialist (died 1978) *

–

James B. Donovan James Britt Donovan (February 29, 1916 – January 19, 1970) was an American lawyer and United States Navy officer in the Office of Scientific Research and Development and the Office of Strategic Services (OSS, predecessor of the Central Intell ...

, American lawyer (died 1970) * 1916 –

Leonard Shoen Leonard Samuel Shoen (February 29, 1916 – October 4, 1999) was an American entrepreneur who founded the U-Haul truck and trailer organization in Ridgefield, Washington, Ridgefield, Washington (state), Washington. After growing up in the farm be ...

, founder of

U-Haul U-Haul Holding Company is an American moving truck, trailer, and self-storage rental company (law), company, based in Phoenix, Arizona, that has been in operation since 1945. The company was founded by Leonard Shoen and Anna Mary Carty in Ridgef ...

Corp. (died 1999) *

–

Fyodor Abramov Fyodor Aleksandrovich Abramov () (29 February 192014 May 1983) was a Russian novelist and literary critic. His work focused on the challenging lives of the Russian peasant class, often depicting their struggles and hardships. Although his writi ...

, Russian author and critic (died 1983) * 1920 –

Arthur Franz Arthur Sofield Franz (February 29, 1920 – June 17, 2006) was an American actor whose most notable feature film role was as Lieutenant, Junior Grade H. Paynter Jr. in ''The Caine Mutiny'' (1954). Early life Franz was born in Perth Amboy, N ...

, American actor (died 2006) * 1920 – James Mitchell, American actor and dancer (died 2010) * 1920 –

Michèle Morgan Michèle Morgan (; born Simone Renée Roussel; 29 February 1920 – 20 December 2016) was a French film actress, who was a leading lady for three decades in both French cinema and Hollywood features. She is considered one of the greatest Fren ...

, French-American actress and singer (died 2016) * 1920 – Rolland W. Redlin, American lawyer and politician (died 2011) *

1924 Events January * January 12 – Gopinath Saha shoots Ernest Day, whom he has mistaken for Sir Charles Tegart, the police commissioner of Calcutta, and is arrested soon after. * January 20–January 30, 30 – Kuomintang in Ch ...

–

David Beattie Sir David Stuart Beattie, (29 February 1924 – 4 February 2001) was an Australian-born New Zealand judge who served as the 14th governor-general of New Zealand from 1980 to 1985. During the 1984 constitutional crisis, Beattie was nearly forc ...

, New Zealand judge and politician, 14th

Governor-General of New Zealand The governor-general of New Zealand () is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand, currently King Charles III. As the King is concurrently the monarch of 14 other Commonwealth realms and lives in the United Kingdom, he, on the Advice ...

(died 2001) * 1924 –

Carlos Humberto Romero Carlos Humberto Romero Mena (29 February 1924 – 27 February 2017) was a Salvadoran military general and politician who served as president of El Salvador from 1 July 1977 until his overthrow on 15 October 1979. Romero was the final preside ...

, Salvadoran politician,

President of El Salvador President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

(died 2017) * 1924 –

Al Rosen Albert Leonard Rosen (February 29, 1924 – March 13, 2015), nicknamed "Flip" and "the Hebrew Hammer", was an American baseball third baseman and right-handed slugger for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball for ten seasons in the 194 ...

, American baseball player and manager (died 2015) *

1928 Events January * January – British bacteriologist Frederick Griffith reports the results of Griffith's experiment, indirectly demonstrating that DNA is the genetic material. * January 1 – Eastern Bloc emigration and defection: Boris B ...

–

Joss Ackland Sidney Edmond Jocelyn Ackland (29 February 1928 – 19 November 2023) was an English actor who appeared in more than 130 film, radio and television roles. He was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for portraying ...

, English actor (died 2023) * 1928 –

Jean Adamson Jean Adamson, , ( Bailey; 29 February 1928 – 15 December 2024) was a British writer and illustrator of children's books. She was best known for the ''Topsy and Tim'' books, the first of which was published in 1960 and which have sold 27 mill ...

, British writer and illustrator (''

Topsy and Tim Topsy may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Topsy, a character in the novel ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'' * Topsy, a character in the 2018 film ''Mary Poppins Returns'' * '' Topsy and Eva'', a 1928 film based on ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'' * '' Topsy and Tim ...

'') (died 2024) * 1928 –

Vance Haynes Caleb Vance Haynes Jr. (born February 29, 1928) is an American archaeologist, geologist and author who specializes in the archaeology of the American Southwest. Haynes "revolutionized the fields of geoarchaeology and archaeological geology."Holla ...

, American archaeologist, geologist and author * 1928 – Michael Henshall, English Anglican suffragan bishop (died 2017) * 1928 –

Seymour Papert Seymour Aubrey Papert (; 29 February 1928 – 31 July 2016) was a South African-born American mathematician, computer scientist, and educator, who spent most of his career teaching and researching at MIT. He was one of the pioneers of artif ...

, South African mathematician and computer scientist, co-creator of the

Logo programming language Logo is an educational programming language, designed in 1967 by Wally Feurzeig, Seymour Papert, and Cynthia Solomon. The name was coined by Feurzeig while he was at Bolt, Beranek and Newman, and derives from the Greek ''logos'', meaning 'word' ...

(died 2016) * 1928 –

Tempest Storm Tempest Storm (born Annie Blanche Banks; February 29, 1928 – April 20, 2021), also dubbed "The Queen Of Exotic Dancers," was an American American burlesque, burlesque star and motion picture actress. Along with Lili St. Cyr, Sally Rand and Bla ...

, born Annie Banks, "The Queen Of Exotic Dancers", American burlesque performer and actress (died 2021) *

1932 Events January * January 4 – The British authorities in India arrest and intern Mahatma Gandhi and Vallabhbhai Patel. * January 9 – Sakuradamon Incident (1932), Sakuradamon Incident: Korean nationalist Lee Bong-chang fails in his effort ...

–

Gene H. Golub Gene Howard Golub (February 29, 1932 – November 16, 2007), was an American numerical analysis, numerical analyst who taught at Stanford University as Fletcher R. Jones, Fletcher Jones Professor of Computer Science and held a courtesy appointmen ...

, American mathematician and academic (died 2007) * 1932 –

Masten Gregory Masten Gregory (February 29, 1932 − November 8, 1985) was an American racing driver, who competed in Formula One from to . Nicknamed "the Kansas City Flash", Gregory won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in with NART. Gregory participated in 43 Form ...

, American race car driver (died 1985) * 1932 –

Reri Grist Reri Grist (born February 29, 1932) is an American coloratura soprano, one of the pioneer African-American singers to enjoy a major international career in opera. Life and career Reri Grist was born in New York City, grew up in the East River ...

, American soprano and actress * 1932 –

Jaguar The jaguar (''Panthera onca'') is a large felidae, cat species and the only extant taxon, living member of the genus ''Panthera'' that is native to the Americas. With a body length of up to and a weight of up to , it is the biggest cat spe ...

, Brazilian cartoonist * 1932 – Gavin Stevens, Australian cricketer *

– Nh. Dini, Indonesian writer (died 2018) * 1936 –

Jack R. Lousma Jack Robert Lousma (born February 29, 1936) is an American astronaut, aeronautical engineer, retired United States Marine Corps officer, former naval aviator, NASA astronaut, and politician. He was a member of the second crew, Skylab-3, on the ...

, American colonel, astronaut and politician * 1936 –

Henri Richard Joseph Henri Richard (February 29, 1936 – March 6, 2020) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played centre with the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1955 to 1975. He was nicknamed "Pocket Rocket" afte ...

, Canadian ice hockey player (died 2020) * 1936 –

Alex Rocco Alex Rocco (born Alessandro Federico Petricone Jr.; February 29, 1936 – July 18, 2015) was an American actor. Known for his distinctive, gravelly voice, he was often cast as villains, including Moe Greene in ''The Godfather'' (1972) and his Pr ...

, American actor (died 2015) *

– Sonja Barend, Dutch talk show host *1940 –

Bartholomew I Bartholomew (born Dimitrios Archontonis, 29 February 1940) is the current Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople since 1991. In accordance with his title, he is regarded as the ''primus inter pares'' (first among equals) in the Eastern Orthodox ...

, current

Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople The ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople () is the List of ecumenical patriarchs of Constantinople, archbishop of Constantinople and (first among equals) among the heads of the several autocephalous churches that comprise the Eastern Orthodox ...

. *

–

Dennis Farina Donaldo Gugliermo "Dennis" Farina (February 29, 1944 – July 22, 2013) was an American actor and Chicago police detective. Known for his roles as mobsters or police officers, his involvement in the entertainment industry began through his asso ...

, American police officer and actor (died 2013) * 1944 – Nicholas Frayling, English priest and academic * 1944 –

Phyllis Frelich Phyllis Annetta Frelich (February 29, 1944 – April 10, 2014) was a deaf American actress. She was the first deaf actor to win a Tony Award. Early life Frelich was born to deaf parents Esther (née Dockter) and Philip Frelich. She was one of n ...

, American actress (died 2014) * 1944 –

Steve Mingori Steven Bernard Mingori (February 29, 1944 – July 10, 2008) was an American left-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians (1970–1973) and Kansas City Royals (1973–1979). He was born in Kansas City, ...

, American baseball player (died 2008) * 1944 –

Paolo Eleuteri Serpieri Paolo Eleuteri Serpieri (born 29 February 1944) is an Italian comic book writer and illustrator, noted for his works of highly detailed renderings of the human form, particularly erotic images of women. He is best known for his work on the ''Druu ...

, Italian author and illustrator * 1944 –

Lennart Svedberg Jan Lennart "Lill-Strimma" Svedberg (29 February 1944 – 29 July 1972) was a Swedish ice hockey defenceman. He played for Timrå IK and Brynäs IF. He also played on the Swedish national team during six IIHF World Championships and the 1968 W ...

, Swedish ice hockey player (died 1972). * 1944 –

Saeed Poursamimi Saeed Poursamimi (; born February 29, 1944) is an Iranian actor. He has received various accolades, including three Crystal Simorgh for Best Supporting Actor, making him the only actor to have three wins in that category. Poursamimi is best know ...

, Iranian actor *

1948 Events January * January 1 ** The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is inaugurated. ** The current Constitutions of Constitution of Italy, Italy and of Constitution of New Jersey, New Jersey (both later subject to amendment) ...

–

Hermione Lee Dame Hermione Lee (born 29 February 1948) is a British biographer, literary critic and academic. She is a former President of Wolfson College, Oxford, and a former Goldsmiths' Professor of English Literature in the University of Oxford and Pr ...

, English author, critic and academic * 1948 –

Manoel Maria Manoel Maria Evangelista Barbosa dos Santos (born 29 February 1948), known as Manoel Maria, is a Brazilian retired footballer and football manager. He played mainly as a right winger, and competed in the men's tournament at the 1968 Summer Ol ...

, Brazilian footballer * 1948 –

Patricia A. McKillip Patricia Anne McKillip (February 29, 1948 – May 6, 2022) was an American author of fantasy and science fiction. She wrote predominantly standalone fantasy novels and has been called "one of the most accomplished prose stylists in the fantasy ge ...

, American author (died 2022) * 1948 –

Sonny M'Pokomandji Sonny M'Pokomandji (born 29 February 1948), nicknamed M'Pokson, is a retired Central African basketball player, air transport expert, and politician. He represented Central African Republic in the FIBA Africa Championship in 1968, 1970, and 1974. L ...

, Central African basketball player and politician, Minister of Equipment and Transport (2003–2005) *

1952 Events January–February * January 26 – Cairo Fire, Black Saturday in Kingdom of Egypt, Egypt: Rioters burn Cairo's central business district, targeting British and upper-class Egyptian businesses. * February 6 ** Princess Elizabeth, ...

–

Tim Powers Timothy Thomas Powers (born February 29, 1952) is an American science fiction and fantasy fiction, fantasy author. His first major novel was ''The Drawing of the Dark'' (1979), but the novel that earned him wide praise was ''The Anubis Gates'' ...

, American author and educator * 1952 –

Raisa Smetanina Raisa Petrovna Smetanina (; born 29 February 1952) is a Komi cross-country skiing champion, representing the Soviet Union and later the Unified Team at the Winter Olympic games. She is the first woman in history to win ten Winter Olympic medals ...

, Russian cross-country skier * 1952 –

Bart Stupak Bartholomew Thomas Stupak (; born February 29, 1952) is an American politician and lobbyist. A member of the Democratic Party, Stupak served as the U.S. representative from from 1993 to 2011. Stupak chose not to seek re-election in 2010. He de ...

, American police officer and politician *

1956 Events January * January 1 – The Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Anglo-Egyptian Condominium ends in Sudan after 57 years. * January 8 – Operation Auca: Five U.S. evangelical Christian Missionary, missionaries, Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, E ...

– Knut Agnred, Swedish singer, actor and comedian * 1956 – Jonathan Coleman, English-Australian radio and television host (died 2021) * 1956 –

Bob Speller Robert Speller, (February 29, 1956 – December 16, 2021) was a Canadian politician. A member of the Liberal Party of Canada, Speller was elected to the House of Commons of Canada four times from 1988 to 2000. He was defeated in 2004 by a 20,9 ...

, Canadian businessman and politician, 30th Canadian Minister of Agriculture (died 2021) * 1956 –

Aileen Wuornos Aileen Carol Wuornos (; born Pittman; February 29, 1956 – October 9, 2002) was an American serial killer. Between 1989 and 1990, while engaging in street prostitution along highways in Florida, Wuornos shot dead and robbed seven of her male c ...

, American serial killer (died 2002) *

– Khaled, Algerian singer-songwriter * 1960 –

Richard Ramirez Ricardo Leyva Muñoz Ramirez (; February 29, 1960 – June 7, 2013), better known as Richard Ramirez, was an American serial killer and sex offender whose killing spree occurred in Greater Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area in the ...

, American serial killer and sex offender (died 2013) * 1960 –

Tony Robbins Anthony Jay Robbins ( Mahavoric, born February 29, 1960) is an American author, coach and motivational speaker. He is known for his seminars, and self-help books including the books '' Unlimited Power'' and ''Awaken the Giant Within''. Early ...

, American author and motivational activist *

–

Dave Brailsford Sir David John Brailsford (born 29 February 1964) is a British sports director and former cycling coach. He is currently team principal of UCI WorldTeam , and was performance director of British Cycling from 1997 to 2014. He is also currently ...

, English cyclist and coach * 1964 –

Carmel Busuttil Carmel Busuttil (born 29 February 1964), nicknamed "Il-Bużu", is a Maltese former professional footballer who played as a striker. Regarded as one of the best Maltese players of all time, he began his career with his hometown club Rabat Aja ...

, former Maltese footballer * 1964 –

Lyndon Byers Lyndon Svi Byers (born February 29, 1964) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Byers played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for parts of ten seasons with the Boston Bruins and San Jose Sharks, earning a reputation as one of th ...

, Canadian ice hockey player and radio host (died 2025) * 1964 –

Mervyn Warren Mervyn Edwin Warren (born February 29, 1964) is an American film composer, record producer, Conductor (music), conductor, musical arranger, arranger, lyricist, songwriter, pianist, and vocalist. Warren is a five-time Grammy Award winner and a 1 ...

, American tenor, composer and producer *

–

Chucky Brown Clarence "Chucky" Brown Jr. (born February 29, 1968) is an American men's college basketball coach and former professional basketball player. A 6'7" forward from North Carolina State, Brown was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the secon ...

, American basketball player and coach * 1968 –

Gareth Farr Gareth Vincent Farr (born 29 February 1968) is a New Zealand composer and percussionist. He has released a number of classical CDs and composed a number of works performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) and Royal New Zealand Ball ...

, New Zealand composer and percussionist * 1968 –

Pete Fenson Peter Fenson (born February 29, 1968, in Bemidji, Minnesota) is an American curler. He was the skip of the men's rink that represented the United States at the 2006 Winter Olympics, where they won the bronze medal, the first Olympic medal for t ...

, American curler * 1968 –

Bryce Paup Bryce Eric Paup (born February 29, 1968) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for eleven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars and the Mi ...

, American football player and coach * 1968 –

Howard Tayler Howard V. Tayler (born February 29, 1968, in Florida) is the creator of the webcomic ''Schlock Mercenary''. He worked as a volunteer missionary for the LDS Church, then graduated from Brigham Young University. Using his degree in music composit ...

, American author and illustrator * 1968 –

Eugene Volokh Eugene Volokh (; born Yevhen Volodymyrovych Volokh (); February 29, 1968) is an American legal scholar known for his scholarship in American constitutional law and Libertarianism in the United States, libertarianism as well as his prominent leg ...

, Ukrainian-American lawyer and educator * 1968 –

Frank Woodley Frank Woodley ( Wood; born 29 February 1968) is an Australian comedian, author and musician who is best known for his work alongside Colin Lane as part of the comedic duo Lano and Woodley. The two first performed together for almost 20 years in ...

, Australian actor, producer and screenwriter *

– Sylvie Lubamba, Italian showgirl * 1972 –

Mike Pollitt Michael Francis Pollitt (born 29 February 1972) is an English former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Club career Manchester United Born in Farnworth, Lancashire, Pollitt began his career at Manchester United turning profes ...

, English footballer and coach * 1972 – Antonio Sabàto Jr., Italian-American model and actor * 1972 –

Pedro Sánchez Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón (; born 29 February 1972) is a Spanish politician who has served as Prime Minister of Spain since 2018. He has also been Secretary-General of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) since July 2017, having p ...

Prime Minister of Spain The prime minister of Spain, officially president of the Government (), is the head of government of Spain. The prime minister nominates the Spanish government departments, ministers and chairs the Council of Ministers (Spain), Council of Mini ...

* 1972 – Dave Williams, American singer (died 2002) * 1972 –

Saul Williams Saul Stacey Williams (born February 29, 1972) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, musician, poet, writer, and actor. He is known for his blend of poetry and alternative hip hop, and for his lead roles in the 1998 independent film ''Slam ( ...

, American singer-songwriter * 1972 –

Pedro Zamora Pedro Pablo Zamora (born Pedro Pablo Zamora y Díaz, February 29, 1972 – November 11, 1994) was a Cuban-American AIDS educator and television personality.''Pedro Zamora'', WPBT Channel 2-New Florida, November 11–17, 2004, Oscar Lopez Produc ...

, Cuban-American activist and educator (died 1994) *

1976 Events January * January 2 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 18 – Full diplomatic ...

–

Vonteego Cummings Vonteego Marfeek Cummings (born February 29, 1976) is an American former professional basketball player who last played for Atenienses de Manatí (basketball), Atenienses de Manatí of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) in Puerto Rico. A co ...

, American basketball player * 1976 –

Katalin Kovács Katalin Kovács (born 29 February 1976) is a Hungarian canoe sprinter. She competed in the 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics and won eight medals, with three golds (K-2 500 m: 2004, 2008, K-4 500 m: 2012) and five silvers (K-2 500 m: 2000, 2 ...

, Hungarian sprint kayaker * 1976 –

Terrence Long Terrence Deon Long (born February 29, 1976) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1999 to 2006 for the New York Mets, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, Kansas City Royals, and N ...

, American baseball player * 1976 –

Ja Rule Jeffrey Bruce Atkins (born February 29, 1976), better known by his stage name Ja Rule (), is an American rapper, singer, and actor. Born and raised in New York City, Ja Rule became known for blending gangsta rap with pop rap, pop and contempo ...

, American rapper and actor *

–

Çağdaş Atan Çağdaş Atan (; born 29 February 1980) is a Turkish football manager and a former player who played as a central defender. He is the manager of İstanbul Başakşehir of the Süper Lig. He began his career at Altay and Marmaris before playin ...

, Turkish footballer and coach * 1980 –

Simon Gagné Simon Gagné (; born February 29, 1980) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger. He played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles Kings and Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He spent the fi ...

, Canadian ice hockey player * 1980 –

Rubén Plaza Rubén Plaza Molina (born 29 February 1980) is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer, who competed professionally between 2001 and 2019 for the , , , (over three spells), , and teams. During his career, he recorded a top 5 overall p ...

, Spanish cyclist * 1980 –

Clinton Toopi Clinton James Te-Whata Toopi (born 29 February 1980) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league and rugby union footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. A New Zealand international representative , he played his club football in the ...

, New Zealand rugby league player * 1980 –

Taylor Twellman Taylor Timothy Twellman (born February 29, 1980) is an American former soccer player who played professionally from 1999 to 2010. He now works in the media as a soccer television commentator for MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Twellman is best kn ...

, American soccer player and sportscaster * 1980 –

Peter Scanavino Peter Muller Scanavino (born February 29, 1980) is an American actor. He stars as ADA List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit characters, Dominick "Sonny" Carisi Jr. in the long-running NBC Police procedural, crime/legal drama series ''Law & Or ...

, American actor ('' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'') *

–

Darren Ambrose Darren Paul Francis Ambrose (born 29 February 1984) is an English retired professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Ambrose began his career with Ipswich Town when he joined the club's Academy at the age of eleven. He broke through to ...

, English footballer * 1984 –

Rica Imai is a Japanese model, entertainer, and actress. Biography After graduating from high school, Imai was listed in '' Vivis "Vivi Nintei! Shin Charisma Dokusha File" Volume 7 as a reader model in February 2003. She later worked as a regular model in ...

, Japanese model and actress * 1984 –

Cullen Jones Cullen Andrew Jones (born February 29, 1984) is an American former competition swimmer and Olympic gold medalist who specializes in freestyle sprint events. As part of the American team, he holds the world record in the 4×100-meter freestyle ...

, American swimmer * 1984 –

Nuria Martínez Nuria Martínez Prat (born February 29, 1984) is a Spanish professional basketball player for Spar CityLift Girona. Club career Martínez made her debut in the Spanish top tier Liga Femenina in hometown club UB-Barça in 2002, soon signing ...

, Spanish basketball player * 1984 –

Lena Raine Lena Raine ( or ; born February 29, 1984), also known as Lena Chappelle or Kuraine, is an American and Canadian composer, producer, and video game developer. Raine is best known for her work on the soundtracks of ''Minecraft'', '' Celeste,' ...

, American video game composer and producer * 1984 –

Rakhee Thakrar Rakhee Thakrar (born 29 February 1984) is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Shabnam Masood in the BBC One soap opera ''EastEnders'' (2014–2016) and Emily Sands in the Netflix comedy-drama ''Sex Education'' (2019–2023). She als ...

, English actress * 1984 – Cam Ward, Canadian ice hockey player * 1984 – Mark Foster, American singer, songwriter and musician *

–

Lena Gercke Lena Johanna Gercke (born 29 February 1988) is a German fashion model and television host. She won the first season of '' Germany's Next Topmodel'' and was the host of '' Austria's Next Topmodel'' (seasons 1–4). Early life Gercke was born ...

, German model and television host * 1988 –

Benedikt Höwedes Benedikt Höwedes (born 29 February 1988) is a German former professional Association football, footballer who played as a Defender (association football), defender. He spent the majority of his playing career for FC Schalke 04, Schalke 04, whic ...

, German footballer * 1988 –

Brent Macaffer Brent Macaffer (born 29 February 1988) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was recruited in the 2006 AFL draft. Macaffer is one of a st ...

, Australian Rules footballer * 1988 –

Hannah Mills Hannah Louise Mills (born 29 February 1988) is a British competitive sailor and two-time world champion in the 470 class, having won in 2012 and 2019. Mills won a silver medal for Team GB with her crew Saskia Clark in the 2012 Olympics, she f ...

, Welsh sports sailor *

–

Sean Abbott Sean Anthony Abbott (born 29 February 1992) is an Australian international cricketer who represents the Australia national cricket team in ODI and T20I cricket as a bowling all-rounder who bats right-handed. He was a part of the Australian squa ...

, Australian cricketer * 1992 –

Eric Kendricks Eric-Nathan Marvin Kendricks (born February 29, 1992) is an American professional football linebacker who is a free agent of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins. As a senior in 2014, he won the Butk ...

, American football player * 1992 –

Jessica Long Jessica Tatiana Long (born February 29, 1992) is a Russian-born American Paralympic swimmer from Baltimore, Maryland, who competes in the S8_(classification), S8, SB7 and SM8 category events. She has held many world records and competed at six ...

, American

paralympic swimmer Para swimming is an adaptation of the sport of swimming (sport), swimming for athletes with disability, disabilities. Para swimmers compete at the Swimming at the Summer Paralympics, Summer Paralympic Games and at other sports competitions through ...

* 1992 –

Jessie T. Usher Jessie Thezeire Usher Jr. (born February 29, 1992) is an American actor. He is known for playing Lyle on the series ''Level Up (U.S. TV series), Level Up'', Cam Calloway on the series ''Survivor's Remorse'', and A-Train (comics), Reggie Franklin ...

, American actor * 1992 –

Saphir Taïder Saphir Sliti Taïder (; born 29 February 1992) is a professional footballer who plays for Gulf United as a central midfielder. Born in France, he played for the Algeria national team. After beginning professionally with Grenoble in 2010, Taïd ...

, Algerian footballer *

–

Nelson Asofa-Solomona Nelson Asofa-Solomona (born 29 February 1996) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League (NRL) and New Zealand at international level. Asofa-Solomona won the 2017 ...

, New Zealand rugby league player * 1996 –

Norberto Briasco Norberto Alejandro Briasco Balekian (; born 29 February 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Argentine Primera División club Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, on loan from Boca Juniors Reece Prescod Reece Prescod (born 29 February 1996) is a British sprinter. He won the silver medal in the 100 metres at the 2018 European Championships and bronze for the 4 × 100 m relay at the 2022 World Championships. Prescod is a two-time British ...

, British sprinter * 1996 – Claudia Williams, New Zealand tennis player *

–

Tyrese Haliburton Tyrese John Haliburton (born February 29, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "The Haliban", he is a two-time NBA All-Star and two-time All-NBA Th ...

, American basketball player * 2000 –

Ferran Torres Ferran Torres García (born 29 February 2000) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a forward or winger for La Liga club Barcelona and the Spain national team. Torres began his career at Valencia, where he made his senior debut ...

, Spanish footballer * 2000 –

Jesper Lindstrøm Jesper Grænge Lindstrøm (; born 29 February 2000) is a Danish professional Association football, footballer who plays as a winger (association football), winger for club SSC Napoli, Napoli, and the Denmark national football team, Denmark natio ...

, Danish footballer *

–

Lydia Jacoby Lydia Alice Jacoby (born February 29, 2004) is an American professional swimmer. She was the first Alaskan to qualify for an Olympic Games in swimming, competing at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo in 2021, where she won the gold medal in the ...

, American swimmer * 2004 –

Abdukodir Khusanov Abdukodir Khikmatovich Khusanov (; born 29 February 2004) is an Uzbek professional association football, footballer who plays as a centre-back for club Manchester City F.C., Manchester City and the Uzbekistan national football team, Uzbekistan ...

, Uzbek footballer

Deaths

Pre-1600

468 __NOTOC__ Year 468 ( CDLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Anthemius without colleague (or, less frequently, year 1221 ''Ab urbe condita''). The denomin ...

–

Pope Hilarius Pope Hilarius (also Hilarus, Hilary; died 29 February 468) was the bishop of Rome from 461 to 468. In 449, Hilarius served as a legate for Pope Leo I at the Second Council of Ephesus. His opposition to the condemnation of Flavian of Constantinopl ...

992 Year 992 ( CMXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. Events By place Worldwide * Winter – A superflare from the sun causes an Aurora Borealis, with visibility as far south as Germany and Korea. Euro ...

–

Oswald of Worcester Oswald of Worcester (died 29 February 992) was Archbishop of York from 972 to his death in 992. He was of Danish ancestry, but brought up by his uncle, Oda of Canterbury, who sent him to France to the abbey of Fleury to become a monk. After a ...

, Anglo-Saxon archbishop and saint (born 925) *

1460 Year 1460 ( MCDLX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar, the 1460th year of the Common Era (CE) and ''Anno Domini'' (AD) designations, the 460th year of the 2nd millennium, the 60th year of the 15th century, and the 1st year ...

– Albert III, Duke of Bavaria-Munich (born 1401) *

– Patrick Hamilton, Scottish Protestant reformer and martyr (born 1504) *

1592 Events January–March * January 29 – Cardinal Ippolito Aldobrandini of San Pancrazio is elected as the new Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church after Ludovico Madruzzo and Giulio Antonio Santori withdraw following 19 rounds of ...

–

Alessandro Striggio Alessandro Striggio (c. 1536/1537 – 29 February 1592) was an Italian composer, instrumentalist and diplomat of the Renaissance. He composed numerous madrigals as well as dramatic music, and by combining the two, became the inventor of madrigal ...

, Italian composer and diplomat (born 1536/1537) *

1600 In the Gregorian calendar, it was the first century leap year and the last until the year 2000. Events January–March * January 1 – Scotland adopts January 1 as New Year's Day instead of March 25. * January 20 – Hugh O'Neill, Earl of ...

– Caspar Hennenberger, German pastor, historian and cartographer (born 1529)

1601–1900

*1604 – John Whitgift, English archbishop and academic (born 1530) *

– Johann Conrad Peyer, Swiss anatomist (born 1653) *1744 – John Theophilus Desaguliers, French-English physicist and philosopher (born 1683) *

– Johann Andreas Stein, German piano builder (born 1728) *1820 – Johann Joachim Eschenburg, German historian and critic (born 1743) *1848 – Louis-François Lejeune, French general, painter and lithographer (born 1775) *1856 – Auguste Chapdelaine, French Christian missionary (born 1814) *1868 – Ludwig I of Bavaria (born 1786) *1880 –

, Scottish-Australian soldier and politician, 8th

(born 1812)

1901–present

– Patrick O'Sullivan (Queensland politician), Patrick O'Sullivan, Irish-Australian politician (born 1818) * 1904 – Henri Joseph Anastase Perrotin, French astronomer (born 1845) *

– Pat Garrett, American sheriff (born 1850) * 1908 – John Hope, 1st Marquess of Linlithgow, Scottish-Australian politician, 1st Governor-General of Australia (born 1860) *

– John Nanson, English-Australian journalist and politician (born 1863) *

– Ernie Courtney, American baseball player (born 1875) *

– Frederic Chapple, Australian educator (born 1845) *

– Adolphe Appia, Swiss architect and theorist (born 1862) * 1928 – Ina Coolbrith, American poet and librarian (born 1841) *

– Arthur Mills Lea, Australian entomologist (born 1868) * 1932 – Giuseppe Vitali, Italian mathematician (born 1875) *

– E. F. Benson, English archaeologist and author (born 1867) *

– Pehr Evind Svinhufvud, Finnish lawyer, judge and politician, 3rd President of Finland (born 1861) *

– Robert Barrington-Ward, English lawyer and journalist (born 1891) *

– Sarah Ann Jenyns, Australian entrepreneur (born 1865) *

– Elpidio Quirino, Filipino lawyer and politician, 6th President of the Philippines (born 1890) *

– Melvin Purvis, American police officer and FBI agent (born 1903) * 1960 – Walter Yust, American journalist and author (born 1894) *

– Frank Albertson, American actor and singer (born 1909) *

– Tore Ørjasæter, Norwegian poet and educator (born 1886) *

– Tom Davies (American football), Tom Davies, American football player and coach (born 1896) *

– Florence P. Dwyer, American politician (born 1902) *

– Yigal Allon, Israeli general and politician, Prime Minister of Israel (born 1918) * 1980 – Gil Elvgren, American painter and illustrator (born 1914) *

– Ludwik Starski, Polish screenwriter and songwriter (born 1903) *

– Ruth Pitter, English poet and author (born 1897) *

– Frank Daniel, Czech-American director, producer and screenwriter (born 1926) * 1996 – Wes Farrell, American singer-songwriter and producer (born 1939) * 1996 – Ralph Rowe, American baseball player, coach and manager (born 1924) *

– Dennis Danell, American guitarist (born 1961) *

– Kagamisato Kiyoji, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 42nd Yokozuna (born 1923) * 2004 – Jerome Lawrence, American playwright and author (born 1915) * 2004 – Harold Bernard St. John, Barbadian lawyer and politician, 3rd Prime Minister of Barbados (born 1931) * 2004 – Lorrie Wilmot, South African cricketer (born 1943) *

– Janet Kagan, American author (born 1946) * 2008 – Erik Ortvad, Danish painter and illustrator (born 1917) * 2008 – Akira Yamada, Japanese scholar and philosopher (born 1922) *

– Davy Jones (musician), Davy Jones, English singer, guitarist and actor (born 1945) * 2012 – Sheldon Moldoff, American illustrator (born 1920) * 2012 – P. K. Narayana Panicker, Indian social leader (born 1930) *

– Wenn V. Deramas, Filipino director and screenwriter (born 1966) * 2016 – Gil Hill, American police officer, actor and politician (born 1931) * 2016 – Josefin Nilsson, Swedish singer (born 1969) * 2016 – Mumtaz Qadri, Pakistani assassin, executed (born 1985) * 2016 – Louise Rennison, English author (born 1951) *

– Dieter Laser, German actor (born 1942) * 2020 – Éva Székely, Hungarian International Swimming Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame swimmer and Swimming at the 1952 Summer Olympics – Women's 200 metre breaststroke, 1952 Olympic champion (born 1927) *

– Ali Hassan Mwinyi, 2nd President of Tanzania and 3rd President of Zanzibar (born 1925) * 2024 – Brian Mulroney, 18th

(born 1939)

Holidays and observances

* As a Christian feast day: **Saint John Cassian **February 29 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics), February 29 in the Orthodox church *Rare Disease Day (in leap years; usually celebrated in common years on February 28) *Bachelor's Day (tradition), Bachelor's Day (Republic of Ireland, Ireland and United Kingdom)

References

External links

BBC: On This Day
*
Historical Events on February 29
{{months Days of February Discordian holidays Old Style leap years

Events

Pre-1600

1601–1900

1901–present

Births

Pre-1600

1601–1900

1901–present

Deaths

Pre-1600

1601–1900

1901–present

Holidays and observances

See also

References

External links