1827 - The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad became the first railroad incorporated for commercial transportation of people and freight.

1844 - Several people were killed aboard the USS Princeton when a 12-inch gun exploded.

1849 - Regular steamboat service to California via Cape Horn arrived in San Francisco for the first time. The SS California had left New York Harbor on October 6, 1848. The trip took 4 months and 21 days.

1854 - The Republican Party was organized in Ripon, WI. About 50 slavery opponents began the new political group.

1861 - The U.S. territory of Colorado was organized.

1881 - Thomas Edison hired Samuel Insull as his private secretary.

1883 - The first vaudeville theater opened.

1885 - AT&T (American Telephone and Telegraph) was incorporated. The company was capitalized on only $100,000 and provided long distance service for American Bell.

1893 - Edward G. Acheson showed his patent for Carborundum.

1900 - In South Africa, British troops relieved Ladysmith, which had been under siege since November 2, 1899.

1911 - Thomas A. Edison, Inc. was organized.

1940 - The first televised basketball game was shown. The game featured Fordham University and the University of Pittsburgh from Madison Square Gardens in New York.

1948 - Bud Gartiser set a world record when he cleared the 50-yard low hurdles in 6.8 seconds.

1951 - A Senate committee issued a report that stated that there were at least two major crime syndicates in the U.S.

1953 - In a Cambridge University laboratory, scientists James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick discovered the double-helix structure of DNA.

1954 - In San Francisco "Birth of a Planet" was aired. It was the first American phase-contrast cinemicrography film to be presented on television.

1956 - A patent was issued to Forrester for a computer memory core.

1962 - The John Glenn for President club was formed by a group of Las Vegas republicans.

1974 - The U.S. and Egypt re-established diplomatic relations after a break of seven years.

1979 - Mr. Ed, the talking horse from the TV show "Mr. Ed", died.

1983 - "M*A*S*H" became the most watched television program in history when the final episode aired.

1986 - Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was assassinated in Stockholm.

1993 - U.S. Federal agents raided the compound of an armed religious cult in Waco, TX. The ATF had planned to arrest the leader of the Branch Davidians, David Koresh, on federal firearms charges. Four agents and six Davidians were killed and a 51-day standoff followed.

1994 - NATO made its first military strike when U.S. F-16 fighters shot down four Bosnian Serb warplanes in violation of a no-fly zone over central Bosnia.

1995 - The Denver International Airport opened after a 16-month delay.

1998 - Serbian police began a campaign to wipe out "terrorist gangs" in the Yugoslav province of Kosovo.

2001 - The Northwest region of the U.S., including the state of Washington, was hit by an earthquake that measured 6.9 on the Richter Scale. There were no deaths reported.

2002 - In Ahmadabad, India, Hindus set fire to homes in a Muslim neighborhood. At least 55 people were killed in the attack.

2002 - Sotheby's auction house announced that it had identified Peter Paul Reubens as the creator of the painting "The Massacre of the Innocents." The painting was previously thought to be by Jan van den Hoecke.

2002 - It was announced that John Madden would be replacing Dennis Miller on "Monday Night Football." Madden signed a four-year $20 million deal with ABC Sports.

Music History

1876 - Composer John Alden Carpenter was born.

1877 - Composer Sergei Bortkiewicz was born.

1930 - Ted Lewis and his orchestra recorded "On the Sunny Side of the Street."

1959 - "Cash Box" magazine began using a red 'bullet' on its record charts to indicate the records that have the strongest upward movement each week.

1968 - Frankie Lymon died of a heroin overdose.

1970 - Led Zeppelin performed as the Nobs in Denmark after the family of Ferdinand von Zeppelin threatened a lawsuit.

1974 - Bobby Bloom shot himself to death at the age of 28.

1977 - Ray Charles was attacked by an audience member onstage.

1984 - Michael Jackson won a record eight Grammy awards connected to the album "Thriller."

1991 - The Record Plant in Hollywood closed.

1991 - In Los Angeles, "Curtis Mayfield Day" was held.

1996 - The original members of Kiss appeared at the Grammy Awards. It was the first time in 17 years that the band had appeared in full make-up and costumes.

2000 - Songwriter Stan Penrige sued the members of Kiss, the band's publishing company, and Universal Music Group. Penrige charged that he had been shortchanged millions in publishing royalties for the song "Beth."

2000 - In a Los Angeles Superior Court, Celine Dion filed a suit against the "National Enquirer". The papers claimed an "intentional infliction of emotion distress, invasion of privacy, and unfair business practices." The headline that brought the suit was "Celine: I'm Pregnant With Twins".

Birthdates which occurred on February 28:

1533 Michel de Montaigne France, essayist/philosopher
1552 Jobst Bürgi [Justus Byrgius], Swiss/German mathematician
1573 Elias Hill German architect/city builder (Augsburg)
1616 Kaspar Forster composer
1632 Jean-Baptiste Lully Florence Italy, composer
1663 Thomas Newcomen English co-inventor (steam engine)
1675 Guillaume Delisle Paris, cartographer/geographer
1683 René-Antoine de Réaumur France, biologist/engineer
1690 Aleksei P Romanov Russia, son of Peter the Great
1712 Louis Joseph de Montcalm de Saint-Véran France, General
1747 Justin Morgan composer
1750 Ignacy Potocki Polish foreign minister
1764 Robert Haldane Scottish theologist/philanthropist
1771 French Jozef Kinsoen Flemish portrait painter
1779 Augustus Callcott landscape painter, Kensington
1786 D François J Arago French astronomer/physicist/politician
1792 Henriette countess d'Oultremont de Wégimont wife of King Willem I
1792 Karl Earnest Ritter von Baer Estonian/German embryologist
1797 Mary Lyon US, educator (Mt Holyoke) (Hall of Fame)
1797 W Frederik K prince of Netherlands/General/Admiral (10 day campaign)
1799 Johann von Döllinger German Old Catholic theologian/historian
1810 Reinier C Bakhuizen van de Brink Dutch historian
1812 Berthold Auerbach German author (Schwarzwälder Dorfgeschichten)
1817 James Craig Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1888
1820 John Tenniel England, cartoonist/illustrator (Alice in Wonderland)
1822 Matthew Duncan Ector Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1879
1823 Ernest Renan French philosopher/historian/scholar of religion
1824 Charles Blondin France, acrobat/aerialist
1824 John Creed Moore Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1910
1825 Quincy Adams Gillmore Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1888
1833 Alfred von Schlieffen Count/Prussian General-field marshal
1850 Hermann Schell German theologist/philosopher (Gott und Geist)
1854 Juliusz Zarebski composer
1857 Gustave Adolph Kerker composer
1858 Jacob P Vis Dutch industrialist (founder NV Royal Salt Industries)
1865 Sir Wilfred Grenfell England, medical missionary
1865 Arthur Symons Welsh poet/critic/co-founder (Savoy)
1866 Vyacheslav I Ivanov Russian philosopher/classical/Symbolist poet (Pilot Stars)
1874 Soledad Jiminez Santander Spain, actor (Phantom of the Range)
1875 Viliam Figus composer
1876 John Alden Carpenter Chicago IL, composer (Sea Drift)
1877 Sergei Bortkiewicz composer
1882 José Vasconcelos Oaxaca México, politician/essayist/philosopher
1882 Geraldine Farrar US soprano/actress (Story of American Singer)
1882 Richard Heinrich Stein composer
1886 José Gutiérrez Solana Spanish painter/author (Madrid Escenas)
1886 Max Vasmer German slavic (La Tertulia de Pombo)
1887 William Zorach Lithuania, US sculptor (Spirit of the Dance)
1889 Victor Sutherland Paducah KY, actor (Captive City)
1890 Vaslav Nijinsky Kiev Ukraine, ballet dancer
1893 Ben Hecht New York NY, novelist/playwright/screenwriter (The Front Page)
1895 Guiomar Novaes Brazil, pianist (Brazilian Order of Merit)
1895 Marcel Pagnol French playwright/director (Marchands de Gloire)
1896 Philip Showalter Hench Pittsburgh PA, physician (cortisone-Nobel)
1898 Molly Picon Yiddish actress (Milk & Honey)
1899 Frederick Denison Maurice Hocking pathologist
19-- Richard Romanus Barre VT, actor (Foul Play, Strike Force)
19-- Rick Lohman Cleveland OH, actor (Search For Tomorrow, Phyl & Mikhy)
1900 Edna Swithenbank Manley Jamaican sculptor, wife of PM
1900 Laura Z Hobson writer
1901 Linus Pauling chemist/peace worker (Nobel 1954, 1962)
1901 Rudolf W Nilsen Norwegian poet (Hverdagen)
1905 Glyn Jones writer
1906 Bugsy Siegel gangster created casinos in Las Vegas
1907 Milton Caniff Hillsboro OH, Dutch cartoonist (Terry & the Pirates)
1908 Billie Bird Pocatello ID, actress (Mrs Cassidy-Benson, Dear John, Jury Duty)
1909 Olan Soule La Harpe IL, actor (My 3 Sons, Arnie)
1909 Stephen Harold Spender England, poet/critic (Vienna, Edge of Darkness)
1910 Roman Maciejewski composer
1910 Vincente Minnelli Chicago IL, movie director (American in Paris, Gigi)
1911 Amir Hamzah Indonesian poet (Njanji Sunji)
1912 Helmut Coing German lawyer/director (Max-Planck-institute)
1914 Jim Boles Lubbock TX, actor (Joe-One Man's Family)
1915 Sir Peter Medawar England, zoologist, immunologist (Nobel 1953)
1915 Zero [Samuel Joel] Mostel Brooklyn NY, actor (Fiddler on the Roof)
1917 Hans Deutgen Sweden, world champion archer
1918 Alfred Burke London England, actor (Backfire)
1920 Edward Kassner music publisher
1920 Jim Olin (Representative-D-VA, 1983- )
1920 Marjorie M Sweeting English geomorphologist
1921 John Bouber [Blom], actor/author (Fool of Heideloo)
1921 Vladimir Sommer composer
1923 Charles Durning Highland Falls NY, actor (Dog Day Afternoon, Fury, Sting, Tootsie)
1924 Robert A Roe (Representative-D-NJ, 1969- )
1925 Harry H Corbett Rangoon Burma, actor (Steptoe & Son, Jabberwacky)
1926 Svetlana Alliluyeva daughter of Josef Stalin, author (My Life)
1926 Seymour Shifrin composer
1926 Stanley Glasser composer
1927 Bernard Frank oriental scholar/writer
1927 John Swire British aircraft magnate (Cathay Pacific)
1928 Bettye Ackerman Cottageville SC, actress (Maggie Graham-Ben Casey)
1928 Smokey The Bear
1928 Tom Aldredge Dayton OH, actor (What About Bob, Nurse, Mind Snatchers)
1929 Frank O Gehry architect (Galleria-Oklahoma City)
1930 Frank Malzone baseball player
1930 Leon Cooper US physicist (Nobel 1972)
1931 Gavin MacLeod Mt Kisco NY, actor (Murray-Mary Tyler Moore, Love Boat)
1931 Gustav Thoni Italy, skier (World Cup-1971, 72, 73, 75)
1931 Jack Thieuloy writer
1932 Brian Moore British commentator (Big Match)
1932 Don Francks Vancouver British Columbia, actor (Terminal Choice, Finian's Rainbow)
1934 Willie Bobo New York NY, jazz drummer (Cos)
1935 Clive Halse cricketer (South Africa fast bowler on 1963-64 Australia/New Zealand tour)
1938 Martin Olav Sabo (Representative-D-MN, 1979- )
1939 John Fahey singer (Transfiguration of Blind Joe Death)
1939 Tommy Tune Wichita Falls TX, dancer/choreographer (The Boyfriend)
1939 Charles Brown Cincinnati OH, featherweight boxer (Olympics-bronze-1964)
1940 Joe South Atlanta GA, guitarist/songwriter/singer (Games People Play)
1940 Mario Andretti race-car driver (1969 Indianapolis 500)
1941 Alice May Brock author
1941 Marty Sanders rock vocalist
1942 Brian Jones rock guitarist (Rolling Stones-Brown Sugar)
1942 Frank Bonner Little Rock AR, actor (WKRP, Hoax, You Can't Hurry Love, Sidekicks)
1943 Barbara Acklin [Allen], Chicago IL, R&B singer (Love Makes a Woman)
1943 Donny Iris singer
1943 Hans F Dijkstal Dutch minister of the Interior (VVD, 1994-)
1944 Colin Nutley director/writer (Such is Life, Black Jack)
1944 Kelly Bishop Colorado, actress (Unmarried Woman, Advice to Lovelorn)
1945 Charles "Bubba" Smith Texas, NFLer (Baltimore Colts)/actor (Police Academy)
1945 Mimsy Farmer Chicago IL, actress (Devil's Angel, Road to Salina)
1945 Ronnie Rosman rocker (Tommy James Shondells-Crystal Blue Persuasion)
1946 Graham Vivian cricketer (son of Giff, 5 Tests for New Zealand 1965-72)
1947 Stephanie Beacham England, actress (Devil's Widow, Schizo, Dallas, Colbys)
1948 Bernadette Peters [Lazzaro] Queens NY, actress (The Jerk, Song & Dance)
1948 Mercedes Ruehl Queens NY, actress (Lost in Yonkers, Crazy People)
1948 Willie Donnell Smith
1950 Ilene Graff Brooklyn NY, actress (Marsha-Mr Belvedere)
1950 Stephen Chatman composer
1951 Gustavo Thoeni Italy, giant slalom (Olympics-gold-1972)
1951 John Roarke Providence RI, comedian (Fridays)
1951 Karsan Ghavri cricketer (Indian lefty medium pacer early 80s)
1952 Cristina Raines [Tina Herazo] Manila Philippines, actress (Sentinel)
1952 Jennie Lynn San Diego CA, actress (Love & Marriage)
1952 Melissa Babish South Carolina, swimmer (Olympics)
1952 Eddie Manion saxophonist
1953 Ricky "Dragon" Steamboat [Richard Blood], wrestler (NWA/WWF/WCW/AWA)
1955 Gilbert Gottfried comedian (Beverly Hills Cop)
1955 Randy Jackson New Orleans LA, guitarist (Zebra-Tell Me What You Want)
1956 Adrian Dantley Washington DC, NBA forward (Olympics-gold-1976, Utah Jazz, 1981, 84 top scorer)
1957 Phil Gould rock percussionist (Level 42-Hot Water)
1957 Cindy Wilson Athens GA, rock vocalist (B-52's-Love Shack)
1957 Ian Smith cricket wicket-keeper (New Zealand of the 80's)
1957 Ian Stanley keyboardist
1957 Jeff Woodland Papua New Guinea, Nike golfer (1991 Dakota Dunes Open)
1957 John Turturro Brooklyn NY, actor (Brain Donor, Color of Money, Jungle Fever)
1958 Christine Lathan-Brehmer German DR, 400 meter runner (Olympics-gold-76)
1958 Mark Pavelich NHLer (New York Rangers)
1959 Sydney P Mufamadi South African leader (SACP)
1960 Dorothy Stratten Vancouver British Columbia, playmate (August, 1979) (Galixina)
1961 Barry McGuigan British boxer
1961 Wayne Smith Albany WA, Australasia golfer
1962 Rae Dawn Chong Edmonton Alberta, actress (Quest for Fire)
1962 Angela Bailey England, Canadian 4X100 meter relayer (Olympics-silver-1984)
1962 Chunli Li Auckland New Zealand, table tennis player (Olympics-96)
1962 Steve Tsujiura hockey forward (Team Japan 1998)
1965 Mikko Makela Tampere Finland, NHL right wing (New York Islanders)
1965 Duane Ferrell NBA forward (San Francisco Warriors, Indiana Pacers)
1966 Erik van Kessel Dutch soccer player (FC Utrecht)
1966 Jan Varholik Kosice Czechoslovakia, hockey defenseman (Team Slovakia)
1966 Tim Goad NFL defensive tackle (Cleveland Browns)
1966 Vincent Askew NBA guard/forward (Seattle Supersonics, Trailblazers)
1967 Antone Davis NFL tackle (Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles)
1967 Jeff[rey] Pfaendtner Detroit MI, rower (Olympics-bronze-1996)
1967 Marcus Lillington rock guitarist (Breathe-All I Need)
1968 J T Snow US baseball 1st baseman (New York Yankees, California Angels)
1968 Mike Milchin Knoxville TN, pitcher (Minnesota Twin)
1969 Elisa Fiorillo singer (Forgive Me For Dreaming)
1969 Robert Sean Leonard New Jersey, actor (Dead Poets Society, Mr & Mrs Bridge)
1969 Shawn McEachern Waltham MA, NHL forward (Boston Bruins, Senators)
1970 Jan Varholik hockey defenseman (Team Slovakia 1998)
1970 Mika Stromberg Helsinki Finland, hockey defenseman (Team Finland)
1970 Noureddine Morceli Algeria, 1500 meter runner (Olympics-gold-96)
1971 John Buchanan actor (Sidekicks, Black Stallion, Family Man)
1972 Melisa Moses Jacksonville FL, diver (Olympics-4th-96)
1972 Scott Gragg NFL tackle (New York Giants)
1973 Demetrice Martin WLAF cornerback (Scotland Claymores)
1973 Denard Walker cornerback (Tennessee Oilers)
1973 Eric Lindros London Ontario, NHL center (Philadelphia Flyers)
1973 Gary Walker NFL defensive tackle/defensive end (Houston Oilers)
1973 Henry Bailey NFL wide receiver/kick returner (Pittsburgh Steelers)
1974 Katie Allen Australian field hockey full back/half back (Olympics-96)
1974 Kevin Abrams cornerback (Detroit Lions)
1974 Michael Manasseri actor (License to Drive)
1974 Michael Swift WLAF CB (Rhein Fire)
1975 Azhar Mahmood cricket pace bowler (Pakistani ODI 1996)
1976 Angie Kennedy Nambour Queensland Australia, swimmer (Olympics-96)
1977 Aki-Petteri Berg NHL defenseman (Team Finland Olympics-bronze-1998, Kings)
1977 Debbie Koegel Norristown PA, dance skater (& Oleg Fediukov)
1978 Marissa Perez Miss Connecticut Teen-USA (1996)
1979 Virginia Ledgerwood Chester VA, rhythmic gymnast (Olympics-96)


Deaths which occurred on February 28:

1261 Hendrik duke of Brabant (1248-61), dies
1573 Jan "Hans" Liefrinck Flemish engraver/publisher, dies at about 54
1609 Paul Sartorius composer, dies at 39
1618 Filips Willem Prince of Orange, dies at 63
1626 Cyril Tourneur English poet/dramatist, dies at about 51
1638 Henri duc de Rohan, French soldier/Huguenot leader, dies
1638 Claude G Bachet de Meziriac French mathematician/poet, dies at 56
1665 Lodewijk van Nassau Dutch governor (Bois-le-Duc), dies
1737 Hercule Brehy composer, dies at 63
1742 Willem J 's-Gravesande Dutch physicist, dies at 53
1781 Richard Stockton US attorney (signed Declaration of Independence), dies at 50
1784 Phillis Wheatly poetess, dies
1796 Friedrich Wilhelm Rust composer, dies at 56
1818 Adriaan Loosjes Pzn Dutch publisher/writer (Moral Stories), dies at 56
1844 Abel P Upshur Secretary of State, dies in explosion on USS Princeton
1844 Thommas W Gilmer Navy Secretary, dies in explosion on USS Princeton
1876 Charles Edward Horsley composer, dies at 53
1903 Girolamo/Jeromin de Rada Albanian poet, dies at 88
1905 Joseph C Juglar French physician/economist, dies at 85
1912 Bill Storer English cricket wicketkeeper (6 Tests 1897-99), dies
1913 Elephant seal 6.8-m, 4000-kg, killed in South Georgia (South Atlantic)
1916 Henry James US/British writer (Bostonians), dies in London at 72
1922 Vicente Lleo composer, dies at 51
1925 Friedrich Ebert Social-Democrat president of Germany, dies
1929 Clemens Freiherr von Pirquet Austrian artist (React of P), dies at 54
1929 John Ebenezer West composer, dies at 65
1931 Ban Johnson created (baseball's AL), dies after a long illness
1935 Alexander W F Idenburg Governor-General of Netherlands Indies (1909-16), dies at 73
1936 Pedro Muñoz Seca La Caraba/La oca, dies at 55
1940 Johan C Braakensiek Dutch political cartoonist, dies at 81
1941 Alfonso XIII de Borbón King of Spain (1902-31), dies
1949 Stanley Robert Marchant composer, dies at 65
1953 Jim Thorpe decathlete (Olympics-gold-1912), dies at 64
1959 Maxwell Anderson US dramatist (Key Largo, Bad Seed), dies at 70
1960 F S Flint British translator/poet (imagist movement), dies at 74
1960 Jonathan Hale actor (Blondie), shoots himself at 68
1961 Joris Vriamont Flemish writer/music publisher, dies at 64
1962 Harold Ogden "Chic" Johnson comedian (Olsen & Johnson), dies at 70
1963 Theodore Newton actor (Voltaire, Ace of Aces), dies at 58
1964 Dirk Filarski painter/lithographer (Bergen School), dies at 78
1965 Adolf Schärf President of Austria (1957-65), dies at 74
1966 Charles A Bassett II astronaut, dies in a crash of T-38 jet at 34
1966 Elliot McKay See Jr astronaut, dies in T-38 jet crash at 38
1968 Frankie Lymon singer, dies at 25
1968 Juanita Hall actress (Captain Billy), dies at 66
1968 Doretta Morrow actress (Because You're Mine), dies at 41
1972 Victor Barna table tennis champion, dies
1973 Cecil Kellaway actor (Guess Who's Coming to Dinner), dies at 78
1973 Hope Landin actress (I Remember Mama, Sugarfoot), dies at 79
1974 Mees Toxopeus Dutch rescue-vessel captain, dies at 89
1975 Istvan Kardos composer, dies at 83
1977 Eddie "Rochester" Anderson comedian (Jack Benny Show), dies at 71
1978 Philip Ahn Los Angeles CA, actor (Master Kan-Kung Fu), dies at 66
1978 Eric Frank Russell sci-fi author (Hugo, Deep Space), dies at 73
1979 Mr Ed talking horse, dies
1979 Jane Hylton English actress (Adventures of Sir Lancelot), dies at 52
1980 Ian Alexander Ross Peebles cricketer (45 wickets for England), dies
1984 Leslie Walcott cricketer (Test for West Indies vs England 1930), dies
1985 Charita Bauer actress (Mary-Aldrich Family), dies at 62 in New York NY
1986 Olof Palme Swedish PM, assassinated in Stockholm
1986 Sven Olof Palme Swedish PM (1969-76, 82-86), assassinated at 59
1987 Anny Ondra actress (Blackmail), dies at 83
1987 Nora Kaye US ballet dancer, dies at 67
1988 Mikha`il Na'imah Lebanese playwright, dies at 99
1989 Hermann Burger writer, dies at 46
1990 Colin Milburn cricketer (9 Tests for England, 654 runs), dies
1990 Fabia Drake actress (Nice Girl Like Me), dies at 86
1990 Tuppy Owen-Smith South Africa cricketer (batsman vs England 1929), dies
1991 Guillermo Ungo member of El Salvador junta (1979-80), dies
1992 Angelique Pettyjohn actress (Body Talk, Star Trek), dies at 49
1992 Emilla Sherman choreographer/rockette, dies
1992 La Lupe Cuban singer, dies of a heart attack in the Bronx at 53
1993 Fer A Olthoff Dutch WWII resistance fighter (Het Parool), dies
1993 Franco Brusati Italian director/writer (Bread & Chocolate), dies at 70
1993 Ishiro Honda Japanese director/producer (Godzilla), dies at 81
1993 Joyce Carey [Lawrence], English actress (Number 27), dies at 94
1993 Ruby Keeler actress (42nd Street, Dames), dies of cancer at 82
1994 Aisin Giorro Pu Chieh brother of Last Emperor of China, dies at 86
1994 Buster Holmes chef/restaurateur, dies at 88
1994 Elbert "Skippy" Williams tenor Sax player, dies at 77
1994 George Osborne Sayles historian, dies at 92
1994 Leopoldina Poldi Feichtegger Gerhard dies at 90
1994 Pu Yi brother of last Chinese emperor, Pu Yi, dies at 87
1995 Herman "Ace" Wallace blues guitarist/singer, dies at 69
1995 Keith Rigg cricketer (8 Tests for Australia 1931-37), dies
1995 Max Rudolf conductor, dies at 92
1996 Daniel Chipenda Angolan politician, dies at 64