February 29
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Template:Short description {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Template:Redirect Template:Pp-move Template:Pp-pc Template:Use mdy dates Template:Calendar Template:This date in recent years
February 29 is known as a leap day (or "leap year day"), which is periodically added as the last day of the month to the Julian and Gregorian calendars, as an intercalary date, to create leap years. Its main function is to keep the calendars aligned with the Earth's seasons, as the planet orbits the sun.
In the older Julian calendar, leap days are added to every year that is evenly divisible by four. However, this causes the calendar to slowly become misaligned with the Earth's seasons, by about 3 days every 400 years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (The Julian calendar continues to be used in some places as the basis for their liturgical calendar).
The Gregorian calendar is the standard civil calendar used in most of the world, and is a slight modification of the Julian calendar. In this calendar, a centennial year does not have a February 29 (despite being evenly divisible by 4) unless it is also evenly divisible by 400. Thus, in contrast to the Julian calendar, the years 1700, 1800 and 1900 did not have leap year days but both calendars had a February 29 in the years 1600 and 2000.
The convention of adding a "February 29" to be the leap day was not widely used before the 15th century. Instead, beginning with Julius Caesar's calendar edict of 45 BC until the 16th century (formally), February 24 was doubledTemplate:Snd two successive days had the same date.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
February 29 is the 60th day of a leap year for both the Julian and Gregorian calendars, and 306 days remain until the end of the leap year. It is also the last day of meteorological winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the last day of meteorological summer in the Southern Hemisphere in leap years.
Events
Pre-1600
- 888 – Odo, count of Paris, is crowned king of West Francia (France) by Archbishop Walter of Sens at Compiègne.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1504 – Christopher Columbus uses his knowledge of a lunar eclipse that night to convince Jamaican natives to provide him with supplies.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
1601–1900
- 1644 – Abel Tasman's second Pacific voyage begins as he leaves Batavia in command of three ships.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1704 – In Queen Anne's War, French forces and Native Americans stage a raid on Deerfield, Massachusetts Bay Colony, killing 56 villagers and taking more than 100 captive.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1712 – February 29 is followed by February 30 in Sweden, in a move to abolish the Swedish calendar for a return to the Julian calendar.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1720 – Ulrika Eleonora, Queen of Sweden abdicates in favour of her husband, who becomes King Frederick I on March 24.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1768 – Polish nobles form the Bar Confederation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1796 – The Jay Treaty between the United States and Great Britain comes into force, facilitating ten years of peaceful trade between the two nations.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
- 1892 – St. Petersburg, Florida is incorporated.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1901–present
- 1908 – James Madison University is founded at Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States as The State Normal and Industrial School for Women by the Virginia General Assembly.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1912 – The Piedra Movediza (Moving Stone) of Tandil falls and breaks.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1916 – Tokelau is annexed by the United Kingdom.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1916 – In South Carolina, the minimum working age for factory, mill and mine workers is raised from 12 to 14 years old.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1920 – The Czechoslovak National Assembly adopts the Constitution.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1936 – The February 26 Incident in Tokyo ends.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1940 – For her performance as Mammy in Gone with the Wind, Hattie McDaniel becomes the first African American to win an Academy Award.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1940 – Finland initiates Winter War peace negotiations.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1940 – In a ceremony held in Berkeley, California, physicist Ernest Lawrence receives the 1939 Nobel Prize in Physics from Sweden's consul general in San Francisco.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1944 – The Admiralty Islands are invaded in Operation Brewer, led by American general Douglas MacArthur, in World War II.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1960 – The 5.7 Template:M Agadir earthquake shakes coastal Morocco with a maximum perceived intensity of X (Extreme), destroying Agadir and leaving 12,000 dead and another 12,000 injured.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1964 – British Eagle International Airlines Flight 802/6 crashes into the Glungezer mountain in the Tux Alps of Austria, killing all 75 people aboard.<ref name="Flight349">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
- 1968 – Aeroflot Flight 15 crashes Irkutsk Oblast, Soviet Union, due to a loss of control. Eighty-three of the 84 occupants onboard die. The exact cause of the accident is unknown.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1972 – South Korea withdraws 11,000 of its 48,000 troops from South Vietnam as part of Nixon's Vietnamization policy in the Vietnam War.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1980 – Gordie Howe of the Hartford Whalers makes NHL history as he scores his 800th goal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1984 – Pierre Trudeau announces his retirement as Liberal Party leader and Prime Minister of Canada.<ref>Template:Cite DCB</ref>
- 1988 – South African archbishop Desmond Tutu is arrested along with 100 other clergymen during a five-day anti-apartheid demonstration in Cape Town.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1988 – Svend Robinson becomes the first member of the House of Commons of Canada to come out as gay.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 1992 – A referendum is begun in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the determination of Bosnian independence.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref>
- 1996 – Faucett Perú Flight 251 crashes in the Andes; all 123 passengers and crew are killed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1996 – The Siege of Sarajevo officially ends.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2000 – Chechens attack a guard post near Ulus Kert, eventually killing 84 Russian paratroopers during the Second Chechen War.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
- 2004 – Jean-Bertrand Aristide is removed as president of Haiti following a coup.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2008 – The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence withdraws Prince Harry from a tour of Afghanistan after news of his deployment is leaked to foreign media.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2008 – Misha Defonseca 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2012 – North Korea agrees to suspend uranium enrichment and nuclear and long-range missile tests in return for US food aid.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2016 – In the Miqdadiyah bombing: at least 40 people are killed and 58 others wounded following a suicide bombing by ISIL at a Shi'ite funeral in the city of Miqdadiyah, Diyala, Iraq.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2020 – During a demonstration, pro-government colectivos shoot at disputed President and Speaker of the National Assembly Juan Guaidó and his supporters in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, leaving five injured.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 2020 – The United States and the Taliban sign the Doha Agreement for bringing peace to Afghanistan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2020 – Muhyiddin Yassin is appointed as the 8th Prime Minister of Malaysia, amid the 2020 Malaysian political crisis.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 2020 – Luxembourg becomes the first country in the world to render public transport free nationwide.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2024 – The Flour Massacre took place in the Gaza Strip: Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians waiting for aid amidst the Gaza war, killing over 100 and wounding 750.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Births
Pre-1600
- 1468 – Pope Paul III (died 1549)<ref>Template:Cite CE1913</ref>
- 1528 – Albert V, Duke of Bavaria (died 1579)<ref>{{#if: |
|{{#ifeq: {{#if: |{{{wstitle}}}| }}|
|{{#ifeq: |
|Public Domain
|Wikisource
}}
|Wikisource
}}
}}{{#ifeq: 1|
|{{#ifeq: |
|This article
|One or more of the preceding sentences
}} incorporates text from a publication in the public domain:
}}{{#invoke:template wrapper|{{#if:|list|wrap}}|_template=cite Schaff-Herzog
|_exclude=inline, no-prescript, _debug
| noicon=1
}}{{#ifeq: |
| | }}</ref>
- 1528 – Domingo Báñez, Spanish theologian (died 1604)<ref>Template:Cite CE1913</ref>
- 1572 – Edward Cecil, 1st Viscount Wimbledon (died 1638)<ref>Template:DNB</ref>
- 1576 – Antonio Neri, Florentine priest and glassmaker (died 1614)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
1601–1900
- 1640 – Benjamin Keach, Particular Baptist preacher and author whose name is given to Keach's Catechism (died 1704)<ref>Template:DNB</ref>
- 1692 – John Byrom, English poet and educator (died 1763)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1724 – Eva Marie Veigel, Austrian-English dancer (died 1822)<ref>Template:Cite ODNB</ref>
- 1736 – Ann Lee, English-American religious leader, founder of the Shakers (died 1784)<ref>Template:Cite AmCyc</ref>
- 1792 – Gioachino Rossini, Italian composer (died 1868)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1812 – James Milne Wilson, Scottish-Australian soldier and politician, eighth Premier of Tasmania (died 1880)<ref name="milne">Template:Dictionary of Australian Biography</ref>
- 1828 – Emmeline B. Wells, American journalist, poet and activist (died 1921)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1836 – Dickey Pearce, American baseball player and manager (died 1908)<ref>Dickey Pearce at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed November 18, 2009. Archived November 18, 2009.</ref>
- 1840 – Theodor Leber, German ophthalmologist (died 1917)<ref>M.Blum, P.G.Hykin, M.Sanders, H.E. Völcker: Theodor Leber: A founder of ophthalmic research. Survey of Ophthalmology 1992; 37:63-68</ref>
- 1852 – Frank Gavan Duffy, Irish-Australian lawyer and judge, fourth Chief Justice of Australia (died 1936)<ref>Template:Australian Dictionary of Biography</ref>
- 1852 – Prince George Maximilianovich, 6th Duke of Leuchtenberg (died 1912)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1860 – Herman Hollerith, American statistician and businessman, co-founder of the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (died 1929)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1884 – Richard S. Aldrich, American lawyer and politician (died 1941)<ref>Template:CongBio</ref>
- 1892 – Augusta Savage, American sculptor (died 1962)<ref>Template:Cite ANB</ref>
- 1896 – Morarji Desai, Indian civil servant and politician, fourth Prime Minister of India (died 1995)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1896 – William A. Wellman, American actor, director, producer and screenwriter (died 1975)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1901–present
- 1904 – Jimmy Dorsey, American saxophonist, composer and bandleader (died 1957)<ref>Template:Cite ANB</ref>
- 1904 – Pepper Martin, American baseball player and manager (died 1965)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1908 – Balthus, French-Swiss painter and illustrator (died 2001)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1908 – Dee Brown, American historian and author (died 2002)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1908 – Alf Gover, English cricketer and coach (died 2001)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1908 – Louie Myfanwy Thomas, Welsh writer (died 1968)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1912 – Kamil Tolon, Turkish industrialist (died 1978)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1916 – James B. Donovan, American lawyer (died 1970)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1916 – Leonard Shoen, founder of U-Haul Corp. (died 1999)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
- 1920 – Fyodor Abramov, Russian author and critic (died 1983)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1920 – Arthur Franz, American actor (died 2006)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1920 – James Mitchell, American actor and dancer (died 2010)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 1920 – Michèle Morgan, French-American actress and singer (died 2016)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 1920 – Rolland W. Redlin, American lawyer and politician (died 2011)<ref>Template:CongBio</ref>
- 1924 – David Beattie, New Zealand judge and politician, 14th Governor-General of New Zealand (died 2001)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1924 – Carlos Humberto Romero, Salvadoran politician, President of El Salvador (died 2017)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1924 – Al Rosen, American baseball player and manager (died 2015)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1928 – Joss Ackland, English actor (died 2023)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1928 – Jean Adamson, British writer and illustrator (Topsy and Tim) (died 2024)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1928 – Vance Haynes, American archaeologist, geologist and author<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1928 – Michael Henshall, English Anglican suffragan bishop (died 2017)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1928 – Seymour Papert, South African mathematician and computer scientist, co-creator of the Logo programming language (died 2016)<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
- 1928 – Tempest Storm, born Annie Banks, "The Queen Of Exotic Dancers", American burlesque performer and actress (died 2021)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1932 – Gene H. Golub, American mathematician and academic (died 2007)<ref>Template:Cite journal.</ref>
- 1932 – Masten Gregory, American race car driver (died 1985)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
- 1932 – Reri Grist, American soprano and actress<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1932 – Jaguar, Brazilian cartoonist (died 2025)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1932 – Gavin Stevens, Australian cricketer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1936 – Nh. Dini, Indonesian writer (died 2018)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 1936 – Jack R. Lousma, American colonel, astronaut and politician<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1936 – Henri Richard, Canadian ice hockey player (died 2020)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 1936 – Alex Rocco, American actor (died 2015)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 1940 – Sonja Barend, Dutch talk show host<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 1940 – Bartholomew I, current Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1944 – Dennis Farina, American police officer and actor (died 2013)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1944 – Nicholas Frayling, English priest and academic<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 1944 – Phyllis Frelich, American actress (died 2014)<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
- 1944 – Steve Mingori, American baseball player (died 2008)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 1944 – Paolo Eleuteri Serpieri, Italian author and illustrator<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1944 – Lennart Svedberg, Swedish ice hockey player (died 1972).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 1944 – Saeed Poursamimi, Iranian actor<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1948 – Hermione Lee, English author, critic and academic<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1948 – Manoel Maria, Brazilian footballer<ref>Template:Cite Sports-Reference</ref>
- 1948 – Patricia A. McKillip, American author (died 2022)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1948 – Sonny M'Pokomandji, Central African basketball player and politician, Minister of Equipment and Transport (2003–2005)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1952 – Tim Powers, American author and educator<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
- 1952 – Raisa Smetanina, Russian cross-country skier<ref>Template:Cite Sports-Reference</ref>
- 1952 – Bart Stupak, American police officer and politician<ref>Template:CongBio</ref>
- 1956 – Knut Agnred, Swedish singer, actor and comedian<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1956 – Jonathan Coleman, English-Australian radio and television host (died 2021)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 1956 – Bob Speller, Canadian businessman and politician, 30th Canadian Minister of Agriculture (died 2021)<ref>Template:Canadian Parliament links</ref>
- 1956 – Aileen Wuornos, American serial killer (died 2002)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1960 – Khaled, Algerian singer-songwriter<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1960 – Richard Ramirez, American serial killer and sex offender (died 2013)<ref name="Encyclopedia Britannica 2017 v666">Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1960 – Tony Robbins, American author and motivational activist<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1964 – Dave Brailsford, English cyclist and coach<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 1964 – Carmel Busuttil, former Maltese footballer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1964 – Lyndon Byers, Canadian ice hockey player and radio host (died 2025)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1964 – Mervyn Warren, American tenor, composer and producer<ref>Template:LCAuth</ref>
- 1968 – Chucky Brown, American basketball player and coach<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1968 – Gareth Farr, New Zealand composer and percussionist<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1968 – Pete Fenson, American curler<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1968 – Bryce Paup, American football player and coach<ref>Template:LCAuth</ref>
- 1968 – Howard Tayler, American author and illustrator<ref>Template:LCAuth</ref>
- 1968 – Eugene Volokh, Ukrainian-American lawyer and educator<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1968 – Frank Woodley, Australian actor, producer and screenwriter<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1972 – Sylvie Lubamba, Italian showgirl<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1972 – Mike Pollitt, English footballer and coach<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1972 – Antonio Sabàto Jr., Italian-American model and actor<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1972 – Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain<ref>Template:LCAuth</ref>
- 1972 – Dave Williams, American singer (died 2002)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1972 – Saul Williams, American singer-songwriter<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1972 – Pedro Zamora, Cuban-American activist and educator (died 1994)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1976 – Vonteego Cummings, American basketball player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1976 – Katalin Kovács, Hungarian sprint kayaker<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1976 – Terrence Long, American baseball player<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1976 – Ja Rule, American rapper and actor<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1980 – Çağdaş Atan, Turkish footballer and coach<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1980 – Simon Gagné, Canadian ice hockey player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1980 – Rubén Plaza, Spanish cyclist<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1980 – Clinton Toopi, New Zealand rugby league player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1980 – Taylor Twellman, American soccer player and sportscaster<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1980 – Peter Scanavino, American actor (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1984 – Darren Ambrose, English footballer<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1984 – Rica Imai, Japanese model and actress<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1984 – Cullen Jones, American swimmer<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1984 – Nuria Martínez, Spanish basketball player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1984 – Lena Raine, American video game composer and producer<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref>
- 1984 – Rakhee Thakrar, English actress<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1984 – Cam Ward, Canadian ice hockey player<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 1984 – Mark Foster, American singer, songwriter and musician<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
- 1988 – Lena Gercke, German model and television host<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 1988 – Benedikt Höwedes, German footballer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1988 – Coco Khan, British writer<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 1988 – Brent Macaffer, Australian Rules footballer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1988 – Hannah Mills, Welsh sports sailor<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1992 – Sean Abbott, Australian cricketer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1992 – Eric Kendricks, American football player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1992 – Jessica Long, American paralympic swimmer<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 1992 – Jessie T. Usher, American actor<ref>Template:LCAuth</ref>
- 1992 – Saphir Taïder, Algerian footballer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1996 – Nelson Asofa-Solomona, New Zealand rugby league player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1996 – Norberto Briasco, Argentine-Armenian footballer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1996 – Reece Prescod, British sprinter<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1996 – Claudia Williams, New Zealand tennis player<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2000 – Tyrese Haliburton, American basketball player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 2000 – Ferran Torres, Spanish footballer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 2000 – Jesper Lindstrøm, Danish footballer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 2004 – Lydia Jacoby, American swimmer<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2004 – Abdukodir Khusanov, Uzbek footballer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Deaths
Pre-1600
- 468 – Pope Hilarius<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 992 – Oswald of Worcester, Anglo-Saxon archbishop and saint (born 925)<ref>{{#if: |
|{{#ifeq: Oswald (archbishop of York) |
|{{#ifeq: |
|
|
}}
|
}}
}}{{#ifeq: 1 |
|{{#ifeq: 1 |
|This article
|One or more of the preceding sentences
}} incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain:
}}{{#invoke:template wrapper|{{#if:|list|wrap}}|_template=cite EB1911
|_exclude=footnote, inline, noicon, no-icon, noprescript, no-prescript, _debug
| noicon=1
}}{{#ifeq: ||}}</ref>
- 1460 – Albert III, Duke of Bavaria-Munich (born 1401)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1528 – Patrick Hamilton, Scottish Protestant reformer and martyr (born 1504)<ref>{{#if: |
|{{#ifeq: Hamilton, Patrick |
|{{#ifeq: |
|
|
}}
|
}}
}}{{#ifeq: 1 |
|{{#ifeq: 1 |
|This article
|One or more of the preceding sentences
}} incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain:
}}{{#invoke:template wrapper|{{#if:|list|wrap}}|_template=cite EB1911
|_exclude=footnote, inline, noicon, no-icon, noprescript, no-prescript, _debug
| noicon=1
}}{{#ifeq: ||}}</ref>
- 1592 – Alessandro Striggio, Italian composer and diplomat (born 1536/1537)<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
- 1600 – Caspar Hennenberger, German pastor, historian and cartographer (born 1529)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
1601–1900
- 1604 – John Whitgift, English archbishop and academic (born 1530)<ref>{{#if: |
|{{#ifeq: Whitgift, John |
|{{#ifeq: |
|
|
}}
|
}}
}}{{#ifeq: 1 |
|{{#ifeq: 1 |
|This article
|One or more of the preceding sentences
}} incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain:
}}{{#invoke:template wrapper|{{#if:|list|wrap}}|_template=cite EB1911
|_exclude=footnote, inline, noicon, no-icon, noprescript, no-prescript, _debug
| noicon=1
}}{{#ifeq: ||}}</ref>
- 1712 – Johann Conrad Peyer, Swiss anatomist (born 1653)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1744 – John Theophilus Desaguliers, French-English physicist and philosopher (born 1683)<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
- 1792 – Johann Andreas Stein, German piano builder (born 1728)<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
- 1820 – Johann Joachim Eschenburg, German historian and critic (born 1743)<ref>{{#if: |
|{{#ifeq: Eschenburg, Johann Joachim |
|{{#ifeq: |
|
|
}}
|
}}
}}{{#ifeq: 1 |
|{{#ifeq: 1 |
|This article
|One or more of the preceding sentences
}} incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain:
}}{{#invoke:template wrapper|{{#if:|list|wrap}}|_template=cite EB1911
|_exclude=footnote, inline, noicon, no-icon, noprescript, no-prescript, _debug
| noicon=1
}}{{#ifeq: ||}}</ref>
- 1848 – Louis-François Lejeune, French general, painter and lithographer (born 1775)<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
- 1856 – Auguste Chapdelaine, French Christian missionary (born 1814)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1868 – Ludwig I of Bavaria (born 1786)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1880 – James Milne Wilson, Scottish-Australian soldier and politician, 8th Premier of Tasmania (born 1812)<ref name="milne" />
1901–present
- 1904 – Patrick O'Sullivan, Irish-Australian politician (born 1818)<ref>Template:Cite AuDB</ref>
- 1904 – Henri Joseph Anastase Perrotin, French astronomer (born 1845)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1908 – Pat Garrett, American sheriff (born 1850)<ref>Template:Cite ANB</ref>
- 1908 – John Hope, 1st Marquess of Linlithgow, Scottish-Australian politician, 1st Governor-General of Australia (born 1860)<ref>Template:Cite AuDB</ref>
- 1916 – John Nanson, English-Australian journalist and politician (born 1863)<ref>Template:Cite AuDB</ref>
- 1920 – Ernie Courtney, American baseball player (born 1875)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1924 – Frederic Chapple, Australian educator (born 1845)<ref>Template:Cite AuDB</ref>
- 1928 – Adolphe Appia, Swiss architect and theorist (born 1862)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1928 – Ina Coolbrith, American poet and librarian (born 1841)<ref>Template:Cite ANB</ref>
- 1932 – Arthur Mills Lea, Australian entomologist (born 1868)<ref>Template:Cite AuDB</ref>
- 1932 – Giuseppe Vitali, Italian mathematician (born 1875)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1940 – E. F. Benson, English archaeologist and author (born 1867)<ref>Template:Cite ODNB</ref>
- 1944 – Pehr Evind Svinhufvud, Finnish lawyer, judge and politician, 3rd President of Finland (born 1861)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1948 – Robert Barrington-Ward, English lawyer and journalist (born 1891)<ref>Template:Cite ODNB</ref>
- 1952 – Sarah Ann Jenyns, Australian entrepreneur (born 1865)<ref>Template:Cite AuDB</ref>
- 1956 – Elpidio Quirino, Filipino lawyer and politician, 6th President of the Philippines (born 1890)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 1960 – Melvin Purvis, American police officer and FBI agent (born 1903)<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
- 1960 – Walter Yust, American journalist and author (born 1894)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1964 – Frank Albertson, American actor and singer (born 1909)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- 1968 – Tore Ørjasæter, Norwegian poet and educator (born 1886)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1972 – Tom Davies, American football player and coach (born 1896)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1976 – Florence P. Dwyer, American politician (born 1902)<ref>Template:CongBio</ref>
- 1980 – Yigal Allon, Israeli general and politician, Prime Minister of Israel (born 1918)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1980 – Gil Elvgren, American painter and illustrator (born 1914)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1984 – Ludwik Starski, Polish screenwriter and songwriter (born 1903)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1992 – Ruth Pitter, English poet and author (born 1897)<ref>Template:Cite ODNB</ref>
- 1996 – Frank Daniel, Czech-American director, producer and screenwriter (born 1926)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 1996 – Wes Farrell, American singer-songwriter and producer (born 1939)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
- 1996 – Ralph Rowe, American baseball player, coach and manager (born 1924)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 2000 – Dennis Danell, American guitarist (born 1961)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
- 2004 – Kagamisato Kiyoji, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 42nd Yokozuna (born 1923)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
- 2004 – Jerome Lawrence, American playwright and author (born 1915)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2004 – Harold Bernard St. John, Barbadian lawyer and politician, 3rd Prime Minister of Barbados (born 1931)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2004 – Lorrie Wilmot, South African cricketer (born 1943)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 2008 – Janet Kagan, American author (born 1946)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 2008 – Erik Ortvad, Danish painter and illustrator (born 1917)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 2008 – Akira Yamada, Japanese scholar and philosopher (born 1922)<ref>Template:LCAuth</ref>
- 2012 – Davy Jones, English singer, guitarist and actor (born 1945)<ref>Template:Cite ODNB</ref>
- 2012 – Sheldon Moldoff, American illustrator (born 1920)<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
- 2012 – P. K. Narayana Panicker, Indian social leader (born 1930)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2016 – Wenn V. Deramas, Filipino director and screenwriter (born 1966)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2016 – Gil Hill, American police officer, actor and politician (born 1931)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2016 – Josefin Nilsson, Swedish singer (born 1969)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2016 – Mumtaz Qadri, Pakistani assassin, executed (born 1985)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2016 – Louise Rennison, English author (born 1951)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 2020 – Dieter Laser, German actor (born 1942)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2020 – Éva Székely, Hungarian Hall of Fame swimmer and 1952 Olympic champion (born 1927)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 2024 – Ali Hassan Mwinyi, 2nd President of Tanzania and 3rd President of Zanzibar (born 1925)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 2024 – Brian Mulroney, 18th Prime Minister of Canada (born 1939)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Holidays and observances
- As a Christian feast day:
- Saint John Cassian<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- February 29 in the Orthodox church
- Rare Disease Day (in leap years; usually celebrated in common years on February 28)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Bachelor's Day (Ireland and United Kingdom)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>