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On This Day in History: February 1

Explore the historical events that shaped our world on February 1st. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.

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1790 CE, February 1

The first session of the Supreme Court of the United States was held at the Exchange Building in New York City, which was the nation's capital at the time on February 1, 1790.

Only three of the six appointed Justices; Chief Justice John Jay, John Cushing, and James Wilson arrived on time, delaying the start until a quorum was reached the following day. The inaugural session was primarily organizational and there were no cases on the docket. New York City served as the temporary capital of the United States from 1785 to 1790.

1793 CE, February 1

France declares war on Great Britain and the Netherlands, on February 1, 1793 expanding the French Revolutionary Wars and marking the beginning of the War of the First Coalition. The execution of French King Louis XVI on January 21, 1793, led other European monarchies such as Britain and other powers to form the coalition to contain the spread of the revolution.

1865 CE, February 1

Abraham Lincoln signs the Joint Resolution endorsing the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution, abolishing slavery which Congress had passed on January 31, 1865. The 13th Amendment was then sent to the states for ratification, which was completed by December 6, 1865, making it the law of the land and officially abolishing slavery in the United States.

1896 CE, February 1

Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème premiers on February 1, 1896, at the Teatro Regio in Turin, Italy. It was conducted by Arturo Toscanini. The opening night audience gave it a polite reception. Since then, the four-act opera based on Henri Murger's novel has become one of the most frequently performed and enduring classics in operatic history.

1942 CE, February 1

According to the American Diplomacy Journal, the Voice of America (VOA) delivered its first official broadcast in German on February 1, 1942. Not on February 24, 1942 as it is often stated by historians. Announcer William Harlan Hale famously opened the broadcast by stating: "The news may be good. The news may be bad. We shall tell you the truth". Read the American Diplomacy research article.

1960 CE, February 1

Four African American students at North Carolina, Agricultural and Technical College, stage a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, sparking similar protests.

The “Greensboro Four,” were Ezell Blair Jr. (now known as Jibreel Khazan), David Richmond, Franklin McCain, and Joseph McNeil. Their protest led to the Woolworth Department Store chain ending its policy of racial segregation in its stores in the southern United States. More

1979 CE, February 1

Homebrewing beer becomes federally legal on February 1, 1979. When Prohibition ended, federal law allowed households to produce wine for personal use but that was not the case for beer, which remained illegal to brew at home.

On October 14, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed H.R. 1337 which federally legalized homebrewing of beer, effective on February 1, 1979. The law allowed hobbyists to brew 100 gallons of alcohol or 200 gallons per household annually for personal or family consumption.. It was not until 2013 that all 50 states allowed homebrewing of beer. The legalization fueled the American craft beer revolution which had been underway for almost 20 years. The American Homebrewers Association formed at the end of 1978.

2003 CE, February 1

Space Shuttle Columbia breaks apart upon re-entry, tragically killing all seven crew members. Columbia lifted off on time on the first shuttle mission of the year on Jan. 16, 2003, at 10:39 a.m. EST, It carried seven crew members, on a marathon international scientific research flight. More