Otto III installs Gerbert of Aurillac as the new Pope, Sylvester II on February 14, 999 after Gregory V death; continuing his actions that had strengthened his imperial control over the Catholic Church throughout his life.
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On This Day in History: February 14
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on February 14th. 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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Death of William IX, Duke of Aquitaine, and troubadour poet.
King Richard II of England, who had been deposed, dies under mysterious circumstances, leading to the ascension of Henry IV to the English throne.
Oregon is admitted to the United States Union as the 33rd State on February 14, 1859, following a Congressional bill signed by President James Buchanan. It was admitted as a free state, a pivotal addition just before the Civil War.
The Arizona territory becomes the 48th state in the union on February 14, 1912. The first Governor of the new state was George W.P. Hunt. Arizonans wanted statehood long before 1912, but rejected a proposal from the U.S. Senate that Arizona and New Mexico territories combine and be admitted as one state.
The St. Valentine's Day Massacre occurs on February 14, 1929, where seven members of George "Bugs" Moran's North Side Gang were executed in a garage in Chicago by perpetrators disguised as police officers.
The killing took place during a Prohibition-era turf war, between Moran and rival Chicago Outfit, a criminal organization headed by Al Capone. One survivor refused to identify the culprits.
ENIAC, the first large-scale, programmable, electronic digital computer, designed for complex, special-purpose scientific and military calculations; was introduced to the press on February 14, 1946 and publicly unveiled on February 15, 1946, at the University of Pennsylvania's Moore School of Electrical Engineering.
Designed by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly; it was called, "The Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC)" It led the way to the UNIVAC the first commercial computer, designed by the same inventors for business use. UNIVAC was delivered in 1951. It received public fame for predicting the 1952 presidential election.
Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa on February 14, 1989, condemning author Salman Rushdie to death for his novel *The Satanic Verses*, which was deemed blasphemous by many in the Muslim community.
Former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri was killed by a massive car bomb on February 14, 2005, in Beirut, sparking the Cedar Revolution. The assassination, killed 22 people and led to widespread protests against Syrian influence, forcing the withdrawal of Syrian troops after a 30-year presence.
A UN tribunal, later linked the attack to Hezbollah members, transforming Lebanon's political landscape.