Major Events
- 303 First official Roman edict for persecution of Christians issued by Emperor Diocletian at Nicomedia, ordering all churches to be closed and scriptures burnt
- 1632 Galileo Galilei's book "Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems" is published comparing the Copernican and Ptolemaic systems and whether the Earth orbits the sun
- 1774 British House of Lords rules authors do not have perpetual copyright
- 1797 The Last Invasion of Britain, launched by the French during the Revolutionary Wars, begins near Fishguard, Wales
- 1825 Russia and Britain establish the Alaska-Canada boundary
- 1967 25,000 US and South Vietnamese troops launch Operation Junction City against the Viet Cong. Largest US airborne assault since World War II.
- More February 22 Events
Feb 22 in Film & TV
- 1934 "It Happened One Night" directed by Frank Capra and starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert opens at NY's Radio City Music Hall (Academy Awards Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenplay 1935)
Feb 22 in Music
- 2017 Jay-Z becomes 1st rapper to be inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside Max Martin, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Feb 22 in Sport
- 1888 “Father of American Golf” John Reid first demonstrates golf on a Yonkers cow pasture to friends
Did You Know?
Neanderthals, not humans, were the first artists on Earth, producing red cave paintings 65,000 years ago in Spain, according to new research published in "Science"
George Washington
Robert Baden-Powell
Frank Ramsey
Al Gross
Jean-Bédel Bokassa
Ted Kennedy
Steve Irwin
Drew Barrymore
Zitkála-Šá
Sparky Anderson
Niki Lauda
Julius Erving
Amy Alcott
Vijay Singh
Michael Chang
Fun Fact About February 22
London, England's first cabs with taxi meters begin operating
Famous Weddings
- 1767 US Defector General Benedict Arnold (26) weds the daughter of the sheriff of New Haven Margaret Mansfield
- 1941 Future CIA Director William J. Casey (27) weds Sophia Kurz
- 1949 Future Portuguese President Mário Soares (24) weds actress Maria de Jesus Barroso (24) at the 3rd Conservatory of the Civil Register of Lisbon
Famous Divorces
- 1996 Actress Halle Berry files for divorce from David Justice
- 2008 "Baywatch" actress Pamela Anderson (40) divorces Rick Salomon (39) due to irreconcilable differences only 2 months after getting married
More February 22 Weddings
Amerigo Vespucci
Heshen
Charles Lyell
Max Newman
Andy WarholArticles, Photos and Quiz
Last Invasion of Britain
French troops surrendering to British forces at Goodwick Sands near Fishguard in Wales. Drawing by James Baker.
February 22, 1797
Wonder of Woolworths Begins its Meteoric Rise
It was a simple idea: opening a store where nothing cost more than five cents. The idea caught on so quickly that Woolworth’s became a retail phenomenon.
February 22, 1879
