February 29

February 29 is the 60th day of the year, occurring in the Gregorian Calendar
every four years, excepting those years ending in two zeros which are not
evenly divisible by 400. This means that the year 2000 was a leap year and
so will 2400 be, but the years 2100, 2200, 2300 won't be leap years and
neither was 1900. If this is in fact a leap year, there are 306 days
remaining.

Those who are born on this day usually celebrate their birthdays on February
28 during non-leap year.

Events

   * 1704 - Native Americans attack and destroy Deerfield, Massachusetts
   * 1720 - Queen Ulrike Eleonora of Sweden resigns
   * 1940 - For her role as as Mammy in "Gone with the Wind," Hattie
     McDaniel becomes the first African American to win an Academy Award
     (Best Supporting Actress).
   * 1944 - World War II: The Admiralty Islands are invaded in the American
     General Douglas MacArthur-led Operation Brewer.
   * 1964 - In Sydney, Australian swimmer Dawn Fraser sets a new world
     record in the 100-meter freestyle swimming competion (58.9 seconds).
   * 1988 - The soap opera Day by Day premieres on NBC.

Births

   * 1736 - Ann Lee, founder of the United Society of Believers in Christ's
     Second Appearing ("Shakers")
   * 1792 - Gioacchino Rossini, composer (+ 1868)
   * 1840 - John Philip Holland, developer of the first submarine
   * 1860 - Herman Hollerith, statistician (+ 1929)
   * 1904 - Jimmy Dorsey, bandleader (+ 1957)
   * 1908 - Balthus, painter (+ 2001)
   * 1908 - Dee Brown, writer, historian (+ 2002)
   * 1916 - Dinah Shore, singer (+ 1994)
   * 1920 - Howard Nemerov, American, winner of the Pulitzer Prize
   * 1924 - Al Rosen, baseball player
   * 1936 - Henri Richard, ice hockey player
   * 1960 - Tony Robbins, motivational speaker
   * 1972 - Antonio Sabato Jr., actor

Deaths

   * 468 - Pope Hilarius
   * 1940 - Edward Frederick Benson, American writer

Holidays and observances

   * Bah‡'’ Faith - Day 4 of Ayy‡m-i-H‡ (Intercalary Days) (in leap years
     only) - days in the Bah‡'’ calendar devoted to service and gift giving.

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