This day in history: 11 february

Europa

• 1929: The Lateran Treaty was signed between the Kingdom of Italy and the Vatican, granting political independence to Vatican City and recognizing the sovereignty of the Pope over the area. This established Vatican City as a sovereign state within Rome.
• 1858: Bernadette Soubirous’s Vision in Lourdes, France. On this day, 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous reported her first vision of the Virgin Mary, an event later authenticated by the Catholic Church and which made Lourdes one of the most important Christian pilgrimage sites.
• 1938: The BBC aired the world’s first science fiction television program, an adaptation of Karel Čapek’s play R.U.R., which introduced the word “robot” to the English language.
• 1975: Margaret Thatcher became the first female leader of the British Conservative Party. She would go on to become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1979.
• European 112 Day: Celebrated annually on February 11, this day is dedicated to raising awareness about the European emergency number 112. Across Europe, member states organize events and campaigns to inform citizens about the emergency services accessible via this single number.
• 1650: Death of René Descartes, the French philosopher and mathematician, in Stockholm.
• 1903: Anton Bruckner’s 9th Symphony received its first performance in Vienna, Austria.
• 1919: Friedrich Ebert was elected President of Germany.
• 1873: King Amadeo I of Spain abdicated, leading to the proclamation of the First Spanish Republic.

America

• 1752: Pennsylvania Hospital, the first hospital in the United States, was opened by Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia.
• 1790: The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) petitioned the U.S. Congress for the abolition of slavery, marking an early organized anti-slavery effort in America.
• 1794: The first session of the United States Senate open to the public was held, increasing government transparency.
• 1809: Robert Fulton patented improvements to steamboat navigation, a key development in American transportation.
• 1812: The term “gerrymander” was first used, referring to Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry’s controversial redistricting.
• 1861: During the lead-up to the Civil War, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution guaranteeing noninterference with slavery in any state, reflecting the nation’s deep divisions at the time.
• 1937: The 44-day sit-down strike at General Motors in Flint, Michigan, ended, leading to the recognition of the United Auto Workers union.
• 1943: General Dwight D. Eisenhower was selected to command the Allied armies in Europe during World War II.
• 1964: The Beatles performed their first U.S. concert at the Washington Coliseum, a landmark moment in American pop culture.
• 1997: Space Shuttle Discovery was launched on a mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope.
• 1847: Birth of Thomas Edison, prolific inventor whose innovations shaped modern America.
• 1942: Glenn Miller received the first gold record for “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” establishing a music industry tradition.
• 1953: Walt Disney’s film Peter Pan premiered.
• 2012: Whitney Houston, one of America’s most celebrated singers, died, marking a major loss in the music industry.
• 1916: Activist Emma Goldman was arrested for lecturing on birth control, highlighting early struggles for reproductive rights.
• 1965: President Lyndon Johnson ordered air strikes against North Vietnam in response to attacks on American military in South Vietnam.

Asia

• Japan: National Foundation Day
  National Foundation Day (Kenkoku Kinen no Hi) is celebrated annually on February 11 in Japan. It marks the legendary accession of Emperor Jimmu, the country’s first emperor, in 660 BC, considered the traditional founding date of the Japanese nation. The day also coincides with the promulgation of the Meiji Constitution in 1889, a pivotal moment in Japan’s modernization.
• Iran: Islamic Revolution
  On February 11, 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini seized power in Iran. This marked the culmination of the Iranian Revolution, leading to the establishment of the Islamic Republic after the army stepped aside and the monarchy was overthrown.
• India: On February 11, 1613, Mughal emperor Jahangir permitted the British East India Company to establish a factory in Surat, a key moment in colonial history.
• On February 11, 2011, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resigned following 18 days of mass protests during the Arab Spring, ending nearly 30 years of rule and marking a major turning point in Egyptian and Middle Eastern politics.
• In 951, Guo Wei, a Chinese court official, led a military coup and declared himself emperor of the Later Zhou dynasty.
• In Cambodia, February 11, 1974, saw a deadly artillery attack by communist-led rebels in Phnom Penh, killing 139 people.

Africa

• 1990: Nelson Mandela Freed After 27 Years in Prison
  On February 11, 1990, Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid activist and leader of the African National Congress, was released from Victor Verster Prison after 27 years of incarceration. His release marked a pivotal moment in the struggle against apartheid and was celebrated worldwide as a triumph for justice and human rights. Four years later, Mandela would become South Africa’s first Black president, symbolizing the official end of apartheid and the beginning of a new democratic era in the country.
• 435: Treaty of Hippo Regius (North Africa)
  The Romans granted land in Africa to the Vandals, marking a significant moment in the late Roman Empire’s history in North Africa.
• 1900: Second Anglo-Boer War
  The second British offensive began with the invasion of the Orange Free State, a key event in South African colonial history.
• 1946: Death of John Langalibalele Dube
  Dube, the founding president of what would become the African National Congress (ANC), died on this day. He was a pivotal figure in South African journalism, education, and the early anti-colonial movement.