This day in history: 28 february

Europa

• 1638: The Scottish National Covenant was signed in Edinburgh, marking a crucial moment in Scotland’s religious and political history as Scots pledged to defend their Presbyterian faith against perceived encroachments by King Charles I.
• 1700: Sweden made a unique calendar adjustment: February 28 was followed by March 1, creating the Swedish calendar, which was an attempt to gradually shift from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar.
• 1710: The Battle of Helsingborg occurred, where Swedish forces under Magnus Stenbock decisively defeated a Danish army. This was the last time Swedish and Danish troops would meet on Swedish soil.
• 1986: Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was assassinated in Stockholm, an event that shocked Sweden and the world due to Palme’s international prominence and pacifist beliefs.

America

• 1844: A catastrophic accident occurred aboard the USS Princeton when a 12-inch gun exploded during a demonstration on the Potomac River, killing Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur, Navy Secretary Thomas W. Gilmer, and several others. President John Tyler, who was also on board, was unharmed.
• 1849: The California Gold Rush accelerated as regular steamship service began, bringing gold-seekers to San Francisco and marking a pivotal moment in westward expansion.
• 1854: The Republican Party was organized in Ripon, Wisconsin, a major development in U.S. political history.
• 1917: Jeannette Rankin became the first woman to serve in the U.S. Congress, representing Montana, marking a milestone for women’s rights and political participation in America.
• 1931: Birth of Toni Morrison, the acclaimed African American writer and Nobel laureate, in Lorain, Ohio. Her work profoundly shaped American literature and discussions on race and identity.
• 1940: The first televised basketball game took place, featuring Fordham University vs. the University of Pittsburgh at Madison Square Garden—a milestone in sports broadcasting.
• 1984: NASA launched the space shuttle Discovery on its maiden flight, beginning a storied career that would include deploying satellites and the Hubble Space Telescope.
• 1993: The Waco Siege began in Texas, with a gun battle erupting between federal agents and the Branch Davidians religious sect, leading to a 51-day standoff that ended in tragedy.
• 2013: Army private Chelsea Manning (then Bradley Manning) pleaded guilty to charges related to the largest leak of classified information in U.S. history, a major event in the era of digital whistleblowing.
• 2020: The United States and the Taliban signed a historic peace deal, aiming to end the 18-year conflict in Afghanistan, marking a significant diplomatic milestone.
• The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was incorporated in 1827, becoming the first U.S. railroad for commercial transportation.
• In 1911, William H. Lewis was nominated as the first Black Assistant Attorney General in U.S. history.
• The end of the Battle of Fort Apache in 1862, significant in the context of the Indian Wars.

Asia

• The most significant event in Asian history on February 28 is the February 28 Incident (also known as the 228 Incident or 228 Massacre) in Taiwan in 1947. This was a major anti-government uprising against the Kuomintang (KMT)-led nationalist government of the Republic of China, which had taken control of Taiwan after World War II. The event began after the violent treatment of a local cigarette vendor by government agents, sparking widespread protests across the island. The KMT responded with brutal military force, resulting in the deaths of thousands—estimates range up to 28,000 civilians, including many of Taiwan’s intellectual and social leaders. The aftermath of the incident led to nearly four decades of martial law, known as the “White Terror,” during which political dissent was harshly suppressed. The February 28 Incident is now commemorated annually in Taiwan as Peace Memorial Day, a national public holiday dedicated to remembering the victims and reflecting on the island’s struggle for democracy and justice.
• 202 BC: The coronation of Liu Bang as Emperor Gaozu, founding the Han Dynasty in China, which would rule for four centuries.
• 628 AD: The execution of Khosrow II, the last great Sassanid Emperor of Persia, marking a turning point in Iranian and regional history.
• 1928: Indian physicist C.V. Raman discovered the “Raman Effect,” a breakthrough in light scattering, for which he later received the Nobel Prize. February 28 is celebrated as National Science Day in India.

Africa

• 1948: The Christiansburg Crossroads Shooting in Ghana
  Three unarmed ex-servicemen—Sergeant Cornelius Francis Adjetey, Corporal Patrick Attipoe, and Private Odartey Lamptey—were shot and killed by British colonial police while marching to present a petition over unpaid war benefits. This incident, known as the “February 28 Christiansburg Crossroads Shooting,” sparked the Accra Riots and became a catalyst for Ghana’s struggle for independence, which was achieved in 1957. The three men are honored as the first martyrs of Ghana’s independence movement, and the event is commemorated annually.
• 1922: Egypt Gains Independence
  On this day, Britain granted nominal independence to Egypt, ending its status as a formal British protectorate. This event is celebrated as Independence Day in Egypt, marking a major milestone in the country’s modern history.
• 1990: Philip Emeagwali Wins the Gordon Bell Prize
  Nigerian computer scientist Philip Emeagwali was awarded the prestigious Gordon Bell Prize for his work in supercomputing, solving one of the most difficult problems in the field.
• 1922: Rand Mine Workers’ Revolt in South Africa
  The revolt by white mine workers on the Rand intensified, and three mineworkers were shot and killed outside the prison in Boksburg. This was a significant event in South Africa’s labor and political history.
• 2011: African Migrant Workers in Libya During the Arab Spring
  During the Libyan uprising, many African migrant workers faced violence amid suspicions of being mercenaries for the Gaddafi regime. The unrest led to a mass exodus of migrant workers and international concern.