Events by Month: February - Questions and Answers

A general knowledge quiz on historical events - each of which occurred on a different day in February. If you enjoy this one, give the December, November and October and January editions a try.

Events by Month: February - Questions

1st February 2003. Which US Space Shuttle disintegrated on re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in the loss of all 7 crew members on board?

2nd February 1990. South African president F. W. de Klerk announces that the African National Congress will be unbanned, and which man would be released from prison?

3rd February 1959. The Day the Music Died: which popular singer perished in a plane crash, alongside other musicians Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper?

4th February 2004. Which website was launched by Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg, from his college bedroom?

5th February 1939. Which generalísimo was sworn in as the new leader of Spain, following a bloody civil war?

6th February 1952. Who becomes monarch of the United Kingdom, following the death of their father, George VI?

7th February 1812. Which novelist - famous for works such as Nicholas Nickleby and David Copperfield - was born in Hampshire, England?

8th February 1834. Which chemist, the creator of the modern periodic table, was born in central Russia?

9th February 1964. Which band appears for the first time on the Ed Sullivan Show, performing to over 70 million US viewers?

10th February 1996. IBM supercomputer Deep Blue defeats Garry Kasparov, a grandmaster in which game for the first time?

11th February 1990. Which boxer loses his world championship belts to 42/1 underdog Buster Douglas, in one of the biggest sporting upsets in history?

12th February 1994. Which painting by Edvard Munch is stolen after four thieves break into the National Gallery of Norway?

13th February 1633. Which Italian astronomer and physicist arrived in Rome for his trial before the Catholic Inquisition?

14th February 1876. Scot, Alexander Graham Bell applied for a patent for which communications device?

15th February 1965. A red-and-white maple leaf design is chosen as the new national flag of which country?

16th February 1923. British archaeologist Howard Carter unsealed the burial chamber of which now-famous Egyptian pharaoh?

17th February 1867. The first ship passed through which waterway, built to link the Red Sea and the Mediterranean?

18th February 1930. Which controversial dwarf planet was discovered by Clyde Tombaugh?

19th February 1674. The city of New Amsterdam is transferred from the Netherlands to England, and it was subsequently renamed as what?

20th February 1962. Which American became the first person from outside of the USSR to orbit the Earth, aboard the Friendship 7 craft?

21st February 1848. Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx publish which of their works (perhaps their most famous), laying the foundations for new political systems across the world?

22nd February 1732. Which general and politician - the first president of the USA - was born in the Crown Colony of Virginia?

23rd February 1903. Cuba leased which military based to the US 'in perpetuity' - it has now become known as a controversial prison for dangerous individuals? 

24th February 2008. Which man resigns after nearly 50 years as Cuban leader, ceding power to his brother and vice-president Raúl?

25th February 1943. Which guitarist, often known as 'the quiet Beatle', was born in Liverpool, England?

26th February 1815. From which island did Napoleon Bonaparte escape, beginning his 100 days campaign which would end with the Battle of Waterloo?

27th February 1900. Which major British social-democratic political party, symbolized by a red rose, was founded?

28th February, 1953. James Watson and Francis Crick announce informally to scientists that they have discerned the structure of which important biochemical molecule?

Leap Year Bonus: 29th February, 1988. Which South-African archbishop is arrested after a five-day anti-apartheid protest in Cape Town?

Events by Month: February - Answers

1st February 2003. Which US Space Shuttle disintegrated on re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in the loss of all 7 crew members on board? Columbia

2nd February 1990. South African president F. W. de Klerk announces that the African National Congress will be unbanned, and which man would be released from prison? Nelson Mandela

3rd February 1959. The Day the Music Died: which popular singer perished in a plane crash, alongside other musicians Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper? Buddy Holly

4th February 2004. Which website was launched by Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg, from his college bedroom? Facebook

5th February 1939. Which generalísimo was sworn in as the new leader of Spain, following a bloody civil war? Francisco Franco

6th February 1952. Who becomes monarch of the United Kingdom, following the death of their father, George VI? Queen Elizabeth II

7th February 1812. Which novelist - famous for works such as Nicholas Nickleby and David Copperfield - was born in Hampshire, England? Charles Dickens

8th February 1834. Which chemist, the creator of the modern periodic table, was born in central Russia? Dmitri Mendeleev

9th February 1964. Which band appears for the first time on the Ed Sullivan Show, performing to over 70 million US viewers? The Beatles

10th February 1996. IBM supercomputer Deep Blue defeats Garry Kasparov, a grandmaster in which game for the first time? Chess

11th February 1990. Which boxer loses his world championship belts to 42/1 underdog Buster Douglas, in one of the biggest sporting upsets in history? Mike Tyson

12th February 1994. Which painting by Edvard Munch is stolen after four thieves break into the National Gallery of Norway? The Scream

13th February 1633. Which Italian astronomer and physicist arrived in Rome for his trial before the Catholic Inquisition? Galileo Galilei

14th February 1876. Scot, Alexander Graham Bell applied for a patent for which communications device? Telephone

15th February 1965. A red-and-white maple leaf design is chosen as the new national flag of which country? Canada

16th February 1923. British archaeologist Howard Carter unsealed the burial chamber of which now-famous Egyptian pharaoh? Howard Carter

17th February 1867. The first ship passed through which waterway, built to link the Red Sea and the Mediterranean? Suez Canal

18th February 1930. Which controversial* dwarf planet was discovered by Clyde Tombaugh? Pluto *not really controversial but still considered a planet by many of us

19th February 1674. The city of New Amsterdam is transferred from the Netherlands to England, and it was subsequently renamed as what? New York

20th February 1962. Which American became the first person from outside of the USSR to orbit the Earth, aboard the Friendship 7 craft? John Glenn

21st February 1848. Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx publish which of their works (perhaps their most famous), laying the foundations for new political systems across the world? The Communist Manifesto

22nd February 1732. Which general and politician - the first president of the USA - was born in the Crown Colony of Virginia? George Washington

23rd February 1903. Cuba leased which military based to the US 'in perpetuity' - it has now become known as a controversial prison for dangerous individuals? Guantanamo Bay

24th February 2008. Which man resigns after nearly 50 years as Cuban leader, ceding power to his brother and vice-president Raúl? Fidel Castro

25th February 1943. Which guitarist, often known as 'the quiet Beatle', was born in Liverpool, England? George Harrison

26th February 1815. From which island did Napoleon Bonaparte escape, beginning his 100 days campaign which would end with the Battle of Waterloo? Elba

27th February 1900. Which major British social-democratic political party, symbolized by a red rose, was founded? Labour Party

28th February, 1953. James Watson and Francis Crick announce informally to scientists that they have discerned the structure of which important biochemical molecule? DNA

Leap Year Bonus: 29th February, 1988. Which South-African archbishop is arrested after a five-day anti-apartheid protest in Cape Town? Desmond Tutu