February 29 in history — What Happened Today in History
February 29 in history is full of turning points. This page walks you through what happened on February 29 in history, who was born on February 29 and who passed away on February 29, so nothing about this day slips past you.
On this page, February 29 in history is arranged as a timeline of major events in reverse order, with birthdays and deaths in their own sections, plus a short FAQ about February 29 in history at the bottom.
Major Events on February 29 in History 40
- 2024
The Flour Massacre took place in the Gaza Strip: Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians waiting for aid amidst the Gaza war, killing over 100 and wounding 750.
- 2020
During a demonstration, pro-government colectivos shoot at disputed President and Speaker of the National Assembly Juan Guaidó and his supporters in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, leaving five injured.
- 2020
The United States and the Taliban sign the Doha Agreement for bringing peace to Afghanistan.
- 2020
Muhyiddin Yassin is appointed as the 8th Prime Minister of Malaysia, amid the 2020 Malaysian political crisis.
- 2020
Luxembourg becomes the first country in the world to render public transport free nationwide.
- 2016
In the Miqdadiyah bombing: at least 40 people are killed and 58 others wounded following a suicide bombing by ISIL at a Shi'ite funeral in the city of Miqdadiyah, Diyala, Iraq.
- 2012
North Korea agrees to suspend uranium enrichment and nuclear and long-range missile tests in return for US food aid.
- 2008
The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence withdraws Prince Harry from a tour of Afghanistan after news of his deployment is leaked to foreign media.
- 2008
Misha Defonseca admits to fabricating her memoir, Misha: A Mémoire of the Holocaust Years, in which she claims to have lived with a pack of wolves in the woods during the Holocaust.
- 2004
Jean-Bertrand Aristide is removed as president of Haiti following a coup.
- 2004
Angelina Jolie wears a White Marc Bouwer dress to the 76th Academy Awards, which has since been placed on numerous lists for best Oscars fashion.
- 2000
Chechens attack a guard post near Ulus Kert, eventually killing 84 Russian paratroopers during the Second Chechen War.
All entries for February 29（+28）
- 1996
Faucett Perú Flight 251 crashes in the Andes; all 123 passengers and crew are killed.
- 1996
The Siege of Sarajevo officially ends.
- 1992
A referendum is begun in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the determination of Bosnian independence.
- 1988
South African archbishop Desmond Tutu is arrested along with 100 other clergymen during a five-day anti-apartheid demonstration in Cape Town.
- 1988
Svend Robinson becomes the first member of the House of Commons of Canada to come out as gay.
- 1984
Pierre Trudeau announces his retirement as Liberal Party leader and Prime Minister of Canada.
- 1980
Gordie Howe of the Hartford Whalers makes NHL history as he scores his 800th goal.
- 1972
South Korea withdraws 11,000 of its 48,000 troops from South Vietnam as part of Nixon's Vietnamization policy in the Vietnam War.
- 1968
Aeroflot Flight 15 crashes Irkutsk Oblast, Soviet Union, due to a loss of control. Eighty-three of the 84 occupants onboard die. The exact cause of the accident is unknown.
- 1964
British Eagle International Airlines Flight 802/6 crashes into the Glungezer mountain in the Tux Alps of Austria, killing all 75 people aboard.
- 1960
The 5.7 Mw Agadir earthquake shakes coastal Morocco with a maximum perceived intensity of X (Extreme), destroying Agadir and leaving 12,000 dead and another 12,000 injured.
- 1944
The Admiralty Islands are invaded in Operation Brewer, led by American general Douglas MacArthur, in World War II.
- 1940
For her performance as Mammy in Gone with the Wind, Hattie McDaniel becomes the first African American to win an Academy Award.
- 1940
Finland initiates Winter War peace negotiations.
- 1940
In a ceremony held in Berkeley, California, physicist Ernest Lawrence receives the 1939 Nobel Prize in Physics from Sweden's consul general in San Francisco.
- 1936
The February 26 Incident in Tokyo ends.
- 1924
The Victorian Football League created the Brownlow Medal to honour deceased administrator Charles Brownlow, now awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League.
- 1920
The Czechoslovak National Assembly adopts the Constitution.
- 1916
Tokelau is annexed by the United Kingdom.
- 1916
In South Carolina, the minimum working age for factory, mill and mine workers is raised from 12 to 14 years old.
- 1912
The Piedra Movediza (Moving Stone) of Tandil falls and breaks.
- 1908
James Madison University is founded at Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States as The State Normal and Industrial School for Women by the Virginia General Assembly.
- 1892
St. Petersburg, Florida is incorporated.
- 1796
The Jay Treaty between the United States and Great Britain comes into force, facilitating ten years of peaceful trade between the two nations.
- 1768
Polish nobles form the Bar Confederation.
- 1720
Ulrika Eleonora, Queen of Sweden abdicates in favour of her husband, who becomes King Frederick I on March 24.
- 1712
February 29 is followed by February 30 in Sweden, in a move to abolish the Swedish calendar for a return to the Julian calendar.
- 1704
In Queen Anne's War, French forces and Native Americans stage a raid on Deerfield, Massachusetts Bay Colony, killing 56 villagers and taking more than 100 captive.
Famous Birthdays on February 29 in History 25
- 2008
Rémi Himbert, French footballer
- 2004
Lydia Jacoby, American swimmer
- 2004
Abdukodir Khusanov, Uzbek footballer
- 2000
Tyrese Haliburton, American basketball player
- 2000
Ferran Torres, Spanish footballer
- 2000
Jesper Lindstrøm, Danish footballer
- 1996
Nelson Asofa-Solomona, New Zealand rugby league player
- 1996
Norberto Briasco, Argentine-Armenian footballer
- 1996
Reece Prescod, British sprinter
- 1996
Claudia Williams, New Zealand tennis player
- 1992
Sean Abbott, Australian cricketer
- 1992
Eric Kendricks, American football player
All entries for February 29（+13）
- 1992
Jessica Long, American paralympic swimmer
- 1992
Jessie T. Usher, American actor
- 1992
Saphir Taïder, Algerian footballer
- 1988
Lena Gercke, German model and television host
- 1988
Benedikt Höwedes, German footballer
- 1988
Coco Khan, British writer
- 1988
Brent Macaffer, Australian Rules footballer
- 1988
Hannah Mills, Welsh sports sailor
- 1984
Darren Ambrose, English footballer
- 1984
Rica Imai, Japanese model and actress
- 1984
Cullen Jones, American swimmer
- 1984
Nuria Martínez, Spanish basketball player
- 1984
Lena Raine, American video game composer and producer
Notable Deaths on February 29 in History 25
- 2024
Ali Hassan Mwinyi, 2nd President of Tanzania and 3rd President of Zanzibar (born 1925)
- 2024
Brian Mulroney, 18th Prime Minister of Canada (born 1939)
- 2020
Dieter Laser, German actor (born 1942)
- 2020
Éva Székely, Hungarian Hall of Fame swimmer and 1952 Olympic champion (born 1927)
- 2016
Wenn V. Deramas, Filipino director and screenwriter (born 1966)
- 2016
Gil Hill, American police officer, actor and politician (born 1931)
- 2016
Josefin Nilsson, Swedish singer (born 1969)
- 2016
Mumtaz Qadri, Pakistani assassin, executed (born 1985)
- 2016
Louise Rennison, English author (born 1951)
- 2012
Davy Jones, English singer, guitarist and actor (born 1945)
- 2012
Sheldon Moldoff, American illustrator (born 1920)
- 2012
P. K. Narayana Panicker, Indian social leader (born 1930)
All entries for February 29（+13）
- 2008
Janet Kagan, American author (born 1946)
- 2008
Erik Ortvad, Danish painter and illustrator (born 1917)
- 2008
Akira Yamada, Japanese scholar and philosopher (born 1922)
- 2004
Kagamisato Kiyoji, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 42nd Yokozuna (born 1923)
- 2004
Jerome Lawrence, American playwright and author (born 1915)
- 2004
Harold Bernard St. John, Barbadian lawyer and politician, 3rd Prime Minister of Barbados (born 1931)
- 2004
Lorrie Wilmot, South African cricketer (born 1943)
- 2000
Dennis Danell, American guitarist (born 1961)
- 1996
Frank Daniel, Czech-American director, producer and screenwriter (born 1926)
- 1996
Wes Farrell, American singer-songwriter and producer (born 1939)
- 1996
Ralph Rowe, American baseball player, coach and manager (born 1924)
- 1992
Ruth Pitter, English poet and author (born 1897)
- 1984
Ludwik Starski, Polish screenwriter and songwriter (born 1903)
That is the story of February 29 in history. Bookmark this page and come back next year on February 29 to relive these world-changing moments — or take a random trip through time and see what happened on another day in history.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on February 29 in history?
The biggest event on February 29 in history is: 2024 — The Flour Massacre took place in the Gaza Strip: Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians waiting for aid amidst the Gaza war, killing over 100 and wounding 750.. In total, 40 major events are recorded for this day.
Who was born on February 29?
25 famous people were born on February 29 in history, the best known being 2008 — Rémi Himbert, French footballer.
Who died on February 29?
25 notable people died on February 29 in history, including 2024 — Ali Hassan Mwinyi, 2nd President of Tanzania and 3rd President of Zanzibar (born 1925).
Why should I read about February 29 in history?
Exploring February 29 in history helps you grasp the day's place in history in just a few minutes: events, birthdays and deaths in one read — perfect for students, teachers and curious minds.
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