February 06
1788
Massachusetts ratified the U.S. Constitution, becoming the sixth state to join the Union.
1804
Joseph Priestley, British chemist, died. His work on the isolation of gases led him to discover oxygen in 1774.
1899
The Spanish-American War ended when a peace treaty between Spain and the United States was signed.
1933
The 20th Amendment to the Constitution, which set the date for the president’s inauguration on Jan. 20, was adopted.
1935
The popular board game Monopoly® went on sale for the first time.
1952
Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
1971
Astronaut Alan B. Shepard hit a golf ball and Edgar Mitchell threw a “javelin” on the moon. They landed in the same crater and remain on the Moon today.
2001
Ariel Sharon was elected prime minister of Israel.
2012
The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II marked the 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne.
Birthdays
Ronald Reagan
1911–2004, American President.
Aaron Burr
political leader (1756)
Jeb Stuart
cavalry commander (1833)
Babe Ruth
baseball player (1895)
Mary Douglas Leakey
archaeologist (1913)
Zsa Zsa Gabor
actor (1917)
François Truffaut
film director and critic (1932)
Bob Marley
reggae singer (1945)