Today In History

February 28

1784

John Wesley issues “Deed of Declaration” formally establishing the Methodist Church.

1849

The steamship California landed in San Francisco, bringing the first East Coasters to the Gold Rush.

1916

Henry James, American novelist and critic, died.

1948

The last British troops left India.

1953

James Watson and Francis Crick described their theory that two DNA strands were coiled in a double helix.

1983

The final episode of M*A*S*H aired. It was the most watched television program in history.

1986

Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was shot to death in central Stockholm.

1993

Four federal agents were killed in Waco, Texas, after they tried to serve an arrest warrant for weapons charges on Branch Davidian sect leader David Koresh, starting a 51-day standoff.

Birthdays

Michel de Montaigne
essayist (1533)

Rene Antoine Ferchault de Reaumur
physicist and naturalist (1683)

Mary Lyon
educator (1797)

Ben Hecht
writer (1894)

Linus Pauling
American Chemist (1901)

Bugsy Siegel
mobster (1906)

Zero Mostel
actor (1915)

Mario Andretti
auto racing driver (1940)