February 19
1674
The Netherlands and England signed the Peace of Westminster, by which New Amsterdam passed to the English (and was renamed New York).
1807
Aaron Burr, vice president under Thomas Jefferson, was arrested for treason. He was later acquitted.
1878
Thomas Edison patented the gramophone (phonograph).
1942
President Franklin Roosevelt signed an executive order that resulted in the internment of thousands of Japanese-Americans living on the West Coast.
1945
The U.S. Marines went ashore at Iwo Jima.
1959
Britain, Turkey, and Greece signed the agreement granting Cyprus independence.
1968
The first nationwide broadcast of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood aired on PBS.
1997
Deng Xiaoping, Chinese Communist leader, died.
2008
Fidel Castro resigned as President of Cuba after 49 years in power. Raúl Castro, Fidel’s brother, succeeded him as president.
Birthdays
Nicholas Copernicus
1473–1543, Polish Astronomer.
David Garrick
actor and dramatist (1717)
Eddie Arcaro
jockey (1916)
Carson McCullers
novelist (1917)
Lee Marvin
actor (1924)
Smokey Robinson
singer (1940)
Amy Tan
novelist (1952)