This Day in History

• Alexander Selkirk (inspiration for Robinson Crusoe) is rescued after four years as a castaway (1709)
• Grand Central Station opens (1913)
• James Joyce’s novel Ulysses is published (1922)
• The serum run to Nome, led by Balto, is successful — inspiring the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race (1925)
• The Battle of Stalingrad ends (1943)

Birthdays

• Nell Gwyn, actress and royal mistress (1650)
• Talleyrand, diplomat (1754)
• James Joyce, novelist (1882)
• Howard Johnson, restauranteur (1897)
• Jascha Heifetz, violinist (1901)
• Ayn Rand, novelist (1905)
• James Dickey, poet and novelist (1923)
• Red Schoendienst, baseball player (1923)
• Tom Smothers, comedian and musician (1937)
• Graham Nash, singer-songwriter (1942)
• Farrah Fawcett, actress and model (1947)
• Christie Brinkley, supermodel (1954)
• Shakira, singer-songwriter (1977)

Deaths

• Baldassarre Castiglione, courtier and diplomat (1529)
• Dmitri Mendeleev, chemist who developed the Periodic Law (1907)
• John L. Sullivan, boxer (1918)
• Boris Karloff, actor (1969)
• Bertrand Russell, polymath (1970)
• Sid Vicious, bass guitarist (1979)
• Alistair McLean, novelist (1987)
• Bert Parks, “Mr. America” (1992)
• Gene Kelly, actor and dancer (1996)
• Max Schmeling, boxer (2005)

Holidays

• Anniversary of the Treaty of Tartu (Tartu rahulepingu aastapäev) (Estonia)
• Candlemas (western Christianity)
• Celebration of Yemanjá (Candomblé religion, Brazil)
• Constitution Day (Araw ng Saligang Batas) (Philippines)
• Day of Youth (Azerbaijan)
• Groundhog Day (US)
• Inventor’s Day (Wan Nak Pradit) (Thailand)
• Liichtmëssdag (Luxembourg)
• Marmot Day (Alaska)
• National Tater Tot Day (US)
• Nickanan Night (Cornwall, UK)
• Play Your Ukulele Day (informal)
• World Wetlands Day (international)