✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 42nd day of the year

February 11

A look at February 11 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Paul Bocuse and Thomas Edison, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♒ZodiacAquarius ◈BirthstoneAmethyst ❀Birth flowerViolet
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2018

    Saratov Airlines Flight 703

    Saratov Airlines Flight 703 crashes near Moscow, Russia with 71 deaths and no survivors.

    2018 airliner crash in
  2. 2017

    North Korea

    North Korea test fires a ballistic missile across the Sea of Japan.

    Country in East Asia
  3. 2015

    Murder of Özgecan Aslan

    A university student is murdered as she resists an attempted rape in Turkey, sparking nationwide protests and public outcry against harassment and violence against women.

    2015 killing of a
  4. 1999

    Pluto

    Pluto crosses Neptune's orbit, ending a nearly 20-year period when it was closer to the Sun than the gas giant; Pluto is not expected to interact with Neptune's orbit again until 2231.

    Largest dwarf planet
  5. 1990

    Nelson Mandela

    Nelson Mandela is released from Victor Verster Prison outside Cape Town, South Africa after 27 years as a political prisoner.

    President of South Africa
  6. 1942

    World War II

    World War II: Second day of the Battle of Bukit Timah is fought in Singapore.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  7. 1919

    Friedrich Ebert

    Friedrich Ebert (SPD) is elected President of Germany.

    President of Germany from
  8. 1826

    University College London

    University College London is founded as University of London.

    Public university in London,
  9. 1823

    Carnival tragedy of 1823

    Carnival tragedy of 1823: About 110 boys are killed during a human crush at the Convent of the Minori Osservanti in Valletta, Malta.

    Human crush in Valletta,
  10. 1584

    Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa

    A naval expedition led by Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa founds Nombre de Jesús, the first of two short-lived Spanish settlements in the Strait of Magellan.

    Spanish explorer and writer
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Famous birthday twins

Born on February 11

Paul Bocuse

b. 1926

French chef

Thomas Edison

b. 1847

American engineer and businessman, developed the light bulb and phonograph

Mike Shinoda

b. 1977

American musician and artist

Taylor Lautner

b. 1992

American actor

Ian Porterfield

b. 1946

Scottish footballer and manager

Jennifer Aniston

b. 1969

American actress and producer

Isaiah Mustafa

b. 1974

American actor and football player

Tammy Baldwin

b. 1962

American lawyer and politician

Deaths

  • 1986Frank Herbert, American journalist and author
  • 1948Sergei Eisenstein, Russian director and screenwriter
  • 1829Alexander Griboyedov, Russian poet, playwright, and composer
  • 1650René Descartes, French mathematician and philosopher
  • 244Gordian III, Roman emperor
  • 55AD 55, Roman son of Claudius

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Blaise Eastern Orthodox liturgics
  • —Christian feast day: Cædmon, first recorded Christian poet in England, c. 680 CE (Anglicanism)
  • —Christian feast day: Gobnait
  • —Christian feast day: Gregory II
  • —Christian feast day: Lazarus of Milan
  • —Christian feast day: Peter of Jesus Maldonado
  • —Christian feast day: Soteris
  • —Christian feast day: February 11 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

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