✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 33rd day of the year

February 2

A look at February 2 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and James Joyce, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♒ZodiacAquarius ◈BirthstoneAmethyst ❀Birth flowerViolet
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2025

    Slovenia

    Slovenian NBA player Luka Doncic is traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis in one of the largest trades in American sports history.

    Country in Central Europe
  2. 2012

    MV Rabaul Queen

    The ferry MV Rabaul Queen sinks off the coast of Papua New Guinea near the Finschhafen District, with an estimated 146–165 dead.

    Passenger ferry that sank
  3. 1934

    Export–Import Bank of the United States

    The Export-Import Bank of the United States is incorporated.

    American public bank
  4. 1913

    Grand Central Terminal

    Grand Central Terminal opens in New York City.

    Railway terminal in Manhattan,
  5. 1848

    Mexican–American War

    Mexican–American War: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is signed.

    1846–1848 conflict between Mexico
  6. 1725

    Johann Sebastian Bach

    J. S. Bach leads the first performance of his chorale cantata Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin, BWV 125, based on Luther's paraphrase of the Nunc dimittis.

    German composer (1685–1750)
  7. 1709

    Alexander Selkirk

    Alexander Selkirk is rescued after being shipwrecked on a desert island, inspiring Daniel Defoe's adventure book Robinson Crusoe.

    18th-century Scottish sailor and
  8. 1438

    Transylvanian peasant revolt

    Nine leaders of the Transylvanian peasant revolt are executed at Torda.

    1437–38 revolt in Kingdom
  9. 1207

    Terra Mariana

    Terra Mariana, eventually comprising present-day Latvia and Estonia, is established.

    Vassal state of the
  10. 506

    Alaric II

    Alaric II, eighth king of the Visigoths, promulgates the Breviary of Alaric (Breviarium Alaricianum or Lex Romana Visigothorum), a collection of "Roman law".

    King of the Visigoths
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Famous birthday twins

Born on February 2

Valéry Giscard d'Estaing

b. 1926

French academic and politician, 20th President of France

James Joyce

b. 1882

Irish novelist, short story writer, and poet

Jill Scott (footballer)

b. 1987

English footballer

Faye White

b. 1978

English footballer

Arfa Karim

b. 1995

Pakistani student and computer prodigy

Gerard Piqué

b. 1987

Spanish footballer

Stan Getz

b. 1927

American saxophonist

Shakira

b. 1977

Colombian singer-songwriter, producer, and actress

Deaths

  • 1979Sid Vicious, English singer and bass player
  • 1972Natalie Clifford Barney, American author, poet, and playwright
  • 1970Bertrand Russell, English mathematician and philosopher, Nobel Prize laureate
  • 1945Carl Friedrich Goerdeler, German economist and politician
  • 1907Dmitri Mendeleev, Russian chemist and academic
  • 1594Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Italian composer and educator

Holidays & observances

  • —Groundhog Day
  • —Anniversary of Treaty of Tartu (Estonia)
  • —Christian Feast Day: Adalbard
  • —Christian Feast Day: Catherine de' Ricci
  • —Christian Feast Day: Jeanne de Lestonnac
  • —Christian Feast Day: Martyrs of Ebsdorf
  • —Christian Feast Day: Presentation of Jesus
  • —Christian Feast Day: February 2 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

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