Who are famous people born on February 11?

Famous people born on February 11 include: Liam Lawson, Bryan Gil, Nassir Little.

What famous people died on February 11?

Notable historical figures who died on February 11 include: James Van Der Beek, Betsy Arakawa, Moses Lim.

February 11 in History

Q: What happened on February 11 in history?

On February 11, 2020: COVID-19 pandemic: The World Health Organization officially names the coronavirus outbreak as COVID-19, with the virus being designated SARS-CoV-2.

56 events 660 BC – 2024

February 11 spans 56 recorded events across recorded history — from 660 BC – 2024. Below is a curated digest of the most significant moments tied to this date.

By thisDay.info Editorial Team · February 11 — Wikipedia

2020 — COVID-19 pandemic: The World Health Organization officially names the coronavirus outbreak as COVID-19, with the virus being designated SARS-CoV-2

Did you know

In 2020, COVID-19 pandemic: The World Health Organization officially names the coronavirus outbreak as COVID-19, with the virus being designated SARS-CoV-2. This featured entry focuses on the immediate decision and its direct historical impact.

Did you know

The global COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an outbreak in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. This helps explain why the event mattered beyond the initial announcement.

Did you know

It spread to other parts of Asia and then worldwide in early 2020. This clarifies the institutional and public response around the event.

Did you know

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on 30 January 2020 and assessed it as having become a pandemic on 11 March. This shows how the event shaped policy and public communication in the same period.

Did you know

The WHO declared that the public health emergency caused by COVID-19 had ended in May 2023. This helps explain why the event mattered beyond the initial announcement.

Traditional date for the foundation of Japan by Emperor Jimmu.

Legendary first emperor of Japan

Emperor Jimmu was the legendary first emperor of Japan according to the Nihon Shoki and Kojiki. His ascension is traditionally dated as 660 BC. In Japanese mythology, he was a descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu, through her grandson Ninigi, as well as a descendant of the storm god Susanoo. He launched a military expedition from Hyūga near the Seto Inland Sea, captured Yamato, and established this as his center of power. In modern Japan, Emperor Jimmu's legendary ascension is marked as National Foundation Day on February 11.

-660

The death under mysterious circumstances of Tiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus, heir to the Roman Empire, on the eve of his coming of age clears the way for Nero to become Emperor.

Calendar year

AD 55 (LV) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caesar and Vetus. The denomination AD 55 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

Guo Wei, a court official, leads a military coup and declares himself emperor of the new Later Zhou.

Emperor of Later Zhou from 951 to 954

Guo Wei, also known by his temple name as the Emperor Taizu of Later Zhou (後周太祖), was the founding emperor of the Chinese Later Zhou dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, reigning from 951 until his death in 954.

951

Robert of Chester completes his translation from Arabic to Latin of the Liber de compositione alchemiae, marking the birth of Western alchemy.

12th-century English scholar

Robert of Chester was an English Arabist of the 12th century. He translated several historically important books from Arabic to Latin, such as:Book on the Composition of Alchemy : translated in 1144, this was the first book on alchemy to become available in Europe Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing : al-Khwārizmī's book about algebra, translated in 1145

1144

At the Convocation of Canterbury, the Catholic bishops comprising the Upper House of the Province of Canterbury agree to style Henry VIII supreme head of the English church and clergy "so far as the law of Christ allows".

Church of England synodical assemblies

The Convocations of Canterbury and York are the synodical assemblies of the bishops and clergy of each of the two provinces which comprise the Church of England. Their origins go back to the ecclesiastical reorganisation carried out under Archbishop Theodore of Canterbury (668–690) and the establishment of a separate northern province in 733. Until 1225 the synods were composed entirely of bishops, but during the thirteenth century more and more clergy were cited until by 1283 the membership was established as the bishops, deans, archdeacons and abbots of each province together with one proctor (representative) from each cathedral chapter and two proctors elected by the clergy of each diocese. The main purpose of the convocations was to take counsel for the well-being of the church and to approve canonical legislation, but in practice much time was spent in discussing the amount of tax to be paid to the Crown since the clergy were a separate estate of the realm and refused to be taxed in or through Parliament. Before the end of the nineteenth century, the Convocation of Canterbury, which was numerically very much larger, played the major role and the activity of the Convocation of York was often little more than giving formal approval to the decisions taken by the southern province.

1534

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 (1532–1592)

Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa (1530/1531/1532–1592) was a Spanish adventurer, author, historian, mathematician, and astronomer. He was named the governor of the Strait of Magellan by King Philip II in 1580.

1584

Sir Francis Drake with an English force captures and occupies the Spanish colonial port of Cartagena de Indias for two months, obtaining a ransom and booty.

English sailor and privateer (c. 1540 – 1596)

Sir Francis Drake was an English explorer and privateer best known for making the second circumnavigation of the world in a single expedition between 1577 and 1580. He is also known for participating in the early English slaving voyages of his cousin, John Hawkins, and John Lovell. Having started as a simple seaman, in 1588 he was part of the fight against the Spanish Armada as a vice admiral.

1586

The assault on Copenhagen by Swedish forces is beaten back with heavy losses.

Part of the Second Northern War

The assault on Copenhagen also known as the battle of Copenhagen on 11 February 1659 was a major engagement during the Second Northern War, taking place during the Swedish siege of Copenhagen.

1659

First session of United States Senate opens to the public.

Upper house of the US Congress

The United States Senate is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, and the U.S. House of Representatives is the lower house. Together, the Senate and House have the authority under Article One of the Constitution to make and pass or defeat federal legislation.

1794

Jesse Fell burns anthracite on an open grate as an experiment in heating homes with coal.

American politician

Jesse Fell was an early political leader in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He was one of the first Pennsylvanians to successfully burn anthracite on an open air grate. Anthracite differs from wood in that it needs a draft from the bottom, and Judge Fell proved with his grate design that it was a viable heating fuel. His method and 'discovery' in 1808 led to the widespread use of coal as the fuel source that helped to foster America's industrial revolution. He lived in the Fell House and Tavern until his death. The House stood until the 1980s when Wyoming Valley Health Care demolished it to build a parking lot. The bricks used to build the house are now in the house of Wayne Segar in Bear Creek Pennsylvania. The grate used by Fell is in the possession of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society.

1808

Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry is accused of "gerrymandering" for the first time.

U.S. state

Massachusetts, officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode Island to its south, New Hampshire and Vermont to its north, and New York to its west. Massachusetts is the seventh-smallest state by land area. With an estimated population of over 7.1 million, it is the most populous state in New England, the 16th-most-populous in the United States, and the third-most densely populated U.S. state after New Jersey and Rhode Island.

1812

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, British Malta

On 11 February 1823, around 110 boys were killed in a human crush at the Convent of the Minori Osservanti in Valletta, Malta. The boys, who had gone to the convent to receive bread on the last day of carnival celebrations, were crushed after falling down a flight of stairs while trying to exit the convent.

1823

University College London is founded as University of London.

Public research university in London, UK

University College London, which operates as UCL, is a public research university in London, England. It is a member institution of the federal University of London, and is the second-largest university in the United Kingdom by total enrolment and the largest by postgraduate enrolment.

1826

Gaetano Donizetti's opera La fille du régiment receives its first performance in Paris, France.

Italian opera composer (1797–1848)

Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti was an Italian composer, best known for his over 70 operas. Along with Gioachino Rossini and Vincenzo Bellini, he was a leading composer of the bel canto opera style during the first half of the nineteenth century and a probable influence on other composers such as Giuseppe Verdi. Donizetti was born in Bergamo in Lombardy. At an early age he was taken up by Simon Mayr who enrolled him with a full scholarship in a school which he had set up. There he received detailed musical training. Mayr was instrumental in obtaining a place for Donizetti at the Bologna Academy, where, at the age of 19, he wrote his first one-act opera, the comedy Il Pigmalione, which may never have been performed during his lifetime.

1840

Giuseppe Verdi's opera I Lombardi alla prima crociata receives its first performance in Milan, Italy.

Italian opera composer (1813–1901)

Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian composer best known for his operas. He was born near Busseto, a small town in the modern province of Parma, to a family of moderate means, receiving a musical education with the help of a local patron named Antonio Barezzi.

1843

Kassa Hailu is crowned Tewodros II, Emperor of Ethiopia.

Emperor of Ethiopia from 1855 to 1868

Tewodros II was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1855 until his death in 1868. His rule is often placed as the beginning of modern Ethiopia and brought an end to the decentralized Zemene Mesafint.

1855

The Kingdom of Awadh is annexed by the British East India Company and Wajid Ali Shah, the king of Awadh, is deposed.

Region in Uttar Pradesh

Awadh, known in British Raj historical texts as Avadh or Oudh, is a historical region in northern India, now constituting the central portion of Uttar Pradesh. It is roughly synonymous with the ancient Kosala region of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain scriptures.

1856

Bernadette Soubirous's first vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary occurs in Lourdes, France.

French Roman Catholic saint (1844–1879)

Bernadette Soubirous, SCN, also known as Bernadette of Lourdes, was a miller's daughter from Lourdes, in the department of Hautes-Pyrénées in France, and is best known for experiencing apparitions of a "young lady" who asked for a chapel to be built at the nearby cave-grotto. These apparitions occurred between 11 February and 16 July 1858, and the young lady who appeared to her identified herself as the "Immaculate Conception".

1858

American Civil War: The United States House of Representatives unanimously passes a resolution guaranteeing noninterference with slavery in any state.

1861–1865 conflict in the United States

The American Civil War was a civil war in the United States between the Union and the Confederacy, which was formed in 1861 by states that had seceded from the Union to preserve slavery in the United States, which they saw as threatened because of the election of Abraham Lincoln and the growing abolitionist movement in the North. The war lasted a little over four years, ending with Union victory, the dissolution of the Confederacy and the abolition of slavery, freeing four million African Americans.

1861

King Amadeo I of Spain abdicates, triggering the proclamation of the First Spanish Republic.

King of Spain from 1870 to 1873

Amadeo I, also known as Amadeus, was an Italian prince who reigned as King of Spain from 1870 to 1873. The only king of Spain to come from the House of Savoy, he was the second son of Victor Emmanuel II of Italy and was known for most of his life as the Duke of Aosta, the usual title for a second son in the Savoyard dynasty.

1873

The Meiji Constitution of Japan is adopted.

1890–1947 Empire of Japan constitution

The Constitution of the Empire of Japan, known informally as the Meiji Constitution, was the constitution of the Empire of Japan which was proclaimed on February 11, 1889, and remained in force between November 29, 1890, until May 2, 1947. Enacted after the Meiji Restoration in 1868, it provided for a form of mixed constitutional and absolute monarchy, primarily based on the German and partly based on the British models. In theory, the Emperor of Japan governed the empire with the advice of his ministers; in practice, the Emperor was head of state but the Prime Minister was the actual head of government. Under the Meiji Constitution, the Prime Minister and his Cabinet were not necessarily chosen from the elected members of parliament.

1889

Anton Bruckner's 9th Symphony receives its first performance in Vienna, Austria.

Austrian composer (1824–1896)

Joseph Anton Bruckner was an Austrian composer and organist best known for his symphonies and sacred music, which includes Masses, Te Deum and motets. The symphonies are considered emblematic of the final stage of Austro-German Romanticism because of their rich harmonic language, strongly polyphonic character, and considerable length. Bruckner's compositions helped to define contemporary musical radicalism, owing to their dissonances, unprepared modulations, and roving harmonies.

1903

Pope Pius X publishes the encyclical Vehementer Nos.

Head of the Catholic Church from 1903 to 1914

Pope Pius X was head of the Catholic Church from 4 August 1903 until his death in August 1914. He was known for opposing modernist interpretations of Catholic doctrine, and for promoting liturgical reforms and Thomist scholastic theology. He initiated the preparation of the 1917 Code of Canon Law, the first comprehensive and systemic work of its kind, which was ultimately promulgated by his successor. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.

1906

Friedrich Ebert (SPD) is elected President of Germany.

President of Germany from 1919 to 1925

Friedrich Ebert was a German politician of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) who served as the first president of Germany from 1919 until his death in 1925.

1919

The Kingdom of Italy and the Vatican sign the Lateran Treaty.

Country in Southern Europe (1861–1946)

The Kingdom of Italy was a unitary state that existed from 17 March 1861, when Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia was proclaimed King of Italy, until 18 June 1946, when the monarchy was abolished, following civil discontent that led to an institutional referendum on 2 June, resulting in the establishment of the modern Italian Republic. The kingdom was established through the unification of several states over a decades-long process, called the Risorgimento. That process was influenced by the Savoy-led Kingdom of Sardinia, which was one of Italy's legal predecessor states.

1929

LAPD Red Squad raid on John Reed Club art show in the U.S.

results in the destruction of a dozen political artworks.

The LAPD Red Squad raid on the John Reed Club art show raid took place in Los Angeles, California, United States, on Saturday, February 11, 1933. The LAPD Red Squad, the police department's anti-radical unit, crashed a political meeting and art show hosted by a number of leftist organizations. Red Squad members destroyed several works of art in a manner that suggested racial animus as well as an anti-communist motive.

1933

The Flint sit-down strike ends when General Motors recognizes the United Auto Workers trade union.

1936–37 labor strike at the General Motors plant in Michigan

The 1936–1937 Flint sit-down strike, also known as the General Motors sit-down strike, or the great GM sit-down strike, was a sitdown strike at the General Motors plant in Flint, Michigan, United States. It changed the United Automobile Workers (UAW) from a collection of isolated local unions on the fringes of the industry into a major labor union and led to the unionization of the American automobile industry.

1937

BBC Television produces the world's first ever science fiction television programme, an adaptation of a section of the Karel Čapek play R.U.R.

that coined the term "robot".

BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's oldest and flagship channel, and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television bulletins, primetime drama and entertainment, and live BBC Sport events.

1938

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

1939–1945 global conflict

World War II, or the Second World War, was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers. Nearly all of the world's countries participated. Tanks and aircraft played major roles, the latter enabling the strategic bombing of cities and delivery of the only nuclear weapons used in war. World War II was the deadliest conflict in history, causing the death of 60 to 75 million people. Millions died as a result of massacres, starvation, disease, and genocides, including the Holocaust. After the Allied victory, Germany, Austria, Japan, and Korea were occupied, and German and Japanese leaders were tried for war crimes.

1942

The New Testament of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, the first significant challenge to the Authorized King James Version, is published.

Second division of the Christian biblical canon

The New Testament (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events relating to first-century Christianity. The New Testament's background, the first division of the Christian Bible, has the name of Old Testament, which is based primarily upon the Hebrew Bible; together they are regarded as Sacred Scripture by Christians.

1946

Cold War: U.S.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower denies all appeals for clemency for Julius and Ethel Rosenberg.

The Cold War was a period of international geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc and communist Eastern Bloc. It began in the aftermath of the Second World War and ended with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The term cold war is used because there was no direct fighting between the two superpowers, though each supported opposing sides in regional conflicts known as proxy wars. In addition to the struggle for ideological and economic influence and an arms race in both conventional and nuclear weapons, the Cold War was expressed through technological rivalries such as the Space Race, espionage, propaganda campaigns, embargoes, and sports diplomacy.

1953

Israeli-Soviet relations are severed.

Bilateral relations

The State of Israel is represented in the Russian Federation through an embassy in Moscow and a consulate-general in Saint Petersburg. Russia is represented in Israel through an embassy in Tel Aviv and a consulate in Haifa. Russia is a member of the Quartet on the Middle East. For many years, Israel was a haven for Russian Jews. This was especially the case during the aliyah from the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1990s.

1953

The Federation of Arab Emirates of the South is created as a protectorate of the United Kingdom.

1959–1962 British protectorate in southwest Arabia

The Federation of the Emirates of South Arabia was an organization of states within the British Aden Protectorate in what would become South Yemen. The Federation of six states was inaugurated in the British Colony of Aden on 11 February 1959, and the Federation and Britain signed a “Treaty of Friendship and Protection,” which detailed plans for British financial and military assistance. It subsequently added nine states and, on 4 April 1962, became known as the Federation of South Arabia. This was joined by the Aden Colony on 18 January 1963.

1959

The Beatles record their first album, Please Please Me.

English rock band (1960–1970)

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the most influential band in popular music and were integral to the development of 1960s counterculture and the recognition of popular music as an art form. Rooted in skiffle, beat and 1950s rock 'n' roll, their sound incorporated elements of classical music and traditional pop in innovative ways. The band also explored music styles ranging from folk and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock. As pioneers in recording, songwriting and artistic presentation, the Beatles revolutionised many aspects of the music industry and were often publicised as leaders of the era's youth and sociocultural movements.

1963

Japan launches Ohsumi, becoming the fourth nation to put an object into orbit using its own booster.

First Japanese satellite put into orbit, launched in 1970

The Ohsumi satellite, Japan’s first artificial satellite, was launched on February 11, 1970, at 04:25 UTC by the Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science (ISAS) from the Kagoshima Space Center, which is located on the Ohsumi peninsula in Japan. This location was chosen for its strategic position in coordinating eastward launches, optimizing the rocket's trajectory. The launch vehicle was the Lambda 4S-5, a rocket developed by the ISAS of the University of Tokyo. Such an achievement marks Japan as the fourth nation to independently place a satellite into orbit.

1970

Cold War: The Seabed Arms Control Treaty opens for signature, outlawing nuclear weapons on the ocean floor in international waters.

1971 international agreement limiting nuclear weapons on the sea floor

The Seabed Arms Control Treaty is a multilateral agreement between the United States, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, and 91 other countries banning the emplacement of nuclear weapons or "weapons of mass destruction" on the seabed and the ocean floor beyond a 12 nautical miles coastal zone. It allows signatories to observe all seabed "activities" of any other signatory beyond the 12-mile zone to ensure compliance.

1971

Pacific Western Airlines Flight 314 crashes at the Cranbrook/Canadian Rockies International Airport in Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada with 42 deaths and seven survivors.

1978 aviation accident in Canada

On 11 February 1978, Pacific Western Airlines Flight 314, a Boeing 737-200, crashed at Cranbrook/Canadian Rockies International Airport, near Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada, killing 43 of the 49 people on board.

1978

The Iranian Revolution establishes an Islamic theocracy under the leadership of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Revolution in Iran from 1978 to 1979

The Iranian Revolution, also known as the Islamic Revolution, culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1979. The revolution led to the replacement of the Imperial State of Iran by the Islamic Republic of Iran, as the monarchical government of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was superseded by Ruhollah Khomeini, an Islamist cleric who had headed one of the rebel factions. The ousting of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, formally marked the end of Iran's historical monarchy.

1979

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

President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid activist and statesman who was the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first Black head of state and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His administration focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid by fostering racial reconciliation, a national peace accord and eventual multiracial democracy. Ideologically an African nationalist and socialist, he served as the president of the African National Congress (ANC) party from 1991 to 1997.

1990

Buster Douglas, a 42:1 underdog, knocks out Mike Tyson in ten rounds at Tokyo to win boxing's world Heavyweight title.

American boxer (born 1960)

James "Buster" Douglas is an American former professional boxer who competed between 1981 and 1999. He reigned as undisputed world heavyweight champion in 1990 after defeating Mike Tyson in what is regarded as one of the greatest upsets in sports history.

1990

Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on a mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope.

Space Shuttle orbiter (1984–2011)

Space Shuttle Discovery is a retired American Space Shuttle orbiter. The spaceplane was one of the orbiters from NASA's Space Shuttle program and the third of five fully operational orbiters to be built. Its first mission, STS-41-D, flew from August 30 to September 5, 1984. Over 27 years of service it launched and landed 39 times, aggregating more spaceflights than any other spacecraft as of December 2024. The Space Shuttle launch vehicle had three main components: the Space Shuttle orbiter, a single-use central fuel tank, and two reusable solid rocket boosters. Nearly 25,000 heat-resistant tiles cover the orbiter to protect it from high temperatures on re-entry.

1997

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

Pluto is a dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt, a ring of bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune. It is the ninth-largest and tenth-most-massive known object to directly orbit the Sun. It is the largest known trans-Neptunian object by volume by a small margin, but is less massive than Eris. Like other Kuiper belt objects, Pluto is made primarily of ice and rock and is much smaller than the inner planets. Pluto has roughly one-sixth the mass of the Moon and one-third of its volume. Originally considered a planet, its status was changed when astronomers adopted a new definition of the word with new criteria.

1999

Space Shuttle Endeavour is launched on STS-99 to conduct the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission.

Space Shuttle orbiter (1992–2011)

Space Shuttle Endeavour is a retired orbiter from NASA's Space Shuttle program and the fifth and final operational Shuttle built. It embarked on its first mission, STS-49, in May 1992 and its 25th and final mission, STS-134, in May 2011. STS-134 was expected to be the final mission of the Space Shuttle program, but with the authorization of STS-135 by the United States Congress, Atlantis became the last shuttle to fly.

2000

A Dutch programmer launches the Anna Kournikova virus infecting millions of emails via a trick photo of the tennis star.

2001 computer virus inside email attachment

The Anna Kournikova virus was a computer worm that emerged in February 2001. Disguised as an email attachment purportedly containing a picture of Russian tennis player Anna Kournikova, the worm exploited users' curiosity to propagate itself. Upon opening the attachment, the worm replicated by sending itself to all contacts in the victim's Microsoft Outlook address book, causing widespread email disruptions. Unlike some other viruses of its time, it did not cause direct damage to files or systems.

2001

Rebel East Timorese soldiers seriously wound President José Ramos-Horta.

Rebel leader Alfredo Reinado is killed in the attack.

Timor-Leste, also known as East Timor, officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is a country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the coastal exclave of Oecusse in the island's northwest, and the islands of Atauro and Jaco, for a total land area of 14,950 square kilometres (5,770 sq mi). Timor-Leste shares a land border with Indonesia to the west; Australia is the country's southern neighbour, across the Timor Sea. Dili, on the north coast of Timor, is its capital and largest city.

2008

Arab Spring: The first wave of the Egyptian revolution culminates in the resignation of Hosni Mubarak and the transfer of power to the Supreme Military Council after 17 days of protests.

2010s protests and revolutions in the Arab world

The Arab Spring was a series of pro-democracy anti-government protests, uprisings, and armed rebellions that spread across much of the Arab world in the early 2010s. It began in Tunisia in response to the death of Mohamed Bouazizi by self-immolation. From Tunisia, the protests initially spread to five other countries: Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Syria and Bahrain. The rulers deposed include: Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia, Muammar Gaddafi of Libya, and Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, all in 2011; and Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen in 2012. Major uprisings and social violence occurred, including riots, civil wars, or insurgencies. Sustained street demonstrations took place in Morocco, Iraq, Algeria, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman and Sudan. Minor protests took place in Djibouti, Mauritania, Palestine, Saudi Arabia and the Western Sahara. A major slogan of the demonstrators in the Arab world is ash-shaʻb yurīd isqāṭ an-niẓām!.

2011

The Vatican confirms that Pope Benedict XVI will resign the papacy as a result of his advanced age.

Head of the Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013

Pope Benedict XVI was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 2005 until his resignation in 2013. Following his resignation, he chose to be known as "pope emeritus", a title he held until his death on 31 December 2022.

2013

Militants claiming to be from the Sultanate of Sulu invade Lahad Datu District, Sabah, Malaysia, beginning the Lahad Datu standoff.

1457–1915 state in Southeast Asia

The Sultanate of Sulu was a Sunni Muslim Tausūg state that ruled the Sulu Archipelago, coastal areas of Zamboanga City, and certain portions of Palawan in today's Philippines, alongside parts of present-day Sabah and North Kalimantan in north-eastern Borneo.

2013

A military transport plane crashes in a mountainous area of Oum El Bouaghi Province in eastern Algeria, killing 77 people.

Aviation accident in Algeria

On 11 February 2014, a C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft of the Algerian Air Force, carrying 74 passengers and 4 crew members, crashed into Djebel Fertas mountain near Aïn Kercha, Algeria. Only one person survived.

2014

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 Turkish university student who resisted attempted rape

Özgecan Aslan was a Turkish university student who was murdered while resisting attempted rape on 11 February 2015 on a minibus in Mersin, Turkey. Her burnt body was discovered on 13 February. The murder was committed by minibus driver Ahmet Suphi Altındöken, and his father Necmettin Altındöken and friend Fatih Gökçe were accomplices in covering up the murder. All perpetrators were handed aggravated life sentences without the possibility of parole.

2015

The European Space Agency's Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle is launched on a Vega rocket.

European organisation dedicated to space exploration

The European Space Agency (ESA), pronounced 'ee-sah', is a 23-member international organisation devoted to space exploration. It has its headquarters in Paris and a staff of around 3,000 people globally as of 2025. ESA was founded in 1975 in the context of European integration. Its 2026 annual budget was around €8.3 billion.

2015

A man shoots seven people dead at an education center in Jizan Province, Saudi Arabia.

Mass shooting in Jizan Province, Saudi Arabia

On February 11, 2016, a gunman identified as 30-year-old teacher Abdullah Jaber Al-Malki, killed seven people and wounded one at an education office in Ad Dair, in Saudi Arabia's Jizan Province bordering Yemen. Five of the victims died at the scene, while two of the injured later died at the Al-Dair General Hospital.

2016

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

Country in East Asia

North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu (Amnok) and Tumen rivers, and South Korea to the south at the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The country's western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eastern border is defined by the Sea of Japan. Pyongyang is the capital and largest city.

2017

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

2018 airliner crash in Stepanovskoye, Russia

Saratov Airlines Flight 703 was a domestic passenger flight from Moscow Domodedovo Airport to Orsk Airport in Russia. On 11 February 2018, the aircraft serving the flight, an Antonov An-148-100B, crashed shortly after take-off, killing all 71 people on board – 65 passengers and six crew members.

2018

2024 Finnish presidential election: Alexander Stubb is elected as the 13th president of Finland.

Presidential elections were held in Finland on 28 January 2024, with a second round held on 11 February. Voters elected a president of the Republic for a six-year term. Incumbent president Sauli Niinistö was term-limited and ineligible to run for re-election, having served the maximum two terms, ensuring that the president elected would be the country's thirteenth.

2024

Born on February 11

20 people 1992 – 2002

Liam Lawson

New Zealand racing driver

Liam Jared Lawson is a New Zealand racing driver who competes in Formula One for Racing Bulls.

2002

Bryan Gil

Spanish footballer

Bryan Gil Salvatierra is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a winger or wide midfielder for La Liga club Girona FC and the Spain national team.

2001

Nassir Little

American basketball player

Nassir Shamai Little is an American professional basketball player for the Chiba Jets of the Japanese B.League. Little finished his high school career as one of the top-ranked players in his class, having led Orlando…

2000

Trent Frederic

American ice hockey player

Trent Frederic is an American professional ice hockey player who is a forward for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Boston Bruins of the NHL. The Bruins selected…

1998

Josh Jacobs

American football player

Joshua Cordell Jacobs is an American professional football running back for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide and was selected by the…

1998

Khalid

American singer and songwriter

Khalid Donnel Robinson is an American singer and songwriter from El Paso, Texas. He signed with Courtney Stewart's Right Hand Music Group, an imprint of RCA Records to release his 2016 debut single, "Location" and its…

1998

Damien Harris

American football player

Damien Harris is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he was a two-time national…

1997

Mike Hughes

American football player

Mike Hughes is an American professional football cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels before transferring to Garden City…

1997

Hubert Hurkacz

Polish tennis player

Hubert Hurkacz is a Polish professional tennis player. In August 2024, he has been ranked as high as world No. 6 in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), making him the highest-ranked Polish man in…

1997

Rosé

New Zealand-South Korean singer and dancer

Roseanne Park, known mononymously as Rosé (Korean: 로제), is a New Zealand and South Korean singer and songwriter. Born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, Rosé moved to South Korea and signed with label YG…

1997

Zavier Simpson

American basketball player

Zavier Marquis Simpson is an American professional basketball player for the Ningbo Rockets of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He played college basketball for the Michigan Wolverines.

1997

Daniil Medvedev

Russian tennis player

Daniil Sergeyevich Medvedev is a Russian professional tennis player. He has been ranked as the world No. 1 in men's singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). Medvedev has won 23 ATP Tour-level singles…

1996

Jonathan Tah

German footballer

Jonathan Glao Tah is a German professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the Germany national team.

1996

Lucas Torreira

Uruguayan footballer

Lucas Sebastián Torreira Di Pascua is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Süper Lig club Galatasaray and the Uruguay national team.

1996

Milan Škriniar

Slovak footballer

Milan Škriniar is a Slovak professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe and captains the Slovakia national team.

1995

Rick Karsdorp

Dutch footballer

Rick Karsdorp is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a right-back.

1995

Dansby Swanson

American baseball player

James Dansby Swanson is an American professional baseball shortstop for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Atlanta Braves. The Arizona Diamondbacks selected him…

1994

Ben McLemore

American basketball player

Ben Edward McLemore III is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks and was selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the Sacramento…

1993

Lasse Norman Hansen

Danish track and road cyclist

Lasse Norman Leth; né Norman Hansen; is a Danish professional road and track racing cyclist, who currently rides for Danish club team Team CO:PLAY–Giant Store. During his track cycling career, he has won five medals at…

1992

Taylor Lautner

American actor

Taylor Daniel Lautner is an American actor. He is best known for playing the werewolf Jacob Black in The Twilight Saga film series (2008–2012). His accolades include a Scream Award, seven Teen Choice Awards, two…

1992

See all birthdays on February 11

Died on February 11

20 people 2014 – 2026

James Van Der Beek

American actor (born 1977)

James David Van Der Beek was an American actor. Known for his portrayal of Dawson Leery on The WB's Dawson's Creek (1998–2003), he also played a fictionalized version of himself on the cult ABC sitcom Don't Trust the…

2026

Betsy Arakawa

American classical pianist (born 1959)

Betsy Machiko Arakawa Hackman was an American classical pianist and businesswoman. Born in Hawaii, she performed with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra at the age of eleven and later worked for the television game show…

2025

Moses Lim

Singaporean actor (born 1949)

Moses Lim Aik Ming was a Singaporean actor, television host, comedian, and food critic, best known for playing Tan Ah Teck in the Singaporean sitcom Under One Roof (1995–2003). Together with his comedy partner, Jack…

2025

Allen J. Bard

American chemist (born 1933)

Allen Joseph Bard was an American chemist. He was the Hackerman-Welch Regents Chair Professor and director of the Center for Electrochemistry at the University of Texas at Austin. Bard developed innovations such as the…

2024

Kelvin Kiptum

African long-distance runner(born 1999)

Kelvin Kiptum Cheruiyot was a Kenyan long-distance runner who set the current marathon world record. As of 2026, he still holds three of the seven fastest marathons in history, and was ranked first among the world's…

2024

Donald Spoto

American biographer (born 1941)

Donald Spoto was an American biographer and theologian. He was known for his biographies of people in the worlds of film and theater, and for his books on theology and spirituality.

2023

Vic Damone

American singer, songwriter and actor (born 1928)

Vic Damone was an American traditional pop and big band singer and actor. He was best known for his performances of songs such as the number one hit "You're Breaking My Heart", and other hits such as "On the Street…

2018

Asma Jahangir

Pakistani human-rights lawyer and social activist (born 1952)

Asma Jilani Jahangir was a Pakistani human rights lawyer and social activist who co-founded and chaired the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and AGHS Legal Aid Cell. Jahangir was known for playing a prominent role in…

2018

Jan Maxwell

American stage and television actress (born 1956)

Janice Elaine Maxwell was an American stage and television actress. She was a five-time Tony Award nominee and two-time Drama Desk Award winner. In a career spanning over thirty years, Maxwell was one of the most…

2018

Qazi Wajid

Pakistani drama actor, writer and artist (born 1930)

Qazi Wajid was a Pakistani actor.

2018

Fab Melo

Brazilian basketball player (born 1990)

Fabricio Paulino de Melo was a Brazilian professional basketball player. He played one season in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Boston Celtics before returning to his home country and playing for Liga…

2017

Jaap Rijks

Dutch Olympian (born 1919)

Jacob "Jaap" Rijks was a Dutch equestrian who competed for his home nation in the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. He was born in Nijmegen.

2017

Trish Doan

Korean-Canadian musician (born 1985)

Trisha Jaimee Doan was a Korean-Canadian musician, photographer and television producer, best known for her tenure as the bass guitarist for the Canadian heavy metal band Kittie.

2017

Kevin Randleman

American mixed martial artist and wrestler (born 1971)

Kevin Christopher Randleman was an American mixed martial artist, amateur and professional wrestler, and former UFC Heavyweight Champion. Randleman's background was in collegiate wrestling, in which he became a two-time…

2016

Zeng Xuelin

Thai-Chinese footballer and manager (born 1929)

Zeng Xuelin was a Chinese football manager and player.

2016

Roger Hanin

French actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1925)

Roger Hanin was a French actor and film director, best known for playing the title role in the TV police drama, Navarro.

2015

Bob Simon

American journalist (born 1941)

Robert David Simon was an American television correspondent for CBS News. He covered crises, war, and unrest in 67 countries during his career. Simon reported the withdrawal of American troops from Vietnam, the…

2015

Jerry Tarkanian

American basketball player and coach (born 1930)

Jerry Tarkanian was an American basketball coach. He coached college basketball for 31 seasons over five decades at three schools. He spent the majority of his career coaching with the UNLV Runnin' Rebels, leading them…

2015

Alice Babs

Swedish singer and actress (born 1924)

Hildur Alice Nilson, known by her stage name Alice Babs, was a Swedish singer. She worked in a wide number of genres – Swedish folklore, Elizabethan songs and opera. While she was best known internationally as a jazz…

2014

Tito Canepa

Dominican-American painter (born 1916)

Tito Enrique Canepa Jiménez was a leading Dominican painter of the generation that came of age in the 1930s and 1940s. Canepa's artistic identity was shaped in New York City, where he lived from the age of 21, never…

2014

See all deaths on February 11

What happened on February 11 in history?

On February 11, one notable event in history was 2020: COVID-19 pandemic: The World Health Organization officially names the coronavirus outbreak as COVID-19, with the virus being designated SARS-CoV-2..

This date currently highlights 56 recorded events on thisDay.info, spanning 660 BC – 2024.

DateFebruary 11

Featured year2020

LocationHistorical Location

Events listed56

Explore February 11

Jump between the main pages for this date to compare events, people, and the daily quiz.

Events on February 11 Birthdays on February 11 Deaths on February 11 February 11 quiz

Explore February 11

Test Your Knowledge Famous Birthdays Notable Deaths

February 10 February 12

Explore history for any date on the interactive calendar.

Open the Calendar All Blog Posts

February 11 in History

2020 — COVID-19 pandemic: The World Health Organization officially names the coronavirus outbreak as COVID-19, with the virus being designated SARS-CoV-2

In 2020, COVID-19 pandemic: The World Health Organization officially names the coronavirus outbreak as COVID-19, with the virus being designated SARS-CoV-2. This featured entry focuses on the immediate decision and its direct historical impact.

The global COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an outbreak in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. This helps explain why the event mattered beyond the initial announcement.

It spread to other parts of Asia and then worldwide in early 2020. This clarifies the institutional and public response around the event.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on 30 January 2020 and assessed it as having become a pandemic on 11 March. This shows how the event shaped policy and public communication in the same period.

The WHO declared that the public health emergency caused by COVID-19 had ended in May 2023. This helps explain why the event mattered beyond the initial announcement.

Born on February 11

Died on February 11

More questions about February 11

What happened on February 11?

Why is February 11 remembered in history?

Who was born on February 11?

Who died on February 11?

Explore Related Topics

What happened on February 11 in history?

Explore February 11

Explore February 11

February 11 in History

2020 — COVID-19 pandemic: The World Health Organization officially names the coronavirus outbreak as COVID-19, with the virus being designated SARS-CoV-2

In 2020, COVID-19 pandemic: The World Health Organization officially names the coronavirus outbreak as COVID-19, with the virus being designated SARS-CoV-2. This featured entry focuses on the immediate decision and its direct historical impact.

The global COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an outbreak in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. This helps explain why the event mattered beyond the initial announcement.

It spread to other parts of Asia and then worldwide in early 2020. This clarifies the institutional and public response around the event.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on 30 January 2020 and assessed it as having become a pandemic on 11 March. This shows how the event shaped policy and public communication in the same period.

The WHO declared that the public health emergency caused by COVID-19 had ended in May 2023. This helps explain why the event mattered beyond the initial announcement.

Born on February 11

Died on February 11

More questions about February 11

What happened on February 11?

Why is February 11 remembered in history?

Who was born on February 11?

Who died on February 11?

Explore Related Topics

What happened on February 11 in history?

Explore February 11

Explore February 11

History runs on facts, and this project runs on coffee!