Who are famous people born on February 15?

Famous people born on February 15 include: Šimon Nemec, Jakub Kiwior, Zachary Gordon.

What famous people died on February 15?

Notable historical figures who died on February 15 include: Robert Duvall, George Armitage, Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa.

February 15 in History

Q: What happened on February 15 in history?

On February 15, 2013: A meteor explodes over Russia, injuring 1,500 people as a shock wave blows out windows and rocks buildings. This happens unexpectedly only hours before the expected closest ever approach of the larger and unrelated asteroid 2012 DA14.

2013 — A meteor explodes over Russia, injuring 1,500 people as a shock wave blows out windows and rocks buildings

This happens unexpectedly only hours before the expected closest ever approach of the larger and unrelated asteroid 2012 DA14.

February 15 spans 52 recorded events across recorded history — from 438 – 2021. Below is a curated digest of the most significant moments tied to this date.

By thisDay.info Editorial Team · February 15 — Wikipedia

Historical Events 52 events 438 – 2021

Did you know

The Chelyabinsk meteor was estimated to have released around 500 kilotons of energy, approximately 30 times the energy released by the atomic bomb detonated in Hiroshima.

Did you know

The impact location was near the city of Chelyabinsk, which has a population of over 1 million people and is located in the Chelyabinsk Oblast region of Russia.

Did you know

Scientists from the Russian Academy of Sciences and other institutions collaborated to study the meteor and its effects on the environment and local population.

Did you know

The meteor's explosion damaged over 7,000 buildings, including schools and hospitals, and caused significant disruptions to the local economy.

Did you know

NASA and other space agencies around the world took notice of the event, highlighting the need for increased monitoring and detection of near-Earth asteroids to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Roman emperor Theodosius II publishes the law codex Codex Theodosianus.

Roman civilisation from the 8th century BC to the 5th century AD

In modern historiography, ancient Rome is the Roman civilisation from the founding of the Italian city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingdom (753–509 BC), the Roman Republic (509‍–‍27 BC), and the Roman Empire until the fall of the western empire.

438

Khosrau II is crowned king of Persia.

Emperor of the Sasanian Empire from 590 to 628

Khosrow II, commonly known as Khosrow Parviz, is considered to be the last great monarch of pre-Islamic Iran, ruling the Sasanian Empire from 590 to 628, including an interruption of one year.

590

Byzantine emperor Justinian II has his predecessors Leontios and Tiberios III publicly executed in the Hippodrome of Constantinople.

Continuation of the Roman Empire (330–1453)

The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived the events that caused the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD, it endured until the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire in 1453. The term 'Byzantine Empire' was coined only after its demise; its citizens used the term 'Roman Empire' and called themselves 'Romans'.

706

At an assembly at Pavia of Lombard nobles, Arduin of Ivrea is restored to his domains and crowned King of Italy.

Comune in Lombardy, Italy

Pavia is a town and comune in south-western Lombardy, Northern Italy, 35 kilometres south of Milan on the lower Ticino near its confluence with the Po. It has a population of about 73,086.

1002

Pope Paschal II issues Pie Postulatio Voluntatis, recognizing the Order of Hospitallers.

Head of the Catholic Church from 1099 to 1118

Pope Paschal II, born Raniero Raineri di Bleda, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 13 August 1099 to his death in 1118. A monk of the Abbey of Cluny, he was created the cardinal-priest of San Clemente by Pope Gregory VII (1073–85) in 1073. He was consecrated as pope in succession to Pope Urban II (1088–99) on 19 August 1099. His reign of almost twenty years was exceptionally long for a medieval pope.

1113

During the Anglo-French War (1213–1214), an English invasion force led by John, King of England, lands at La Rochelle in France.

Conquest war of Philip II against England

The Anglo-French War was a major medieval conflict that pitted the Kingdom of France against the Kingdom of England and various other states. It was fought in an attempt to curb the rising power of King Philip II of France and regain the Angevin continental possessions King John of England lost to him a decade earlier. It is widely regarded as the first anti-French coalition war and came to an end at the decisive Battle of Bouvines at which Philip defeated England and its allies.

1214

While on board the Niña, Christopher Columbus writes an open letter (widely distributed upon his return to Portugal) describing his discoveries and the unexpected items he came across in the New World.

One of the ships in Columbus' voyage to the West Indies

La Niña was one of the three Spanish ships used by Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus in his first voyage to the West Indies in 1492. As was tradition for Spanish ships of the day, she bore a female saint's name, Santa Clara. However, she was commonly referred to by her nickname, La Niña, which was probably a pun on the name of her owner, Juan Niño of Moguer. She was a standard caravel-type vessel.

1493

Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor.

Holy Roman Emperor from 1637 to 1657

Ferdinand III was Archduke of Austria, King of Hungary and Croatia from 1625, King of Bohemia from 1627 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1637 to his death.

1637

Constantin Cantemir, Prince of Moldavia, and the Holy Roman Empire sign a secret treaty in Sibiu, stipulating that Moldavia would support the actions led by the House of Habsburg against the Ottoman Empire.

Moldavian nobleman (1612–1693)

Constantin or Constantine Cantemir was a Moldavian nobleman, soldier, and statesman who served as voivode between 25 June 1685 and 27 March 1693. He established the Cantemir dynasty which—with interruptions—ruled Moldavia prior to the imposition of phanariot rule.

1690

The city of St.

Louis is established in Spanish Louisiana (now in Missouri, USA).

St. Louis is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while its metropolitan area, which extends into Illinois, had an estimated population of over 2.8 million. It is the largest metropolitan area in Missouri and the second-largest in Illinois. The city's combined statistical area is the 20th-largest in the United States.

1764

The Roman Republic is proclaimed after Louis-Alexandre Berthier, a general of Napoleon, had invaded the city of Rome five days earlier.

Republic on the Italian Peninsula (1798–1799)

The Roman Republic was a sister republic of the First French Republic that existed from 1798 to 1799. It was proclaimed on 15 February 1798 after Louis-Alexandre Berthier, a general of the French Revolutionary Army, had occupied the city of Rome on 11 February. It was led by a Directory of five men and comprised territory conquered from the Papal States. The Roman Republic immediately incorporated two other former-papal revolutionary administrations, the Tiberina Republic and the Anconine Republic. It proved short-lived, as Neapolitan troops restored the Papal States in October 1799.

1798

Serbia's Sretenje Constitution briefly comes into effect.

The Constitution of the Principality of Serbia known as the Sretenje Constitution, was the first constitution of the Principality of Serbia, adopted in Kragujevac in 1835. The Constitution was written by Dimitrije Davidović. The Constitution divided the power into legislative, executive and judicial branches, which is still considered the standard of democracy and constitutionality today.

1835

The Helsinki Cathedral (known as St.

Nicholas' Church at time) is officially inaugurated in Helsinki, Finland.

Helsinki Cathedral is the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran cathedral of the Diocese of Helsinki, located in the neighborhood of Kruununhaka in the centre of Helsinki, Finland, at the Senate Square. The church was originally built from 1830 to 1852 as a tribute to the Grand Duke of Finland, Emperor Nicholas I of Russia. It was also known as St Nicholas's Church until Finland declared its full independence in 1917. It is a major landmark of the city, and one of the most famous historical structures in Finland as a whole when viewed globally.

1852

American Civil War: Confederates commanded by Brig.

Gen. John B. Floyd attack General Ulysses S. Grant's Union forces besieging Fort Donelson in Tennessee. Unable to break the fort's encirclement, the Confederates surrender the following day.

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 ended with Union victory, the dissolution of the Confederacy and the abolition of slavery, freeing four million African Americans.

1862

Stevens Institute of Technology is founded in New Jersey, US, and offers the first Bachelor of Engineering degree in mechanical engineering.

Private university in Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.

Stevens Institute of Technology is a private research university in Hoboken, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1870, it is one of the oldest technological universities in the United States and was the first college in America solely dedicated to mechanical engineering. The 55-acre campus encompasses Castle Point, the highest point in Hoboken, a quad, and 43 academic, student and administrative buildings.

1870

First issue of the Bulletin de la Fédération jurassienne, the first or one of the first anarchist newspapers.

Swiss anarchist newspaper (1872–1878)

The Bulletin de la Fédération jurassienne was an anarchist newspaper published between February 1872 and March 1878 in Sonvilier, Le Locle, and later La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. It was one of the first anarchist periodicals in history, serving as the official organ for the Jura Federation and the Anti-Authoritarian International during the foundational years of the anarchist movement. Although the Bulletin never exceeded a circulation of 600 copies per issue, some historians argue that it played 'a very important role' from both a theoretical and historical perspective.

1872

Women's rights: US President Rutherford B.

Hayes signs a bill allowing female attorneys to argue cases before the Supreme Court of the United States.

Women's rights are the rights and entitlements claimed for women and girls worldwide. They formed the basis for the women's rights movement in the 19th century and the feminist movements during the 20th and 21st centuries. In some countries, these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behavior, whereas in others, they are ignored and suppressed. They differ from broader notions of human rights through claims of an inherent historical and traditional bias against the exercise of rights by women and girls, in favor of men and boys.

1879

The battleship USS Maine explodes and sinks in Havana harbor in Cuba, killing about 274 of the ship's roughly 354 crew.

The disaster pushes the United States to declare war on Spain.

USS Maine was a United States Navy ship that sank in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898, contributing to the outbreak of the Spanish–American War in April. U.S. newspapers claimed that the Spanish were responsible for the ship's destruction, while evidence points to an accident caused by an internal coal bunker fire. The phrase "Remember the Maine! To hell with Spain!" became a rallying cry for action. The Maine explosion served as a catalyst which accelerated the events leading up to the war.

1898

Tsar Nicholas II of Russia issues a declaration known as the February Manifesto, which reduces the autonomy of the Grand Duchy of Finland, thus beginning the first period of oppression.

Emperor of Russia from 1894 to 1917

Nicholas II was Emperor of Russia from 1 November 1894 until his abdication in 1917. He was the last Russian monarch before the Russian Revolution and oversaw the Russian Empire's participation in World War I. In 1918, the Romanovs were murdered, putting an end to the Romanov dynasty.

1899

The Flores Theater fire in Acapulco, Mexico, kills 250.

City in the Mexican state of Guerrero

Acapulco de Juárez, commonly called Acapulco, is a city and major seaport in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, 380 kilometres (240 mi) south of Mexico City. Located on a deep, semicircular bay, Acapulco has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico's history. It is a port of call for shipping and cruise lines running between Panama and San Francisco, California. The city of Acapulco is the largest in the state, far larger than the state capital Chilpancingo. Acapulco is also Mexico's largest beach and balneario resort city. Acapulco de Juárez, Guerrero is the municipal seat of the municipality of Acapulco, Guerrero.

1909

Greece becomes the last European country to adopt the Gregorian calendar.

Country in Southeast Europe

Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country of 10 million people on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. With nine regions and thousands of islands, it has the longest coastline on the Mediterranean. The Ionian Sea is west of the mainland, Albania northwest, and North Macedonia and Bulgaria north. Turkey is east both by land and the Aegean Sea. The capital, Athens, is the largest Greek city, followed by Thessaloniki and Patras.

1923

The 1925 serum run to Nome: The second delivery of serum arrives in Nome, Alaska.

Transport of medication by dog-sled relay across Alaska

The 1925 serum run to Nome, also known as the Great Race of Mercy and The Serum Run, was a transport of diphtheria antitoxin by dog sled relay across the US territory of Alaska by 20 mushers and about 150 sled dogs across 674 miles (1,085 km) in 5+1⁄2 days, saving the small town of Nome and the surrounding communities from a developing epidemic of diphtheria.

1925

In Miami, Giuseppe Zangara attempts to assassinate US President-elect Franklin D.

Roosevelt, but instead shoots Chicago mayor Anton J. Cermak, who dies of his wounds on March 6.

Miami is a coastal city in the southeast portion of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the second-most populous city proper in Florida, with a population of 442,241 at the 2020 census. The Miami metropolitan area in South Florida has an estimated 6.39 million residents, ranking as the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the Southeast and eighth-largest metropolitan area in the United States. Miami has the third-largest skyline in the U.S. with over 300 high-rises, 70 of which exceed 492 ft (150 m). It is the county seat of Miami-Dade County.

1933

Paul Creston's Saxophone Sonata is officially premiered at the Carnegie Chamber Hall by saxophonist Cecil Leeson, who had commissioned it, and the composer.

American classical composer (1906–1985)

Paul Creston was an American composer of classical music. He composed six symphonies and several concertante works for violin, piano, accordion, marimba and saxophone. He has been described as a leading American Neo-Romantic composer of his time.

1940

World War II: Fall of Singapore.

Following an assault by Japanese forces, the British General Arthur Percival surrenders. About 80,000 Indian, United Kingdom and Australian soldiers become prisoners of war, the largest surrender of British-led military personnel in history.

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

World War II: The assault on Monte Cassino, Italy, begins.

Battle of World War II

The Battle of Monte Cassino, also known as the Battle for Rome, was a series of four military assaults by the Allies against Axis forces in Italy during the Italian Campaign of World War II. The objective was to break through the Winter Line and facilitate an advance towards Rome.

1944

World War II: The Narva Offensive begins.

Battle in Estonia during WW II

This is a sub-article to Battle of Narva (1944).

1944

World War II: Third day of bombing in Dresden.

Aerial bombing attacks in 1945

In four raids between 13 and 15 February 1945, 772 heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force (RAF) and 527 of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) dropped more than 3,900 tons of high-explosive bombs and incendiary devices on the German city of Dresden. The bombing and the resulting firestorm destroyed more than 1,600 acres (6.5 km2) of the city centre. Up to 25,000 people were killed. Three more USAAF air raids followed, two occurring on 2 March aimed at the city's railway marshalling yard and one smaller raid on 17 April aimed at industrial areas.

1945

ENIAC, the first electronic general-purpose computer, is formally dedicated at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

First electronic general-purpose digital computer

ENIAC was the first programmable, electronic, general-purpose digital computer, completed in 1945. Other computers had some of these features, but ENIAC was the first to have them all. ENIAC was Turing-complete and able to solve "a large class of numerical problems" through reprogramming.

1946

Gerald Lankester Harding and Roland de Vaux begin excavations at Cave 1 of the Qumran Caves, where they will eventually discover the first seven Dead Sea Scrolls.

British archaeologist (1901–1979)

Gerald Lankester Harding CBE was a British archaeologist who was the director of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan from 1936 to 1956. His tenure spanned the period in which the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered and brought to public awareness. Without his efforts many of the scrolls might have disappeared into private collections never to be seen again.

1949

King George VI of the United Kingdom is buried in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

King of the United Kingdom from 1936 to 1952

George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor of India from 1936 until the British Raj was dissolved in August 1947, and the first Head of the Commonwealth following the London Declaration of 1949.

1952

Canada and the United States agree to construct the Distant Early Warning Line, a system of radar stations in the far northern Arctic regions of Canada and Alaska.

Former system of radar stations in the northern Arctic region of Canada

The Distant Early Warning Line, also known as the DEW Line or Early Warning Line, was a system of radar stations in the northern Arctic region of Canada, with additional stations along the north coast and Aleutian Islands of Alaska, in addition to the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Iceland. It was set up to detect incoming bombers of the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and provide early warning of any sea-and-land invasion.

1954

Sabena Flight 548 crashes in Belgium, killing 73, including the entire United States figure skating team along with several of their coaches and family members.

1961 fatal crash of a Boeing 707 in Belgium

Sabena Flight 548 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Idlewild Airport in New York City to Brussels Airport in Belgium. On 15 February 1961, the Boeing 707-329 operating the flight crashed on approach to Brussels Airport, killing all 72 people on board and one person on the ground. The fatalities included the entire United States figure skating team, which was traveling to the World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia. The precise cause of the crash remains unknown; the most likely explanation was thought to be a failure of the mechanism that adjusts the tail stabilizer.

1961

The maple leaf is adopted as the flag of Canada, replacing the Canadian Red Ensign flag.

Leaf of the maple tree

The maple leaf is the characteristic leaf of the maple tree. It is used as the national symbol of Canada.

1965

Dominicana de Aviación Flight 603 crashes into the Caribbean Sea after takeoff from Las Américas International Airport, killing 102, including members of the Puerto Rico women's national volleyball team and lightweight boxer Carlos Cruz.

1970 aviation accident in the Caribbean Sea

On February 15, 1970, Dominicana de Aviación Flight 603, en route from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to San Juan, Puerto Rico crashed into the Caribbean Sea shortly after takeoff. The crash killed all 97 passengers and 5 crew on board, making it the deadliest aviation disaster to occur within the Dominican Republic until the crash of Birgenair Flight 301 in 1996, in the Caribbean Sea, leaving 189 dead.

1970

The decimalisation of the currencies of the United Kingdom and Ireland is completed on Decimal Day.

Converting a measuring system to a decimal base

Decimalisation or decimalization is the conversion of a system of currency or of weights and measures to units related by powers of 10.

1971

Sound recordings are granted U.S.

federal copyright protection for the first time.

Sound recording and reproduction is the electrical, mechanical, electronic, or digital inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording.

1972

José María Velasco Ibarra, serving as President of Ecuador for the fifth time, is overthrown by the military for the fourth time.

24th President of Ecuador

José María Velasco Ibarra was an Ecuadorian politician. He became president of Ecuador five non-consecutive times from 1934 to 1972. Only in 1952–1956 did he complete a full term. In his four other terms, he was removed by military force, and several times he was installed as president through a military coup.

1972

The drilling rig Ocean Ranger sinks during a storm off the coast of Newfoundland, killing 84 workers.

Integrated system to drill wells

A drilling rig is an integrated system that drills wells, such as oil or water wells, or holes for piling and other construction purposes, into the earth's subsurface. Drilling rigs can be massive structures housing equipment used to drill water wells, oil wells, or natural gas extraction wells, or they can be small enough to be moved manually by one person and such are called augers. Drilling rigs can sample subsurface mineral deposits, test rock, soil and groundwater physical properties, and also can be used to install sub-surface fabrications, such as underground utilities, instrumentation, tunnels or wells. Drilling rigs can be mobile equipment mounted on trucks, tracks or trailers, or more permanent land or marine-based structures. The term "rig" therefore generally refers to the complex equipment that is used to penetrate the surface of the Earth's crust.

1982

Soviet–Afghan War: The Soviet Union officially announces that all of its troops have left Afghanistan.

1979–1989 armed conflict in South Asia

The Soviet–Afghan War took place in Afghanistan from December 1979 to February 1989. Marking the beginning of the 47-year-long Afghan conflict, it saw the Soviet Union and the Communist-led Afghan military fight against the rebelling Afghan mujahideen, aided by Pakistan. While backed by various countries and organizations, the majority of the mujahideen's support came from Pakistan, the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Iran, and the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, in addition to a large influx of foreign fighters known as the Afghan Arabs. American and British involvement on the side of the mujahideen escalated the Cold War, ending a short period of relaxed Soviet Union–United States relations.

1989

The Visegrád Group, establishing cooperation to move toward free-market systems, is signed by the leaders of Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland.

Cultural and political alliance in Europe

The Visegrád Group is a cultural and political alliance of four Central European countries: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. The alliance aims to advance co-operation in military, economic, cultural and energy affairs. All four nations are also members of the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and the Three Seas Initiative.

1991

Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer is sentenced in Milwaukee to 15 terms of life in prison.

American serial killer (1960–1994)

Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer, also known as the Milwaukee Cannibal or the Milwaukee Monster, was an American serial killer and sex offender who killed and dismembered seventeen men and boys between 1978 and 1991.

1992

Air Transport International Flight 805 crashes in Swanton, Ohio, near Toledo Express Airport, killing all four people on board.

1992 aviation accident in Ohio

Air Transport International Flight 805 was a regularly scheduled domestic cargo flight from Seattle to Toledo operated by Burlington Air Express. On February 15, 1992, the Douglas DC-8 operating the flight crashed during a second go-around attempt at Toledo Express Airport, killing all four people on board. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the accident was caused by pilot error due to the aircraft's control not being maintained.

1992

At the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China, a Long March 3B rocket carrying Intelsat 708 veers off course and crashes into a rural village after liftoff, killing somewhere between six and 100 people.

Chinese satellite launch facility

The Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC), also known as the Xichang Space Center, is a spaceport in China. It is located in Zeyuan town (泽远镇), Mianning county, approximately 64 kilometers (40 mi) northwest of Xichang, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan.

1996

Then-Prime Minister of Canada Jean Chrétien applies a chokehold to protester Bill Clennett, an incident later named the Shawinigan Handshake.

Head of government of Canada

The prime minister of Canada is the head of government of Canada. Under the Westminster system, the prime minister governs with the confidence of a majority of the elected House of Commons; as such, the prime minister typically sits as a member of Parliament (MP) and leads the largest party or a coalition of parties. As first minister, the prime minister selects ministers to form the Cabinet.

1996

The first draft of the complete human genome is published in Nature.

Complete set of nucleic acid sequences for humans

The human genome is a complete set of DNA sequences for each of the 22 autosomes and the two distinct sex chromosomes. A small DNA molecule is found within individual mitochondria. These are usually treated separately as the nuclear genome and the mitochondrial genome.

2001

Protests against the Iraq war take place in over 600 cities worldwide.

It is estimated that between eight million and 30 million people participate, making this the largest peace demonstration in history.

On 15 February 2003, a coordinated day of protests was held across the world in which people in more than 600 cities expressed opposition to the imminent Iraq War. It was part of a series of protests and political events that had begun in 2002 and continued as the invasion, war, and occupation took place. The day was described by social movement researchers as "the largest protest event in human history".

2003

The last Ariane 4 rocket is launched from the Guiana Space Centre, carrying Intelsat 907.

Rocket

The Ariane 4 was a European expendable launch vehicle, developed by the Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES), the French space agency, for the European Space Agency (ESA). It was manufactured by ArianeGroup and marketed by Arianespace. Since its first flight on 15 June 1988 until the final flight on 15 February 2003, it attained 113 successful launches out of 116 total launches.

2003

Two trains collide in the Halle train collision in Halle, Belgium, killing 19 and injuring 171 people.

2010 Belgian train wreck

The Halle train collision was a collision between two NMBS/SNCB passenger trains carrying a combined 250 to 300 people in Buizingen, in the municipality of Halle, Flemish Brabant, Belgium, on 15 February 2010. The crash occurred in snowy conditions at 08:28 CET (07:28 UTC), during rush hour, on railway line 96 (Brussels–Quévy) about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from Brussels between P-train E3678 from Leuven to Braine-le-Comte and IC-train E1707 from Quiévrain to Liège. A third train was able to come to a stop just in time. The collision killed 19 people and injured 171, making it the deadliest rail crash in Belgium in over fifty years.

2010

Three hundred and sixty people die in a fire at a Honduran prison in the city of Comayagua.

Deadly 2012 fire in Honduras

A deadly fire occurred on 14–15 February 2012 at the National Penitentiary in Comayagua, Honduras, killing 361 people. Prisoners trapped in their cells died by burning or suffocation; dozens were burned beyond recognition. The fire started late in the evening of 14 February. According to one prisoner, calls for help went out almost immediately and "for a while, nobody listened. But after a few minutes, which seemed like an eternity, a guard appeared with keys and let us out." Rescue forces did not arrive until about 40 minutes later.

2012

Sixty people drown and hundreds are missing after a boat sinks on the Congo River near the village of Longola Ekoti, Mai-Ndombe Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Ship sinking

On 15 February 2021, a ship sank in the Congo River in Mai-Ndombe province, near Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo killing at least 60 people.

2021

Born on February 15

20 people 1986 – 2004

Šimon Nemec

Slovak ice hockey player

Šimon Nemec is a Slovak professional ice hockey player who is a defenceman for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted second overall by the Devils in the 2022 NHL entry draft, the…

2004

Jakub Kiwior

Polish footballer

Jakub Piotr Kiwior is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Primeira Liga club Porto, on loan from Premier League club Arsenal, and the Poland national team. He will join Porto in a permanent deal…

2000

Zachary Gordon

American actor

Zachary Adam Gordon is an American actor. He played the lead role of Greg Heffley in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid film series (2010–2012), which earned him nominations for a Kids' Choice Award and seven Young Artist Awards.…

1998

George Russell

English racing driver

George William Russell is a British racing driver who competes in Formula One for Mercedes. Russell has won six Formula One Grands Prix across eight seasons.

1998

Derrick Jones Jr.

American basketball player

Derrick Labrent Jones Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the UNLV Runnin' Rebels. He is…

1997

Justin Reid

American football player

Justin Quintin Reid is an American professional football safety for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal. He was selected by the Houston…

1997

Megan Thee Stallion

American rapper

Megan Jovon Ruth Pete, known professionally as Megan Thee Stallion, is an American rapper, songwriter, and actress. She gained recognition when videos of her freestyling went viral on social media, leading her to sign…

1995

Sodapoppin

American Twitch streamer and internet personality

Thomas Chance Morris, known professionally as Sodapoppin, is an American Twitch streamer and YouTuber. He has one of the largest followings on Twitch, with over 8.9 million followers as of November 26, 2024; he also has…

1994

Ravi

South Korean rapper

Kim Won-sik, better known by his stage name Ravi (라비), is a South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and founder of the record label Groovl1n and The L1VE. He is a former member of the South Korean boy…

1993

Geoffrey Kondogbia

Central African footballer

Geoffrey Edwin Kondogbia is a professional footballer who plays for Ligue 1 club Marseille, which he captains. Primarily a defensive midfielder, he has also played centre-back on occasion.

1993

Manuel Lanzini

Argentine footballer

Manuel Lanzini is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Argentine Primera División club Vélez Sarsfield.

1993

Ángel Sepúlveda

Mexican footballer

Ángel Baltazar Sepúlveda Sánchez is a Mexican professional footballer who plays as a forward for Liga MX club Guadalajara.

1991

Rich Swann

American wrestler

Richard Anthony Swann is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where he is a former member of First Class. In TNA, he is a former Impact World Champion, TNA World…

1991

Callum Turner

English actor

Callum Robilliard Turner is a British actor. After working as a fashion model, he began working in film and television. He had lead roles in the drama film Queen and Country (2014) and the TV mystery drama Glue (2014),…

1990

Mark Canha

American baseball player

Mark David Canha is an American professional baseball outfielder and first baseman who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, New York Mets, Milwaukee…

1989

Papu Gómez

Argentine footballer

Alejandro Darío "Papu" Gómez Villaverde is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward, left winger or attacking midfielder for Italian Serie B club Padova.

1988

Rui Patrício

Portuguese footballer

Rui Pedro dos Santos Patrício is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

1988

Valeri Bojinov

Bulgarian footballer

Valeri Emilov Bojinov is a Bulgarian former professional footballer who played as a striker. He played for eighteen different clubs during his various spells in Italy, as well as in England, Portugal, Bulgaria, Serbia,…

1986

Johnny Cueto

Dominican baseball player

Johnny Cueto Ortiz is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, San Francisco Giants, Chicago…

1986

Amber Riley

American actress and singer

Amber Patrice Riley, sometimes known mononymously as Riley, is an American actress, singer and songwriter. She is best known for her portrayal of Mercedes Jones on the Fox comedy-drama series Glee (2009–2015), for which…

1986

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20 people 2012 – 2026

Robert Duvall

American actor and filmmaker (born 1931)

Robert Selden Duvall was an American actor, filmmaker, and producer, best known for his roles in films of the later 20th century. Duvall began acting professionally on stage in 1952, performing in summer plays at the…

2026

George Armitage

American film director (born 1942)

George Brendan Armitage was an American filmmaker and writer best known for directing the films Miami Blues (1990) and Grosse Pointe Blank (1997), as well as for frequent collaborations with Roger Corman.

2025

Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa

Portuguese businessman (born 1937)

Jorge Nuno de Lima Pinto da Costa was a Portuguese sports executive, who was president of Portuguese sports club Porto from 1982 until 2024. He was the president with most titles won (69) in the history of football and…

2025

Muhsin Hendricks

South African imam, Islamic scholar and LGBT activist (born 1967)

Muhsin Hendricks was a South African imam, Islamic scholar and LGBTQ activist. He was involved in various LGBTQ Muslim advocacy groups and was an advocate for greater acceptance of LGBTQ people within Islam. He has been…

2025

Raquel Welch

American actress and singer (born 1940)

Jo Raquel Welch was an American actress. Welch first gained attention for her role in Fantastic Voyage (1966), after which she signed a long-term contract with 20th Century Fox. They lent her contract to the British…

2023

Bappi Lahiri

Indian singer, composer and record producer (born 1952)

Bappi Aparesh Lahiri, also known as Bappi Da, was an Indian singer, composer and record producer. He popularised the use of synthesised disco music in Indian music industry and sang some of his own compositions. He was…

2022

P.J. O'Rourke

American author, humorist, and journalist (born 1947)

Patrick Jake O'Rourke was an American author, journalist, and political satirist who wrote twenty-two books on subjects as diverse as politics, cars, etiquette, and economics. His books Parliament of Whores and Give War…

2022

Caroline Flack

English actress and TV presenter (born 1979)

Caroline Louise Flack was an English television presenter. Flack grew up in Norfolk and took an interest in dancing and theatre while at school. She began her professional career as an actress, starring in the comedy…

2020

Lee Radziwill

American socialite (born 1933)

Princess Caroline Lee Radziwill, previously known as Lee Canfield and Lee Ross, was an American socialite, public relations executive, and interior designer. She was the younger sister of former First Lady Jacqueline…

2019

Stuart McLean

Canadian radio broadcaster (born 1948)

Andrew Stuart McLean, was a Canadian radio broadcaster, humorist, monologist, and author, best known as the host of the CBC Radio program The Vinyl Cafe. Often described as a "story-telling comic" although his stories…

2017

George Gaynes

Finnish-American actor (born 1917)

George Gaynes was a Dutch-American singer, actor, and voice artist. Born to a Dutch father and a Russian mother in the Grand Duchy of Finland of the Russian Empire, he served in the Royal Netherlands Navy during World…

2016

Vanity

Canadian-American singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress (born 1959)

Denise Katherine Matthews, known professionally as Vanity, was a Canadian singer, songwriter, dancer, model, and actress. Known for her image as a sex symbol in the 1980s, in the 1990s she renounced her career as Vanity…

2016

Haron Amin

Afghan diplomat, Afghan Ambassador to Japan (born 1969)

Mohammad Haron Amin was the Afghan ambassador to Japan from 2004–2009. He is also known for his role as spokesman for the Northern Alliance during the U.S.-led invasion of his country after the events of September 11,…

2015

Arnaud de Borchgrave

American journalist and author (born 1926)

Arnaud Charles Paul Marie Philippe de Borchgrave was a Belgian–American journalist who specialized in international politics. Following a long career with the news magazine Newsweek, covering 17 wars in 30 years as a…

2015

Steve Montador

Canadian ice hockey player (born 1979)

Steven Richard "The Matador" Montador was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 571 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers, Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins,…

2015

Thelma Estrin

American computer scientist and engineer (born 1924)

Thelma Estrin was an American computer scientist and engineer who did pioneering work in the fields of expert systems and biomedical engineering. Estrin was one of the first to apply computer technology to healthcare…

2014

Christopher Malcolm

Scottish-Canadian actor, director, and producer (born 1946)

Christopher Malcolm was a Scottish-Canadian actor, director, and producer. He first achieved notoriety for his role as Brad Majors in the original stage production of The Rocky Horror Show.

2014

Sanan Kachornprasart

Thai general and politician (born 1935)

Sanan Kachornprasart was a Thai politician and military officer. He was deputy prime minister in the cabinet of Abhisit Vejjajiva, and was chief advisor of Chartthaipattana Party.

2013

Ahmed Rajib Haider

Bangladeshi atheist blogger

Ahmed Rajib Haider was a Bangladeshi atheist blogger. He used to blog in the blogging communities namely somewhereinblog.net, amarblog.com and nagorikblog.com and used the pseudonym Thaba Baba.

2013

Cyril Domb

English-Israeli physicist and academic (born 1920)

Cyril Domb FRS was a British-Israeli theoretical physicist, best known for his lecturing and writing on the theory of phase transitions and critical phenomena of fluids. He was also known in the Orthodox Jewish world…

2012

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What happened on February 15 in history?

On February 15, one notable event in history was 2013: A meteor explodes over Russia, injuring 1,500 people as a shock wave blows out windows and rocks buildings. This happens unexpectedly only hours before the expected closest ever approach of the larger and unrelated asteroid 2012 DA14..

This date currently highlights 52 recorded events on thisDay.info, spanning 438 – 2021.

DateFebruary 15

Featured year2013

LocationHistorical Location

Events listed52

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2013 — A meteor explodes over Russia, injuring 1,500 people as a shock wave blows out windows and rocks buildings

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February 15 in History

2013 — A meteor explodes over Russia, injuring 1,500 people as a shock wave blows out windows and rocks buildings

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Died on February 15

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