To remind people of the approach of Lent and Easter, the three Sundays immediately preceding Shrove Tuesday were observed as Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima — Latin for 70th, 60th, and 50th, respectively, indicating roughly the number of days left from each of those Sundays to Easter.
Texas Independence Day celebrates the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836, in Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas. The document listed grievances against the Mexican government by the citizens of this Mexican territory, and then declared Texas a “free, sovereign, and independent republic.” Meanwhile, Mexican dictator Santa Anna was besieging the Alamo as part of a campaign to quell the rebellion.
Born
Sam Houston(president of Texas, 1836-38; 1841-44)–
Theodor Seuss Geisel(better known as Dr. Seuss; author)–
Desi Arnaz(musician & actor)–
Mikhail Sergeyvich Gorbachev(former Soviet political leader)–
Tom Wolfe(writer)–
John Irving(author)–
Karen Carpenter(singer)–
Laraine Newman(comedienne & actress)–
Jon Bon Jovi(musician)–
Daniel Craig(actor)–
Chris Martin(musician)–
Heather McComb(actress)–
Ben Roethlisberger(football player)–
Died
DH Lawrence(writer)–
Philip K. Dick(author)–
Dusty Springfield(singer)–
Jeff Healey(musician)–
Events
John Dix of Boston founded the first school for educating the blind, the New England Asylum for the Blind –
U.S. Congress passed first Reconstruction Act, setting up conditions for reintegration of Southern states into the Union –
Rutherford B. Hayes declared U.S. President by a special Electoral Commission in the disputed election of 1876 –
Hatch Act, providing for the promotion of U.S. agricultural science by creating state agricultural experiment stations, became law –
Congress adopted the Platt Amendment, which established a U.S. protectorate over Cuba –
Martha Washington Hotel, for women only, opened in N.Y.C. –
Puerto Rico became U.S. territory and its inhabitants became U.S. citizens –
World premiere of King Kong –
Battle of Bismarck Sea began, resulting in major victory by U.S. over Japanese shipping and aircraft –
US Air Force Captain James Gallagher and 13 crew members completed the first round-the-world nonstop flight in a Boeing B-50 Superfortress, Lucky Lady II –
First crossing of Antarctica by land completed by Dr. (later Sir) Vivian Fuchs and team. It had taken 99 days. –
Wilt Chamberlain set an NBA scoring record of 100 points as the Philadelphia Warriors defeated the New York Knicks –
Concorde prototype 001, a supersonic jetliner, tested for the first time –
Pioneer 10, unmanned U.S. interplanetary probe, was launched from Cape Kennedy, Florida –
The FDA approved the first commercial blood test for AIDS –
Queen Elizabeth II signed the Australia Act, defining Australia as a sovereign, independent, and federal nation –
A 3.5 earthquake rattled parts of Quebec along the border of the United States –
Microsoft founder Bill Gates received an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II –
The new U.S. $10 bills went into circulation. The redesigned note had shades of orange, yellow, and red –
