| 1847 |
Inventor Thomas Alva Edison was born in Milan, Ohio. |
| 1858 |
A French girl, Bernadette Soubirous, claimed to have seen a vision of the Virgin Mary near Lourdes. |
| 1929 |
Italy recognized the independence and sovereignty of Vatican City. |
| 1937 |
A sit-down strike against General Motors ended with the company agreeing to recognize the United Automobile Workers Union. |
| 1945 |
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Josef Stalin wrapped up a conference at Yalta in the Crimea by signing a series of agreements on the governance of post-World War II Europe. |
| 1975 |
Margaret Thatcher became the first woman to head a major party in Britain when she was elected leader of opposition Conservative Party. |
| 1979 |
Followers of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini seized power in Iran, nine days after the religious leader returned to his home country following 15 years of exile. |
| 1990 |
South African black activist Nelson Mandela was freed after 27 years in captivity. |
| 2008 |
The Defense Department charged Khalid Sheikh Mohammed with murder and war crimes in connection with the Sept. 11 attacks. |
| 2009 |
Democrat John Dingell of Michigan became the longest-serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives with more than 53 years of service. |
| 2009 |
President Robert Mugabe swore in longtime rival Morgan Tsvangirai as Zimbabwe’s prime minister. |
| 1928 |
Conrad Janis, Actor (“Mork and Mindy”), turns 84 |
| 1934 |
Tina Louise, Actress (“Gilligan’s Island”), turns 78 |
| 1936 |
Burt Reynolds, Actor, turns 76 |
| 1939 |
Gerry Goffin, Songwriter, turns 73 |
| 1941 |
Sergio Mendes, Bandleader, turns 71 |
| 1953 |
Jeb Bush, Former governor of Florida, brother of former President George W. Bush, turns 59 |
| 1961 |
Carey Lowell, Actress (“Law and Order”), turns 51 |
| 1962 |
Sheryl Crow, Rock singer, musician, turns 50 |
| 1969 |
Jennifer Aniston, Actress (“Friends”), turns 43 |
| 1971 |
Damian Lewis, Actor (“Band of Brothers”), turns 41 |
| 1979 |
Brandy, R&B singer, actress, turns 33 |
| 1980 |
Matthew Lawrence, Actor, turns 32 |
| 1981 |
Kelly Rowland, R&B singer (Destiny’s Child), turns 31 |
| 99 |
Bernard Le Bovier Fontenelle 2/11/1657 – 1/9/1757
French scientist and man of letters |
| 73 |
Hans Jarta 2/11/1774 – 4/6/1847
Swedish political activist/administrator/publicist |
| 77 |
William Henry Fox Talbot 2/11/1800 – 9/17/1877
English chemist/pioneer photographer |
| 52 |
Otto Ludwig 2/11/1813 – 2/25/1865
German novelist/playwright/critic |
| 44 |
Thomas, Jr. Hitchcock 2/11/1900 – 4/19/1944
American polo player |
| 69 |
Arne Jacobsen 2/11/1902 – 3/24/1971
Danish architect/designer |
| 50 |
Max Baer 2/11/1909 – 11/21/1959
American boxer |
| 45 |
Farouk I 2/11/1920 – 3/18/1965
King of Egypt,1936-1952 |
| 76 |
Eva Gabor 2/11/1919 – 7/4/1995
Hungarian actress/pianist |
Thomas Alva Edison 2/11/1847 – 10/18/1931 American inventor holding 1,093 patents.
