1818⚡ Event
Chile proclaims independence
Chile formally proclaims its independence from Spain, securing its place as a sovereign nation in South America.
politicswar
February 12 – February 18 in History
DayFacts Week 7 · 7 days
This recurring calendar span contains 113 historical entries in the DayFacts collection. The sections below preview entries from these 7 days; use the date links to open each date collection.
Selected Anniversaries
75th Anniversary
First Australian Parliament opens
25th Anniversary
NEAR Shoemaker lands on Eros
25th Anniversary
Sampit conflict
Explore the Date Pages
Historical Events (February 12 – February 18)(20)
1898⚡ Event
USS Maine Explodes
The USS Maine explodes and sinks in Havana Harbor, Cuba. This event significantly contributed to the outbreak of the Spanish-American War.
war
1924⚡ Event
Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue premieres
George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue premieres at Aeolian Hall in New York City, blending classical and jazz music.
musicarts
1951⚡ Event
First Australian Parliament opens
The first Parliament of Australia was opened by King George VI. This marked a significant step in the nation's governance.
politicslaw
1964⚡ Event
Gabonese coup d'état
Gabonese military officers overthrew President Léon M'ba. French forces reinstated him two days later, honoring a 1960 treaty.
politicswar
1973⚡ Event
First release of American prisoners from Hanoi
The first group of American prisoners of war is released from North Vietnam following the Paris Peace Accords.
warpolitics
1974⚡ Event
Helicopter lands on White House South Lawn
A U.S. Army soldier stole a Bell UH-1 helicopter and landed it on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C.
war
1978⚡ Event
Belfast Restaurant Bombing
On February 17, 1978, the Provisional Irish Republican Army bombed a restaurant near Belfast, Northern Ireland, killing twelve people and injuring thirty others.
warpolitics
1983⚡ Event
Ash Wednesday bushfires
The Ash Wednesday bushfires devastated large areas of South Australia and Victoria, resulting in 75 deaths and 2,676 injuries.
disaster
1985⚡ Event
Hezbollah manifesto release
The Lebanese Shia organization Hezbollah released a manifesto outlining its ideology and goals.
politics
1987⚡ Event
Operation Pretense Corruption Indictments
Federal agents issued indictments against county supervisors in Mississippi following Operation Pretense. The operation exposed massive corruption in the state's local governments.
lawpolitics
1991⚡ Event
Gulf War Bombing of Baghdad Shelter
The United States Air Force dropped two laser-guided bombs on an air-raid shelter in Baghdad, killing at least 408 civilians. The site was believed to be a military command site.
warpolitics
1992⚡ Event
Sri Temasek Declared National Monument
Sri Temasek, the official residence of the prime minister of Singapore, was declared a national monument.
politics
1996⚡ Event
Silver Spring train collision
Eleven people died in a train collision in Silver Spring, Maryland, leading to new federal rules for passenger car design.
disasterlawtechnology
1999⚡ Event
Arrest of Abdullah Öcalan
Abdullah Öcalan, a key figure in the Kurdistan Workers' Party, was apprehended by Turkish security forces in Nairobi, Kenya. His arrest marked a significant development in the conflict involving the PKK.
politicswar
2001⚡ Event
Sampit conflict
Inter-ethnic violence between the Dayak and the Madurese broke out in Sampit, Indonesia. This caused more than 500 deaths and the displacement of 100,000 Madurese.
warpolitics
2005⚡ Event
YouTube Founded
The online video platform YouTube was founded by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim.
technologyentertainment
2007⚡ Event
Zahedan Bombings
The first of several bombings in Zahedan, Iran, killed 18 members of the Revolutionary Guards.
politicsdisaster
2010⚡ Event
2010 Nigerien coup d'état
In a coup d'état, military rebels attacked the presidential palace in Niamey, Niger. They replaced President Mamadou Tandja with a ruling junta.
politicswar
2010⚡ Event
Pune bombing
A terrorist bombing at a bakery popular among foreigners in Pune, India, killed 17 people and injured 60 others.
disasterpolitics
Births (February 12 – February 18)(15)
1809🎂 Birth
Charles Darwin born
English naturalist Charles Darwin is born in Shrewsbury. His theory of evolution fundamentally changed biology.
Source: Charles DarwinSource link checked
science
1809🎂 Birth
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was born in Hodgenville, Kentucky. He would later become the 16th President of the United States.
Source: Abraham LincolnSource link checked
politics
1994🎂 Birth
Kemal Bilmez
Kemal Bilmez, a Belgian politician, was born on February 12, 1994.
politics
1997🎂 Birth
Derrick Jones Jr.
American basketball player Derrick Jones Jr. was born.
sports
2000🎂 Birth
Koffee
Koffee, a Jamaican singer, songwriter, and rapper, was born.
musicentertainment
Deaths (February 12 – February 18)(15)
2000🕊️ Death
Charles Schulz dies
American cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip, dies in Santa Rosa, California.
artsentertainment
2017🕊️ Death
Ricardo Arias Calderón
Ricardo Arias Calderón, a Panamanian politician, died at the age of 84.
politics
2018🕊️ Death
Ruud Lubbers
Ruud Lubbers was a Dutch politician and diplomat, serving as Prime Minister and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
politicslaw
2018🕊️ Death
Prince Henrik of Denmark
Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark, died at the age of 83. He was a French-born Danish royal.
politics
2019🕊️ Death
Lyndon LaRouche
Lyndon LaRouche was an American political activist.
politics
2023🕊️ Death
Raquel Welch
Raquel Welch, the American actress and singer, has died. She was born in 1940.
entertainment
2025🕊️ Death
Paquita la del Barrio
Mexican singer, songwriter and actress.
musicentertainment
2025🕊️ Death
George Armitage
American film director George Armitage died.
entertainment
2025🕊️ Death
Frits Bolkestein
Frits Bolkestein, a Dutch politician, died on February 17, 2025. He was born in 1933.
politics