1504⚡ Event
Columbus uses lunar eclipse to influence Jamaican villagers
Christopher Columbus predicts a lunar eclipse while stranded in Jamaica, using it to persuade local inhabitants to continue supplying his crew.
explorationscience
February 26 – March 3 in History
DayFacts Week 9 · 7 days
This recurring calendar span contains 108 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
25th Anniversary
Selby rail crash
25th Anniversary
Wander Franco
25th Anniversary
Sapnap
Explore the Date Pages
Historical Events (February 26 – March 3)(20)
1933⚡ Event
First Nazi concentration camp opened
The first Nazi concentration camp was opened in Nohra to reduce overcrowding in prisons from the arrest of German Communists.
politicslaw
1936⚡ Event
Hoover Dam completed
Hoover Dam, straddling the Arizona–Nevada border on the Colorado River, was completed.
technology
1940⚡ Event
Hattie McDaniel wins Academy Award
Hattie McDaniel becomes the first African American to win an Academy Award, for her role in Gone with the Wind.
entertainmentarts
1945⚡ Event
Pawłokoma massacre
A Polish Home Army unit massacred at least 150 Ukrainian civilians in Pawłokoma, Poland.
warpolitics
1950⚡ Event
Klaus Fuchs convicted
German-British physicist Klaus Fuchs was convicted of supplying information from the Manhattan Project to the Soviet Union.
lawsciencetechnology
1960⚡ Event
Agadir earthquake devastates Morocco
A powerful earthquake strikes Agadir, Morocco, killing thousands and destroying much of the city.
disaster
1973⚡ Event
Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon released
Pink Floyd's critically acclaimed album The Dark Side of the Moon was released.
musicarts
1978⚡ Event
First Non-US/Soviet Cosmonaut in Space
As a cosmonaut on Soyuz 28, Vladimír Remek became the first person from outside the Soviet Union or the United States to go into space.
spacescienceexploration
1982⚡ Event
Final Performance of D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, renowned for its Gilbert and Sullivan productions, held its last performance. This marked the end of an era for the company that specialized in Savoy operas.
artsmusicentertainment
1988⚡ Event
Sumgait pogrom
The Armenian community of Sumgait in Azerbaijan was the target of a violent pogrom.
politicsdisaster
1995⚡ Event
Barings Bank collapse
Barings Bank, London's oldest merchant bank, became insolvent after Nick Leeson lost £827 million in unauthorized trades. Leeson was the head derivatives trader in Singapore.
economicslaw
1995⚡ Event
Discovery of Top Quark Announced
Researchers at Fermilab in Illinois announced the discovery of the top quark, the most massive of all observed elementary particles.
science
1996⚡ Event
Pokémon launched
The multimedia franchise Pokémon was launched with the release of the video games Pocket Monsters Red and Green.
entertainmenttechnology
2001⚡ Event
Selby rail crash
A high-speed train crash occurred near Selby in North Yorkshire, England, killing 10 and injuring 82.
disastertechnology
2002⚡ Event
Religious violence in Gujarat
During a period of religious violence in Gujarat, India, mobs of Hindus attacked Muslims in Naroda Patiya and in Chamanpura, resulting in 166 deaths.
religionpoliticsdisaster
2012⚡ Event
Trayvon Martin shooting
African-American teenager Trayvon Martin was killed by George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida. The incident sparked nationwide controversy.
lawpolitics
2013⚡ Event
Luxor hot air balloon crash
A hot air balloon crashed near Luxor, Egypt, killing 19 people. This remains the deadliest ballooning disaster in history.
disasterexploration
2013⚡ Event
Pope Benedict XVI resigns
Benedict XVI became the first pope in nearly 600 years to resign from the papacy.
religionpolitics
2014⚡ Event
Oscar Selfie Taken
The Oscar selfie, considered to be one of the most influential photographs of all time, was taken at the 86th Academy Awards ceremony.
entertainmentarts
Births (February 26 – March 3)(15)
1792🎂 Birth
Gioachino Rossini born
Italian composer Gioachino Rossini is born in Pesaro. He is best known for operas including The Barber of Seville.
musicarts
1995🎂 Birth
Laura Gulbe
Laura Gulbe, a Latvian tennis player, was born. She has competed in various professional tennis tournaments.
sports
1996🎂 Birth
Chris Godwin
Chris Godwin, an American football player, was born. He is a wide receiver in the NFL.
sports
1997🎂 Birth
Camila Cabello
Cuban-American singer-songwriter and actress Camila Cabello was born.
musicentertainmentarts
1999🎂 Birth
Oswaldo Cabrera
Oswaldo Cabrera, a Venezuelan baseball player, was born.
sports
2000🎂 Birth
Bárbara Domingos
Bárbara Domingos, a Brazilian rhythmic gymnast, was born.
sports
2000🎂 Birth
Tyrese Haliburton
Tyrese Haliburton is an American basketball player.
sports
Deaths (February 26 – March 3)(15)
2015🕊️ Death
Sheppard Frere
Sheppard Frere was an English historian and archaeologist.
scienceliterature
2016🕊️ Death
Wenn V. Deramas
Filipino director and screenwriter Wenn V. Deramas died. He was born in 1966.
2016🕊️ Death
Andy Bathgate
Andy Bathgate was a Canadian ice hockey player, coach, and manager.
sports
2016🕊️ Death
Don Getty
Don Getty was a Canadian football player and politician, serving as the 11th Premier of Alberta.
sportspolitics
2018🕊️ Death
Steve Folkes
Steve Folkes, an Australian rugby league player and coach, died. He was born in 1959.
sports
2018🕊️ Death
Billy Herrington
Billy Herrington, an American actor, died.
entertainment
2018🕊️ Death
Roger Bannister
English middle-distance athlete Roger Bannister, the first man to run a four-minute mile, has died. He was born in 1929.
sports
2019🕊️ Death
France-Albert René
France-Albert René, the 2nd President of Seychelles, died. He led the country for over two decades.
politics
2019🕊️ Death
Peter Hurford
British organist and composer Peter Hurford OBE has died. He was born in 1930.
music
2020🕊️ Death
Freeman Dyson dies
British-American theoretical physicist Freeman Dyson dies at age 96 in Princeton, New Jersey.
science
2024🕊️ Death
Iris Apfel
Iris Apfel, an American businesswoman, interior designer, and philanthropist, has died.
economicsarts
2024🕊️ Death
Akira Toriyama
Akira Toriyama, a Japanese manga artist, has died.
artsliterature
2025🕊️ Death
David Johansen
American singer-songwriter and actor David Johansen died at age 75.
Source: David JohansenSource link checked
musicentertainment
2025🕊️ Death
Miguel Piñera
Chilean musician and entertainer Miguel Piñera died at age 70.
Source: Miguel PiñeraSource link checked
entertainmentmusic