February 27th

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Wikileaks begins disclosing 5 million emails from private intelligence company Stratfor.

A massive earthquake strikes Chile. The tremor measured 8.8 on the Richter scale and left more than 500 people dead and thousands injured.

Author and conservative commentator William F. Buckley Jr. died at age 82.

Fred Rogers, of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, died.

A Muslim mob set fire to a train carrying Hindu pilgrims. The attack killed 59 people, including many women and children.

Legislation banning most handguns in Britain went into effect.

President George H.W. Bush announced the end of the Persian Gulf War, saying the allies would suspend combat operations at midnight.

Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF wins elections in Zimbabwe.

Members of the American Indian Movement occupied Wounded Knee, S.D., the site of the 1890 massacre of Sioux men, women and children. The occupation lasted until May.

Mao's famous speech to the Supreme State Conference "On Correct Handling of Contradictions Among People" expounding Maoist ideals.

The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, limiting a president to two terms of office, was ratified.

Non-violent protests in Berlin prevent the deportation of 2000 jews. The “Rosenstrasse protest” was carried out by the “Aryan” wives and relatives of detained Jewish men.

Germany's parliament building is set on fire. The Nazis used the Reichstag fire to justify harsh repression against political opponents. The event is considered pivotal in the establishment of Nazi Germany.

The neutron is discovered. English physicist James Chadwick was later awarded the Nobel Prize for his discovery.

Author John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, Calif.

In London, the Trades Union Congress and the Independent Labour Party (formed in 1893) meet, resulting in a Labour Representative Committee and eventually the modern Labour Party in 1906.

Dominican Republic gained independence from Haiti.

Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine.

The District of Columbia was placed under the jurisdiction of Congress.