February 23rd

Roman Emperor Diocletian begins his policy of persecuting Christians, razing the church at Nicomedia.

The Obama administration said it would no longer defend the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, a federal law banning recognition of same-sex marriage.

Norah Jones won five Grammy Awards for the album "Come Away With Me.".

Carlos Santana won eight Grammy Awards for his album "Supernatural," tying the record set by Michael Jackson in 1983 for "Thriller.".

A jury in Jasper, Texas, convicted white supremacist John William King of murder in the dragging death of an African-American man, James Byrd Jr.

Osama bin Laden publishes a fatwa declaring jihad against all Jews and Crusaders.

Scientists in Scotland announced they had cloned an adult mammal, producing a lamb named Dolly.

President George H.W. Bush announced that the allied ground offensive against Iraqi forces had begun.

Stan Laurel of the comedy team Laurel and Hardy died at age 74.

The first mass inoculation of children against polio with the Salk vaccine began, in Pittsburgh.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) begins operating. The ISO issues standards for everything from bicycle tires to date formats.

US Marines raise the flag on Iwo Jima, later a famous photo and Marine Corps War Memorial sculpture.

The first Axis shelling of U.S. soil took place near Santa Barbara, Calif.

Glenn T. Seaborg and his team chemically identify Plutonium. The radioactive element plays an important role as nuclear fuel or in nuclear weapons.

The February Revolution begins in Russia. The demonstrations and armed clashes ultimately resulted in the demise of the Russian Empire.

United States acquires control of the Panama Canal Zone for $10 million.

1898 French novelist Emile Zola was convicted of libel and sentenced to jail for writing his "J'accuse" letter accusing the government of anti-Semitism and wrongly jailing Captain Alfred Dreyfus.

The Tootsie Roll was introduced by Leo Hirshfield.

Mississippi was readmitted to the Union.

President-elect Abraham Lincoln arrived secretly in Washington to take office after an assassination plot was foiled in Baltimore.

John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States, died at age 80 in Washington, D.C., two days after suffering a stroke on the floor of the House of Representatives.

U.S. troops under Gen. Zachary Taylor defeated Mexican general Santa Anna at the Battle of Buena Vista in Mexico.

Mexican general Santa Anna began the siege of the Alamo.

Boston was granted a charter to incorporate as a city.

John Keats, English Romantic poet, died.

Composer George Frideric Handel was born in Germany.

Francisco Vázquez de Coronado's expedition sets off from Mexico in search of the 7 cities of Cibola.

Johannes Gutenberg prints his first Bible (estimated date).