THIS DAY IN HISTORY – FEBRUARY 13

HISTORICAL EVENTS

From GoogleImages

1578 – Danish nobleman, Tycho Brahe, first sketches his "Tychonic system" of the solar system which proposed a "geo-heliocentric" system with the Sun and Moon orbiting the Earth and the rest of the planets orbiting the Sun. He also observed the supernova of 1572 (known now as SN 1572) in Cassiopeia from Herrevad Abbey in Sweden.

From GoogleImages

1633 – Italian philosopher, astronomer and mathematician, Galieleo Galilei, arrives in Rome to face the Inquisition.


1689 – Following Britain's Glorious Revolution, William and Mary are proclaimed joint sovereigns of England, with Parliament winning its long struggle against the crown.


1861 – Colonel Bernard J.D. Irwin performs the first Medal of Honor "action" in U.S. history. The medal was established by Congress in 1862 and awarded to Irwin in 1864.



From GoogleImages

1905 – President Theodore Roosevelt, after winning re-election and continuing to use the "bully pulpit", delivered a speech at the New York City Republican Club on America's race problems.


1945 – Dresden, Germany is devastated by a firestorm that last two days, initiated by incendiary bombing by the Allies. Between 35,000 and 135,000 German citizens were killed. American author, Kurt Vonnegut, was a prisoner of war in Dresden and survived the raid. He later wrote the novel Slaughterhouse-Five about the experience.

FAMOUS BIRTHS

From GoogleImages

1887 – Alvin Cullum York (Sergeant York) was born near Pall Mall, TN, the third of eleven children. He went on to be the most decorated American soldier in World War I.



FAMOUS DEATHS

1542 – Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of England's Henry VIII, was beheaded, after conviction of infidelity to the king.


1728 – Cotton Mather, American Puritan minister dies. He was known for his part in the Salem witch trials.