February 25 is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 309 days remaining until the end of the year (310 in leap years).

Events[link]

• 138 – The Emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius, effectively making him his successor.
• 493 – Odoacer surrenders Ravenna after a 3-year siege and agrees to a mediated peace with Theodoric the Great.
• 1570 – Pope Pius V excommunicates Queen Elizabeth I of England.
• 1631 – François de Bassompierre, a French courtier, arrested by Richelieu's orders.
• 1797 – Colonel William Tate and his force of 1000-1500 soldiers surrender after the Last Invasion of Britain.
• 1831 – Battle of Olszynka Grochowska, part of Polish November Uprising against Russian Empire.
• 1836 – Samuel Colt is granted a United States patent for the Colt revolver.
• 1843 – Provisional Cession of the Hawaiian or Sandwich Islands established by Lord George Paulet.
• 1848 – Provisional government in revolutionary France, by Louis Blanc's motion, guarantees workers right.
• 1856 – A Peace conference opened in Paris after Crimean War.
• 1866 – Miners in Calaveras County, California, discover what is now called the Calaveras Skull, human remains that supposedly indicated that man, mastodons, and elephants had co-existed.
• 1870 – Hiram Rhodes Revels, a Republican from Mississippi, is sworn into the United States Senate, becoming the first African American ever to sit in the U.S. Congress.
• 1875 – Guangxu Emperor of China began his reign, under Empress Dowager Cixi's regency.
• 1901 – J. P. Morgan incorporates the United States Steel Corporation.
• 1912 – Marie-Adélaïde, the eldest of six daughters of Guillaume IV, becomes the first reigning Grand Duchess of Luxembourg.
• 1916 – Germans captured Fort Douaumont during Battle of Verdun.
• 1919 – Oregon places a 1 cent per U.S. gallon tax on gasoline, becoming the first U.S. state to levy a gasoline tax.
• 1921 – Tbilisi, capital of the Democratic Republic of Georgia, is occupied by Bolshevist Russia.
• 1928 – Charles Jenkins Laboratories of Washington, D.C. becomes the first holder of a television license from the Federal Radio Commission.
• 1932 – Adolf Hitler obtains German citizenship by naturalization, which allows him to run in the 1932 election for Reichspräsident.
• 1933 – The USS Ranger is launched. It is the first US Navy ship to be built solely as an aircraft carrier.
• 1941 – February Strike: In occupied Amsterdam, a general strike is declared in response to increasing anti-Jewish measures instituted by the Nazis.
• 1945 – World War II: Turkey declares war on Germany.
• 1947 – The State of Prussia ceases to exist.
• 1948 – The Communist Party takes control of government in Czechoslovakia and the period of the Third Republic ends.
• 1951 – The first Pan American Games are held in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
• 1954 – Gamal Abdul Nasser is made premier of Egypt.
• 1956 – In his speech On the Personality Cult and its Consequences Nikita Khrushchev, leader of the Soviet Union denounces the cult of personality of Joseph Stalin.
• 1964 – North Korean Prime Minister Kim Il-sung calls for the removal of feudalistic land ownership aimed at turning all cooperative farms into state-run ones.
• 1964 – Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston, Ali took the title.
• 1964 – U.S. Air Force launches a satellite employing a US Air Force Atlas/Agena combination from Point Arguello (LC-2-3) in California and from Cape Kennedy in Florida.
• 1968 – Vietnam War: 135 unarmed citizens of Ha My village in South Vietnam's Quảng Nam Province are killed and buried en masse by South Korean troops in what would come to be known as the Ha My massacre.
• 1971 – The first unit of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, the first commercial nuclear power station in Canada, goes online.
• 1980 – The Suriname government is overthrown by a military coup which is initiated with the bombing of the police station from an army ship off the coast of the nation's capital, Paramaribo
• 1983 – Statute of Autonomy approved for the Balearic Islands.
• 1986 – People Power Revolution: President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos flees the nation after 20 years of rule; Corazon Aquino becomes the Philippines' first woman president.
• 1988 – Roh Tae-woo became president of South Korea.
• 1990 – Violeta Chamorro wins presidential elections in Nicaragua, against Daniel Ortega.
• 1991 – Gulf War: An Iraqi scud missile hits an American military barracks in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia killing 28 U.S. Army Reservists from Pennsylvania.
• 1991 – Warsaw Pact declared disbanded.
• 1992 – Khojaly massacre: about 613 civilians are killed by Armenian armed forces during the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan
• 1994 – Mosque of Abraham massacre: In the Cave of the Patriarchs in the West Bank city of Hebron, Baruch Goldstein opens fire with an automatic rifle, killing 29 Palestinian worshippers and injuring 125 more before being subdued and beaten to death by survivors.
• 2001 – Non-reformed communists won the elections in Moldova.
• 2009 – Members of the Bangladesh Rifles mutiny at their headquarters in Pilkhana, Dhaka, Bangladesh, resulting in 74 deaths, including more than 50 army officials.
• 2011 – In the Irish general election, the Fianna Fáil-led government suffers the worst defeat of a sitting government since the formation of the Irish state in 1921.

Births[link]

• 1398 – Emperor Xuande of China (d. 1435)
• 1591 – Friedrich von Spee, German writer (d. 1635)
• 1643 – Ahmed II, Ottoman Sultan (d. 1695)
• 1651 – Johann Philipp Krieger, German Baroque composer and organist (d. 1725)
• 1663 – Pierre Antoine Motteux, French-born English dramatist (d. 1718)
• 1682 – Giovanni Battista Morgagni, Italian anatomist (d. 1771)
• 1692 – Karl Ludwig, Freiherr von Pöllnitz, German adventurer and writer (d. 1775)
• 1707 – Carlo Goldoni, Italian writer (d. 1793)
• 1708 – Felix Benda, Bohemian composer and organist (d. 1768)
• 1714 – René Nicolas Charles Augustin de Maupeou, Chancellor of France (d. 1792)
• 1714 – Sir Hyde Parker, 5th Baronet, British admiral (d. 1782)
• 1725 – Karl Wilhelm Ramler, German poet (d. 1798)
• 1727 – Armand-Louis Couperin, French composer (d. 1789)
• 1728 – John Wood, the Younger, English architect (d. 1782)
• 1752 – John Graves Simcoe, English-born Canadian politician (d. 1806)
• 1755 – François René Mallarmé, French politician (d. 1835)
• 1778 – Don José de San Martín, Argentine military commander (d. 1850)
• 1812 – Carl Christian Hall, Danish statesman (d. 1888)
• 1816 – Giovanni Morelli, Italian art critic and political figure (d. 1891)
• 1833 – John St. John (Governor of Kansas) (d. 1916)
• 1841 – Pierre-Auguste Renoir, French painter and sculptor (d. 1919)
• 1842 – Karl May, German writer (d. 1912)
• 1845 – George Reid, Australian politician (d. 1918)
• 1855 – George Bonnor, Australian cricketer (d. 1912)
• 1855 – Cesário Verde, Portuguese poet (d. 1886)
• 1856 – Mathias Zdarsky, ski pioneer and instructor (d. 1940)
• 1856 – Karl Gotthard Lamprecht, German historian (d. 1915)
• 1857 – Robert Bond, Canadian politician (d. 1927)
• 1860 – Sir William Ashley, English historian (d. 1927)
• 1861 – Rudolf Steiner, Austrian philosopher and educator (d. 1925)
• 1865 – Zoravar Andranik Armenian general and activist (d. 1927)
• 1866 – Benedetto Croce, Italian philosopher (d. 1952)
• 1869 – Phoebus Levene, Russian-American biochemist (d. 1940)
• 1871 – Lesya Ukrainka, Ukrainian poet (d.1913)
• 1873 – Enrico Caruso, Italian tenor (d. 1921)
• 1877 – Erich von Hornbostel, Austrian musicologist (d. 1935)
• 1881 – William Z. Foster, American party leader (d. 1961)
• 1881 – Alexei Rykov, Soviet politician (d. 1938)
• 1883 – Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone (d. 1981)
• 1885 – Princess Alice of Battenberg (d. 1969)
• 1885 – Sylvia Brett, English socialite (d. 1971)
• 1888 – John Foster Dulles, American politician (d. 1959)
• 1889 – Homer S. Ferguson, American politician (d. 1982)
• 1890 – Dame Myra Hess, English pianist (d. 1965)
• 1894 – Meher Baba, Indian spiritual figure (d. 1969)
• 1895 – Lew Andreas, American basketball coach (d. 1984)
• 1897 – Peter Llewelyn Davies, English namesake of Peter Pan (d. 1960)
• 1901 – Zeppo Marx, American actor (d. 1979)
• 1903 – King Clancy, Canadian ice hockey player (d. 1986)
• 1905 – Harald Lander, Danish dancer and choreographer (d. 1971)
• 1906 – Boris Papandopulo, Croatian composer and conductor (d. 1991)
• 1906 – Domingo Ortega, Spanish matador (d. 1988)
• 1908 – Frank G. Slaughter, American novelist (d. 2001)
• 1910 – Millicent Fenwick, American fashion editor and politician (d. 1992)
• 1912 – Brenda Joyce, American actress (d. 2009)
• 1913 – Jim Backus, American actor (d. 1989)
• 1913 – Gert Fröbe, German actor (d. 1988)
• 1914 – John Arlott, English cricket journalist (d. 1991)
• 1916 – Reinhard Bendix, German sociologist (d. 1991)
• 1917 – Anthony Burgess, English author (d. 1993)
• 1918 – Barney Ewell, American athlete (d. 1996)
• 1918 – Rena Kyriakou, Greek pianist (d. 1994)
• 1918 – Bobby Riggs, American tennis player (d. 1995)
• 1919 – Karl H. Pribram, Austrian neuroscientist
• 1919 – Monte Irvin, American baseball player
• 1920 – Gérard Bessette, Canadian author (d. 2005)
• 1920 – Philip Habib, American diplomat (d. 1992)
• 1921 – Pierre Laporte, Canadian statesman (d. 1970)
• 1921 – Andy Pafko, American baseball player
• 1923 – Takeo Kajiwara, Japanese Go player (d. 2009)
• 1924 – Hugh Huxley, British biologist
• 1927 – Dickie Jones, American actor
• 1927 – Ralph Stanley, American musician (Stanley Brothers)
• 1928 – Larry Gelbart, American comedy writer (d. 2009)
• 1928 – Paul Elvstrøm, Danish yachtsman
• 1928 – Richard G. Stern, American writer and educator
• 1929 – Christopher George, American actor (d. 1983)
• 1929 – Tommy Newsom, American bandleader (d. 2007)
• 1930 – Sister Wendy Beckett, South African-born British art connoisseur
• 1932 – Tony Brooks, English race car driver
• 1932 – Faron Young, American singer (d. 1996)
• 1934 – Bernard Bresslaw, English actor (d. 1993)
• 1934 – Tony Lema, American golfer (d. 1966)
• 1935 – Sally Jessy Raphaël, American talk show host
• 1936 – Jiří Černý, Czech music critic
• 1937 – Tom Courtenay, English actor
• 1937 – Barbara Piasecka Johnson, widow of John Seward Johnson I
• 1937 – Bob Schieffer, American broadcast journalist
• 1938 – Diane Baker, American actress
• 1938 – Herb Elliott, Australian runner
• 1940 – Danny Cater, American baseball player
• 1940 – Billy Packer, American sports broadcaster
• 1940 – Monica Proietti, Canadian bank robber (d. 1967)
• 1940 – Ron Santo, American baseball player and broadcaster (d. 2010)
• 1942 – Karen Grassle, American actress
• 1942 – John Saul, American author
• 1943 – George Harrison, English musician (d. 2001)
• 1943 – Wilson da Silva Piazza, Brazilian footballer
• 1944 – Matt Guokas, American basketball player & head coach
• 1945 – Elkie Brooks, English singer (Vinegar Joe)
• 1945 – Herbert Léonard, French singer
• 1946 – Franz Xaver Kroetz, German dramatist
• 1946 – Jean Todt, French Formula One executive
• 1947 – Giuseppe Betori, Archbishop of Florence
• 1947 – Lee Evans, American athlete
• 1947 – Marc Sautet, French writer, teacher and philosopher (d. 1998)
• 1947 – Doug Yule, American bass guitarist (The Velvet Underground and American Flyer)
• 1948 – Aldo Busi, Italian writer
• 1948 – Danny Denzongpa, Indian actor
• 1949 – Ric Flair, American professional wrestler
• 1949 – Jack Handey, American humorist
• 1949 – Amin Maalouf, Lebanese writer
• 1950 – Neil Jordan, Irish director
• 1950 – Néstor Kirchner, Argentine politician (d. 2010)
• 1950 – Francisco Fernández Ochoa, Spanish alpine skier (d. 2006)
• 1950 – Emitt Rhodes, American singer/songwriter
• 1951 – James Brown, American sportscaster
• 1951 – César Cedeño, Dominican baseball player
• 1951 – Don Quarrie, Jamaican runner
• 1952 – Jerry Chamberlain, American musician (Daniel Amos and The Swirling Eddies)
• 1952 – Joey Dunlop, Irish motorcycle racer (d. 2000)
• 1952 – Inger Segelström, Swedish politician
• 1953 – José María Aznar, Spanish politician
• 1953 – Kim Yeong-cheol, South Korean actor
• 1954 – John Doe, American musician (X)
• 1954 – Gerardo Pelusso, Uruguayan football manager
• 1955 – Camille Thériault, Canadian politician, 29th Premier of New Brunswick
• 1957 – Sérgio Marques, Portuguese politician
• 1957 – Chuck Strahl, Canadian politician
• 1958 – Panagiotis Beglitis, Greek politician
• 1958 – Jeff Fisher, American football coach
• 1958 – Kurt Rambis, American basketball player and coach
• 1959 – Carl Marotte, Canadian actor
• 1959 – Mike Peters, Welsh musician (The Alarm and Big Country)
• 1960 – Stefan Blöcher, German field hockey player
• 1961 – Davey Allison, American race car driver (d. 1993)
• 1961 – Todd Blackledge, American football player and television color commentator
• 1961 – Chris Pitman, American keyboardist (Guns N' Roses)
• 1962 – Birgit Fischer, German kayaker
• 1962 – Foster Sylvers, American singer, (The Sylvers)
• 1962 – Faron Moller, Canadian-born British computer scientist
• 1963 – Joseph E. Duncan III, American convicted serial killer and sex offender
• 1963 – Paul O'Neill, American baseball player
• 1964 – Lee Evans, English comedian
• 1964 – Don Majkowski, American football player
• 1964 – Luigi Troiani, Italian rugby player
• 1965 – Brian Baker, American guitarist (Minor Threat and Bad Religion)
• 1965 -- Maricel Soriano
• 1965 – Veronica Webb, American supermodel and actress
• 1965 – Carrot Top, American comedian
• 1966 – Alexis Denisof, American actor
• 1966 – Samson Kitur, Kenyan athlete (d. 2003)
• 1966 – Téa Leoni, American actress
• 1966 – Nancy O'Dell, American television personality
• 1966 – Samantha Phillips, American actress
• 1968 – Evridiki, Greek Cypriot singer
• 1968 – Sandrine Kiberlain, French actress
• 1969 – Paul Trimboli, Australian soccer player
• 1970 – Julie Hesmondhalgh, English actress
• 1971 – Sean Astin, American actor
• 1971 – Dave Harris, American disc jockey
• 1971 – Daniel Powter, Canadian musician
• 1973 – Julio Iglesias, Jr., Spanish singer
• 1973 – Anson Mount, American actor
• 1973 – Normann Stadler, German triathlete
• 1974 – Divya Bharti, Indian Actress
• 1975 – Chelsea Handler, American comedian and actress
• 1975 – Mandingo, Pornographic actor
• 1976 – Rashida Jones, American actress
• 1976 – Samaki Walker, American basketball player
• 1977 -- Niña Corpuz
• 1977 – Sarah Jezebel Deva, English singer (Angtoria and Cradle of Filth)
• 1977 – Josh Wolff, American footballer
• 1979 – Jennifer Ferrin, American actress
• 1979 – David Hoflin, Swedish-born Australian Actor
• 1980 – Antonio Burks, American basketball player
• 1980 – Christy Knowings, American actress
• 1981 – Park Ji-Sung, South Korean footballer
• 1981 – Shahid Kapoor, Indian actor
• 1982 – Jamie Lynn, American pornographic actress
• 1982 – Chris Baird, Irish footballer
• 1982 – Kimberly Caldwell, American television personality
• 1982 – Maria Kanellis, American model and wrestler
• 1982 – Bert McCracken, American singer (The Used)
• 1982 – Flavia Pennetta, Italian professional tennis player
• 1982 – Anton Volchenkov, Russian ice hockey player
• 1982 – Tara Wilson, Canadian actress
• 1983 – Eduardo da Silva, Brazilian-born Croatian footballer
• 1984 – Logan Leistikow, American documentary filmmaker and comedian
• 1984 – Lovefoxxx, Brazilian singer (CSS)
• 1984 – Dane Swan, Australian rules footballer
• 1984 – Craig Mackail-Smith, Scottish Footballer
• 1985 – Benji Marshall, New Zealand rugby league footballer
• 1985 – Joakim Noah, American basketball player
• 1986 – Justin Berfield, American actor
• 1986 – James and Oliver Phelps, English actors
• 1986 – Danny Saucedo, Swedish singer (E.M.D.)
• 1986 – James Starks, American football player
• 1987 – Justin Abdelkader, American ice hockey player
• 1987 – Kwaku Afriyie, Ghanaian footballer
• 1987 – Eva Avila, Canadian singer
• 1987 – Mevlüt Erdinç, Turkish footballer
• 1987 – Andrew Poje, Canadian figure skater
• 1988 – Jimmy Monaghan, Irish musician (Music for Dead Birds)
• 1989 – Jimmer Fredette, American basketball player
• 1989 – E'Twaun Moore, American basketball player
• 1990 – Alejandra Andreu, Spanish pageant contestant
• 1990 – Jefferson Alves Oliveira, Brazilian footballer
• 1991 – Gerran Howell, Welsh actor
• 1991 – Tony Oller, American actor
• 1993 – Christina Kirkman, American actress
• 1994 – Eugenie Bouchard, Canadian tennis player
• 1997 – Isabelle Fuhrman, American actress
• 1998 – Brendon Baerg, American actor