- 1689: William and Mary are proclaimed joint monarchs of England, following the Glorious Revolution. (Interestingly, this event also occurred on February 12th!)
- 1258: Baghdad, a cultural and intellectual center of the Islamic world, is sacked by Mongol forces, marking a pivotal point in history.
- 1542: Catherine Howard, fifth wife of King Henry VIII, is executed for adultery.
- 1795: The University of North Carolina opens its doors, becoming the first public university in the United States.
- 1861: Abraham Lincoln delivers his first inaugural address as President, amidst the escalating tensions leading to the American Civil War.
- 1935: Bruno Hauptmann is found guilty of kidnapping and murdering the infant son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh, a case that captivated the nation.
- 1950: Peter Gabriel, renowned musician, is born.
- 2004: Astronomers discover the largest known diamond in the universe, nicknamed "Lucy" after the Beatles' song.
- 2013: Pope Benedict XVI announces his resignation, becoming the first pope to do so in nearly 600 years
In the hit TV show "Parks and Recreation," what is the name of Leslie Knope's annual celebration for her female friends on February 13th?