This Day in History – February 1

History is just not limited to textbooks. It goes beyond the famous wars and events that we often cram up for our history exams. Think about it this way, every day that we live has a historical past attached to it.

From battles, amnesties, agreements, births, losses, findings, breakthroughs, and much more. Let’s find out the events that happened through the years on this day in history, February 1.

1327: Edward III was crowned King of England
Edward III was crowned King of England aged 14, though the country was ruled by his mother Queen Isabella, and her lover Roger Mortimer.

1587: Death warrant for Mary, Queen of Scots
Queen Elizabeth I of England signed the death warrant for her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots.

1814:  “Corsair” sold 10,000 copies 
Lord Byron’s “Corsair” sold 10,000 copies on the day of publication.

1843: The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York (MONY) opened
The oldest continuous writer of insurance in America – The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York (MONY) opened.

1880: The first edition of The Stage was published
The first edition of the theatrical newspaper The Stage was published on February 1, 1880.

1884: 1st volume of the Oxford English Dictionary was published 
The first volume of the Oxford English Dictionary, A-Ant published.

1893: Thomas Edison completed the world’s first movie studio 
Thomas Edison completed the world’s first movie studio at West Orange, New Jersey.

1893: “Manon Lescaut” premiered 
Giacomo Puccini’s Opera “Manon Lescaut” premiered in Turin.

1908: King Carlos I of Portugal and his heir, Prince Luis Filipe were assassinated 
King Carlos Republican sympathizers assassinated me of Portugal, and his heir, Prince Luis Filipe in Terreiro do Paco, Lisbon.

1923: Formation of Benito Fascists Voluntary Militia 
Fascists Voluntary Militia formed in Italy under Benito Mussolini on February 1, 1923.

1932: Don Bradman scored 299 not out in 10 wickets 
Australian cricket’s master batsman Don Bradman scored 299 in 10 wickets in the 4th Test win vs South Africa in Adelaide. He ran out of partners going for 300.

1965: Martin Luther King Jr. and 700 demonstrators arrested 
Martin Luther King Jr. and 700 demonstrators were arrested in Selma, Alabama.

1968: Saigon police chief Nguyễn Ngọc Loan executed Viet Cong officer Nguyễn Văn Lém 
Saigon police chief Nguyễn Ngọc Loan executed Viet Cong officer Nguyễn Văn Lém with a pistol shot on the head. The execution was captured by photographer Eddie Adams and became an anti-war icon.

1968:  VP Richard Nixon announced candidacy for President 
Former US VP Richard Nixon announced candidacy for President.

1978: Harriet Tubman became the first African American woman to be on a US postage stamp 
Harriet Tubman was the first African American woman to be honoured on a US postage stamp on February 1, 1978.

1979: Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Iran
Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Iran after 15 years in exile.

2003: Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated killing all 7 astronauts aboard
Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during its re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. It killed all seven astronauts aboard.

2004: New England Patriots beat Carolina Panthers 
Super Bowl XXXVIII, Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX: New England Patriots beat Carolina Panthers, 32-29; MVP: Tom Brady, New England, QB.

2004:Roger Federer won his first Australian title  
During the Australian Open Men’s Tennis Roger Federer won his first Australian title. He beat Marat Safin of Russia 7-6, 6-4, 6-2.

2014: Adam Silver became the 5th NBA Commissioner 
American businessman and lawyer Adam Silver became the 5th NBA Commissioner on February 1, 2014.

2016: Ted Cruz defeated Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton beat Bernie Sanders by a coin toss 
Republican Ted Cruz defeated Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton beat Bernie Sanders by a coin toss during the Iowa Caucuses.

2017: 2017 Rex Tillerson became the 69th US Secretary of State 
Rex Tillerson was confirmed as the 69th US Secretary of State.

2019: Donald Trump confirmed US withdrawal from the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty 
US President Donald Trump confirmed US withdrawal from the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty because Russia violated the treaty.

2020: Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi, appointed the new Prime Minister of Iraq
Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi was appointed the new Prime Minister of Iraq by President Barham Salih after 4 months of protests on February 1, 2020.

Famous Birthdays

• Harry Styles, Singer-songwriter
• Ronda Rousey, American professional wrestler
• Brandon Lee, Actor
• Clark Gable, American film actor
• Ryo Yoshizawa, Japanese actor
• Boris Yeltsin, Former Russian President

These were the historical events that happened in world history on February 1. Stay tuned to Leverage Edu and follow us on Instagram, Youtube, LinkedIn, Quora, and Facebook for more educational content.