On this day: February 11
February 11, 660 BC
According to tradition, Japan’s first Emperor, Jimmu, ascended to the throne on this day in 660 BC. Jimmu is said to be a descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu and is considered the founder of the Japanese imperial dynasty.
February 11, 1752
The first hospital in the United States, Pennsylvania Hospital, was founded on this day in 1752 by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond. The hospital was established to treat the sick and the poor and is still in operation today.
February 11, 1805
The Michigan Territory was created on this day in 1805, with Detroit as its capital. The territory was formed from the western part of the Indiana Territory and eventually became the state of Michigan in 1837.
February 11, 1858
French inventor Edouard-Leon Scott de Martinville made the first known sound recording on this day in 1858. Using a device called the phonautograph, Scott de Martinville was able to capture sound waves on paper blackened by the smoke of an oil lamp.
February 11, 1929
The Lateran Treaty was signed on this day in 1929, establishing Vatican City as an independent state within Rome. The treaty resolved the long-standing dispute between the Italian government and the Catholic Church and recognized the sovereignty of the Holy See.
February 11, 1990
Nelson Mandela, leader of the African National Congress, was released from prison on this day in 1990 after 27 years of incarceration. Mandela went on to become the first black president of South Africa and a symbol of the struggle against apartheid.
February 11, 2011
Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resigned from office on this day in 2011 after weeks of protests against his regime. Mubarak’s resignation marked the end of his 30-year rule and paved the way for democratic reforms in Egypt.
February 11, 2022
On this day in 2022, the Winter Olympics officially opened in Beijing, China. The games, which were originally scheduled for 2022 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, feature athletes from around the world competing in various winter sports.
