Osun Defender History Corner: February 23 In Focus
Today, on the history corner, we take a trip in the realm of flashbacks and recall some events that marked this day.
February 23, 303
Roman Emperor Diocletian begins his persecution of Christians, issuing an edict calling for their churches to be destroyed and their scriptures burned.
February 23, 1455
Johannes Gutenberg prints the first book using movable type, the Bible.
February 23, 1820
Cato Street Conspiracy: A plot to assassinate British Prime Minister Lord Liverpool is uncovered.
February 23, 1836
The Battle of the Alamo begins in San Antonio, Texas, lasting for 13 days.
February 23, 1903
Cuba leases Guantánamo Bay to the United States “in perpetuity”.
February 23, 1917
The Russian Revolution of 1917 begins with a strike in Petrograd, leading to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II.
February 23, 1945
During World War II, US Marines raise the American flag on Iwo Jima.
February 23, 1954
The first mass inoculation of children against polio with the Salk vaccine begins in Pittsburgh, United States.
February 23, 1981
Spain’s government legalizes the Communist Party after a ban of nearly four decades.
February 23, 1987
Supernova 1987A is seen in the Large Magellanic Cloud, the closest supernova to Earth since 1604.
February 23, 1991
Gulf War: Ground troops cross the Saudi Arabian border and enter Iraq, beginning the ground phase of the war.
February 23, 1997
Scottish scientists announce they have cloned an adult mammal, a sheep named Dolly.
February 23, 2005
The controversial Kyoto Protocol goes into effect, aiming to curb greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
February 23, 2011
Libyan protests against Muammar Gaddafi’s regime escalate into widespread violence and civil war.
February 23, 2014
Ukraine’s parliament removes President Viktor Yanukovych from power, leading to the annexation of Crimea by Russia and the ongoing conflict in Eastern Ukraine.
February 23, 2017
NASA announces the discovery of seven Earth-sized exoplanets orbiting the star TRAPPIST-1, three of which are within its habitable zone.
February 23, 2018
At least 38 people are killed in an attack on a Syrian government enclave in Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus.
February 23, 2019
Indian and Pakistani fighter jets engage in aerial skirmishes, escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations.
February 23, 2020
The Democratic Republic of the Congo confirms its first case of COVID-19, marking the virus’s spread to every continent except Antarctica.
February 23, 2021
NASA’s Perseverance rover successfully lands on Mars, beginning its mission to search for signs of past microbial life and collect samples for return to Earth.
Please note that these are just a few historical events that happened on February 23. History is full of numerous other significant events on this day, ranging from politics and warfare to cultural and scientific milestones.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
