421 – Constantius III becomes co-emperor of the Western Roman Empire, though his reign lasts only seven months.
1587 – Mary, Queen of Scots is executed at Fotheringhay Castle after being convicted of treason against Queen Elizabeth I.
1693 – The College of William & Mary in Virginia receives its royal charter, becoming the second-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States.
1815 – Austria, Britain, and Prussia form a defensive alliance against Napoleon Bonaparte as he escapes exile on Elba.
1879 – Sandford Fleming proposes a worldwide system of standard time zones, reshaping global timekeeping.
1910 – The Boy Scouts of America is incorporated, promoting youth development and leadership.
1924 – Capital punishment by gas chamber is used for the first time in the United States, in Nevada.
1960 – The first eight stars are added to the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1971 – The NASDAQ stock market index begins operations, becoming the world’s first electronic stock market.
2018 – The opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics takes place in PyeongChang, South Korea.
Famous Birthdays
Mary, Queen of Scots – Queen of Scotland (1542–1587)
Jules Verne – French novelist and science fiction pioneer (1828–1905)
James Dean – American actor (1931–1955)
Nick Nolte – American actor (1941)
Seth Green – American actor and filmmaker (1974)
Vince Neil – American musician, lead singer of Mötley Crüe (1961)
Jackie Earle Haley – American actor (1961)
Abhishek Bachchan – Indian actor and producer (1976)
Bethany Hamilton – American professional surfer (1990)
Notable Deaths
Mary, Queen of Scots – Scottish monarch (1587, born 1542)
John Williams – American journalist and author (1914, born 1846)
Del Shannon – American singer-songwriter (1990, born 1934)
Alvin Ailey – American choreographer and activist (1989, born 1931)
Gaston Leroux – French journalist and novelist (1927, born 1868)
Halston – American fashion designer (1990, born 1932)
Joseph Lister – British surgeon and pioneer of antiseptic surgery (1912, born 1827)
King Charles I of England – British monarch (1649, born 1600)
Kobe Bryant – American basketball player (2020, born 1978)
Holidays
Prešeren Day – Slovenia
Propose Day – Observed in parts of South Asia
National Kite Flying Day – India
Parinirvana Day – Observed by some Buddhist traditions
Fun Facts
Jules Verne accurately imagined submarines and space travel decades before they became reality.
NASDAQ revolutionized financial markets by eliminating the traditional trading floor.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame now features more than 2,700 stars.
Mary, Queen of Scots’ execution marked a turning point in English royal politics.
Standardized time zones made international travel and communication possible.
The Boy Scouts of America has influenced millions of youths since its founding.