1858 – First vision of the Virgin Mary to 14-year-old Bernadette of Lourdes, France. 1929 – Vatican City (world’s smallest country) made an enclave of Rome. 1929 – A committee met in Paris to devise the Young Plan, a revision of the Dawes Plan of 1924, that renegotiated Germany’s reparations for World War I. 1945 – The Yalta Conference between the Allied leaders of World War II came to a close. 1975 – Margaret Thatcher defeats Edward Heath for leadership of the British Conservative Party. 1989 – The Reverend Barbara Clementine Harris of the Protestant Episcopal Church became the first female bishop of an apostolic-succession church. 1990 – Nelson Mandela released after 27 years imprisonment in South Africa. 2011 – Egyptian Revolution culminates in the resignation of Hosni Mubarak and the transfer of power to the Supreme Military Council after 18 days of protests (Arab Spring).
Births & Deaths:1847 – American inventor Thomas Edison, who, singly or jointly, held a world record of 1,093 patents and who played a critical role in introducing the modern age of electricity, was born. 2012 – American rhythm-and-blues singer Whitney Houston—who emerged as a pop superstar in the 1980s, especially known for her soaring voice—died.
Sport: 1878 – 1st US bicycle club, Boston Bicycle Club, forms.
Music: 1949 – “Lovesick Blues” single released by Hank Williams (Cashbox “Best Hillbilly Record of the Year”, Billboard Song of the Year 1949).
TV & Film: 1938 – World’s first science fiction TV programme – a broadcast of the play R.U.R. by Karel Čapek.
