Historical Events
- Feb 15 St. Louis, Missouri founded as a French trading post by Pierre Laclède
Essay on Women
Feb 21 English House of Commons tries John Wilkes in absentia and finds him guilty of publishing a seditious libel for his "Essay on Women," an obscene parody of Alexander Pope’s "Essay on Man"
Famous Birthdays
- Feb 4 Carel Hendrik Verhuell, Dutch-French vice-admiral who served Holland and France (Dutch Minister of the Navy), born in Doetinchem, Dutch Republic (d. 1845)
- Feb 8 Joseph Leopold von Eybler, Austrian composer, born in Schwechat, Austrian Empire (d. 1846)
- Feb 11 Marie-Joseph de Chénier, French poet (Caïus Gracchus), born in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire (d. 1811)
- Feb 15 Jens Baggesen, Danish writer and linguist (Labyrinth), born in Korsør, Denmark (d. 1826)
- Feb 22 Alexander Campbell, Scottish composer and writer (associate of Walter Scott), born in Tombea, Scotland (d. 1824)
- Feb 28 Robert Haldane, Scottish theologist and philanthropist (built tabenacles), born in London, England (d. 1842)
Year of the Rabbit
Year of the Dragon
Year of the Snake
Year of the Horse
Year of the Goat/Sheep
Year of the Monkey