February 12
February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 323 days remain until the year's end. It falls in winter (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Aquarius.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On February 12 the Sun's declination is approximately -14.3°. At this latitude the Sun is south of the celestial equator, giving the Northern Hemisphere shorter days than nights.
For specific rise/set times at your location, see the U.S. Naval Observatory, or the NASA APOD archive for any imagery published on a February 12.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Darwin Day (informal — Charles Darwin's birthday)
- Lincoln's Birthday (United States)
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
1554 — Lady Jane Grey, the "Nine Days' Queen", was beheaded for treason in the Tower of London. ↗(472 years ago)more
Lady Jane Grey, also known as Lady Jane Dudley after her marriage, and nicknamed as the "Nine Days Queen", was an English noblewoman who was proclaimed Queen of England and Ireland on 10 July 1553 and reigned until she was deposed by the Privy Council of England, which proclaimed her cousin, Mary I, as the new Queen on 19 July.
1809 — Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin were both born — on the same day. ↗(217 years ago)more
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War, defeating the Confederate States and playing a major role in the abolition of slavery.
1909 — The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded. ↗(117 years ago)more
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is an American civil rights organization formed in 1909 as an interracial endeavor to advance justice for African Americans by a group including W. E. B. Du Bois, Mary White Ovington, Moorfield Storey, Ida B. Wells, Lillian Wald, Emil G. Hirsch and Henry Moskowitz.
1924 — George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue premiered in New York. ↗(102 years ago)more
Rhapsody in Blue is a 1924 musical composition for solo piano and jazz band by George Gershwin. Commissioned by bandleader Paul Whiteman, the work combines elements of classical music with jazz-influenced effects and premiered in a concert titled "An Experiment in Modern Music" on February 12, 1924, in Aeolian Hall, New York City.
Notable births
- 1809 — Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. President. ↗(217 years ago)
more
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War, defeating the Confederate States and playing a major role in the abolition of slavery.
1809 — Charles Darwin, English naturalist (On the Origin of Species). ↗(217 years ago)more
Charles Robert Darwin was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all species of life have descended from a common ancestor is now generally accepted and considered a fundamental scientific concept.
Notable deaths
- 1554 — Lady Jane Grey, Queen of England for nine days. ↗(472 years ago)
more
Lady Jane Grey, also known as Lady Jane Dudley after her marriage, and nicknamed as the "Nine Days Queen", was an English noblewoman who was proclaimed Queen of England and Ireland on 10 July 1553 and reigned until she was deposed by the Privy Council of England, which proclaimed her cousin, Mary I, as the new Queen on 19 July.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (43) | 43 · prime |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (323) | 17 × 19 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 12022026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | -14.26° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 54 days |