On This Day: 15 February

15 February in Indian history

• 1942World War II: Fall of Singapore. Following an assault by Japanese forces, the British General Arthur Percival surrenders. About 80,000 Indian, United Kingdom and Australian soldiers become prisoners of war, the largest surrender of British-led military personnIndia
• 1915Sepoys of Indian Muslim background mutinied against their British officers in Singapore.India

15 February in world history

• 2018Following nationwide protests, Hailemariam Desalegn announced his resignation as prime minister of Ethiopia, remaining in post as a caretaker until he was succeeded by Abiy Ahmed.
• 1995Kevin Mitnick, the most wanted computer hacker at the time in the U.S., was arrested and charged with computer fraud and wire fraud.
• 1989Soviet–Afghan War: The Soviet Union officially announces that all of its troops have left Afghanistan.
• 1982The drilling rig Ocean Ranger sinks during a storm off the coast of Newfoundland, killing 84 workers.
• 1976The first constitution since the Cuban Revolution, providing for a system of government and law based on those of the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries, was adopted by a national referendum.
• 1970Dominicana de Aviación Flight 603 crashes into the Caribbean Sea after takeoff from Las Américas International Airport, killing 102, including members of the Puerto Rico women's national volleyball team and lightweight boxer Carlos Cruz.
• 1949Gerald Lankester Harding and Roland de Vaux began excavations at Cave 1 of the Qumran Caves in the West Bank, the location of the first seven Dead Sea Scrolls.
• 1933In Miami, Giuseppe Zangara attempts to assassinate US President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt, but instead shoots Chicago mayor Anton J. Cermak, who dies of his wounds on March 6.
• 1898The United States Navy battleship USS Maine exploded and sank in Havana, Cuba, killing more than 260 people and precipitating the Spanish–American War.
• 1879Women's rights: US President Rutherford B. Hayes signs a bill allowing female attorneys to argue cases before the Supreme Court of the United States.
• 1862American Civil War: Confederates commanded by Brig. Gen. John B. Floyd attack General Ulysses S. Grant's Union forces besieging Fort Donelson in Tennessee. Unable to break the fort's encirclement, the Confederates surrender the following day.
• 1798The Roman Republic is proclaimed after Louis-Alexandre Berthier, a general of Napoleon, had invaded the city of Rome five days earlier.
• 1796French Revolutionary Wars: The invasion of Ceylon ended with Johan van Angelbeek, the Batavian governor of the island, surrendering Colombo to British forces.
• 1763Prussia, Saxony and the Habsburg monarchy signed the Treaty of Hubertusburg, ending the Third Silesian War.
• 1690Constantin Cantemir, Prince of Moldavia, and the Holy Roman Empire sign a secret treaty in Sibiu, stipulating that Moldavia would support the actions led by the House of Habsburg against the Ottoman Empire.
• 1493While on board the Niña, Christopher Columbus writes an open letter (widely distributed upon his return to Portugal) describing his discoveries and the unexpected items he came across in the New World.

Born on 15 February

• 1969Birdman, American rapper and producer
• 1962Milo Đukanović, Montenegrin politician, 29th Prime Minister of Montenegro
• 1909Miep Gies, Austrian-Dutch humanitarian, helped hide Anne Frank and her family (died 2010)
• 1873Hans von Euler-Chelpin, German-Swedish biochemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1964)
• 1845Elihu Root, American lawyer and politician, 38th United States Secretary of State, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1937)
• 1638Zeb-un-Nissa, Mughal princess and poet (died 1702)India

Died on 15 February

• 2022Bappi Lahiri, Indian singer, composer and record producer (born 1952)India
• 1988Richard Feynman, American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1918)
• 1869Ghalib, Indian poet and educator (born 1796)India
• 706Tiberios III, Byzantine emperor

Frequently asked questions

What happened on 15 February in history?

2018: Following nationwide protests, Hailemariam Desalegn announced his resignation as prime minister of Ethiopia, remaining in post as a caretaker until he was succeeded by Abiy Ahmed. 1995: Kevin Mitnick, the most wanted computer hacker at the time in the U.S., was arrested and charged with computer fraud and wire fraud. 1989: Soviet–Afghan War: The Soviet Union officially announces that all of its troops have left Afghanistan. 1982: The drilling rig Ocean Ranger sinks during a storm off the coast of Newfoundland, killing 84 workers.

What happened on 15 February in Indian history?

1942: World War II: Fall of Singapore. Following an assault by Japanese forces, the British General Arthur Percival surrenders. About 80,000 Indian, United Kingdom and Australian soldiers become prisoners of war, the largest surrender of British-led military personn. 1915: Sepoys of Indian Muslim background mutinied against their British officers in Singapore.

Which famous people were born on 15 February?

Birdman, American rapper and producer (1969); Milo Đukanović, Montenegrin politician, 29th Prime Minister of Montenegro (1962); Miep Gies, Austrian-Dutch humanitarian, helped hide Anne Frank and her family (died 2010) (1909); Hans von Euler-Chelpin, German-Swedish biochemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1964) (1873).

Which day is observed on 15 February?

International Duties Memorial Day (Russia, regional); John Frum Day (Vanuatu); Liberation Day (Afghanistan); National Flag of Canada Day (Canada); Parinirvana Day, also celebrated on February 8. (Mahayana Buddhism).