On This Day: 29 February

29 February in world history

• 2020During a demonstration, pro-government colectivos shoot at disputed President and Speaker of the National Assembly Juan Guaidó and his supporters in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, leaving five injured.
• 2020The United States and the Taliban sign the Doha Agreement for bringing peace to Afghanistan.
• 2020Muhyiddin Yassin is appointed as the 8th Prime Minister of Malaysia, amid the 2020 Malaysian political crisis.
• 2016In the Miqdadiyah bombing: at least 40 people are killed and 58 others wounded following a suicide bombing by ISIL at a Shi'ite funeral in the city of Miqdadiyah, Diyala, Iraq.
• 2012Construction of Tokyo Skytree, the world's tallest tower and third-tallest structure, was completed.
• 2004Angelina Jolie wears a White Marc Bouwer dress to the 76th Academy Awards, which has since been placed on numerous lists for best red carpet fashion.
• 1996In the deadliest aviation accident in Peruvian history, Faucett Flight 251 crashed on approach to Rodríguez Ballón International Airport, killing all 123 people aboard.
• 1992Costello's, a New York City bar popular with journalists, writers, novelists, and cartoonists, closed.
• 1988Svend Robinson becomes the first member of the House of Commons of Canada to come out as gay.
• 1980Gordie Howe of the Hartford Whalers makes NHL history as he scores his 800th goal.
• 1972South Korea withdraws 11,000 of its 48,000 troops from South Vietnam as part of Nixon's Vietnamization policy in the Vietnam War.
• 1960The deadliest earthquake in Moroccan history struck the city of Agadir, killing at least 12,000 people.
• 1944World War II: The Admiralty Islands campaign began when American forces assaulted Los Negros Island, the third largest of the Admiralty Islands.
• 1940At the 12th Academy Awards, Hattie McDaniel became the first African American to be awarded an Oscar, winning Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind.
• 1940In a ceremony held in Berkeley, California, physicist Ernest Lawrence receives the 1939 Nobel Prize in Physics from Sweden's consul general in San Francisco.
• 1916In South Carolina, the minimum working age for factory, mill and mine workers is raised from 12 to 14 years old.
• 1908James Madison University is founded at Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States as The State Normal and Industrial School for Women by the Virginia General Assembly.
• 1704Queen Anne's War: French and Native American forces raided the English settlement of Deerfield, Massachusetts, killing more than 50 colonists.

Born on 29 February

• 2004Lydia Jacoby, American swimmer
• 1976Ja Rule, American rapper and actor
• 1952Tim Powers, American author and educator
• 1936Henri Richard, Canadian ice hockey player (died 2020)
• 1896Morarji Desai, Indian civil servant and politician, fourth Prime Minister of India (died 1995)India
• 1836Dickey Pearce, American baseball player and manager (died 1908)

Died on 29 February

• 2016Mumtaz Qadri, Pakistani assassin, executed (born 1985)
• 2012P. K. Narayana Panicker, Indian social leader (born 1930)India
• 1868Ludwig I of Bavaria (born 1786)
• 992Oswald of Worcester, Anglo-Saxon archbishop and saint (born 925)

Frequently asked questions

What happened on 29 February in history?

2020: During a demonstration, pro-government colectivos shoot at disputed President and Speaker of the National Assembly Juan Guaidó and his supporters in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, leaving five injured. 2020: The United States and the Taliban sign the Doha Agreement for bringing peace to Afghanistan. 2020: Muhyiddin Yassin is appointed as the 8th Prime Minister of Malaysia, amid the 2020 Malaysian political crisis. 2016: In the Miqdadiyah bombing: at least 40 people are killed and 58 others wounded following a suicide bombing by ISIL at a Shi'ite funeral in the city of Miqdadiyah, Diyala, Iraq.

Which famous people were born on 29 February?

Lydia Jacoby, American swimmer (2004); Ja Rule, American rapper and actor (1976); Tim Powers, American author and educator (1952); Henri Richard, Canadian ice hockey player (died 2020) (1936).

Which day is observed on 29 February?

As a Christian feast day: Saint John Cassian; As a Christian feast day: February 29 in the Orthodox church; Rare Disease Day (in leap years; usually celebrated in common years on February 28); Bachelor's Day (Ireland and United Kingdom).