1575
Politics
Crowning of Henry III
Henry III was crowned King of France at Reims, with Catherine's continued influence.
View detailsThis Day
15February
36 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1836
Medicine
Birth of educator Sarah Fuller
Birth of educator Sarah Fuller in Weston, Massachusetts, who would become a leading advocate of oral instruction for deaf children.
View details1850
Science
Birth of Sophie Bryant
Sophie Willock (later Bryant) was born in Sandymount, near Dublin, Ireland, on 15 February 1850.
View details1875
Activism
Born in Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire
Mary Rough was born on 15 February 1875 in Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, Scotland, the daughter of a carpet weaver.
View details1879
Science
The 'Lockwood Bill' signed into law
President Hayes signed the act admitting qualified women attorneys to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.
View details1898
Science
U.S. patent granted for anti-derailment railroad device
Granted U.S. patent for a means to prevent railroad car derailments.
View details1909
1910
Science
Birth of Irena Sendler in Warsaw
Irena Stanisława Krzyżanowska was born in Warsaw, then part of the Russian Empire, later becoming a renowned rescuer of Jewish children during the Holocaust.
View details1921
Science
Born in Lompoc-area ranch, California
Anna Lee Aldred was born on February 15, 1921, into a ranching family in California, where she was raised around horses from infancy.
View details1926
1931
Arts
Death of Lillian Leitzel
Lillian Leitzel passed away on February 15, 1931, due to injuries from a performance accident.
View details1938
Literature
Newbery Medal for The White Stag
Kate Seredy was awarded the Newbery Medal on February 15, 1938, for her book "The White Stag".
View details1939
Arts
Starred in 'The Little Foxes' on Broadway
Starred as Regina Giddens in 'The Little Foxes'.
View details1939
Arts
Breakthrough performance in 'The Little Foxes'
Performed iconic role of Regina Giddens on Broadway.
View details1939
Arts
Opening of 'The Little Foxes' on Broadway
Gave breakthrough performance in 'The Little Foxes'.
View details1946
Science
First successful public demonstration of ENIAC
ENIAC's first full program run, developed with Kay McNulty's programming work, was publicly demonstrated at the Moore School, a world first for electronic computing.
View details1946
Science
Public unveiling of ENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic digital computer
ENIAC, programmed by Snyder and five other women, was publicly unveiled at the Moore School, marking the birth of modern computing.
View details1955
Sports
Birth of Bev Francis
Beverley 'Bev' Francis was born in Geelong, Victoria, Australia, the youngest of five children.
View details1956
Science
Birth of Joy Mangano
Joy Mangano was born on February 15, 1956, in Brooklyn, New York.
View details1960
Science
Moved from MIT to BBN
Fox transitioned from MIT to Bolt Beranek and Newman for further work in computing.
View details1970
Exploration
Leads first all-female aquanaut team in NASA-sponsored Tektite II Mission 6
Earle leads the first all-female aquanaut team in the Tektite II, Mission 6, an underwater habitat.
View details1978
Science
First competitive Grammy Award
At the 21st Annual Grammy Awards, Parton wins Best Country Vocal Performance, Female, for "Here You Come Again."
View details1983
Science
Microscopic observation of the new retrovirus
In February 1983, microscopist Charles Dauguet visually confirms the new retrovirus particles in culture, corroborating Barré-Sinoussi's enzymatic findings.
View details1988
Sports
Receives USGA Bob Jones Award
Lopez receives the USGA's Bob Jones Award for sportsmanship.
View details1990
Science
Death of Betty Louise Turtle
Betty Louise Turtle passed away on February 15, 1990, in Sydney, Australia.
View details1994
Sports
First woman to pitch and win a men's college baseball game
Borders became the first woman to pitch in a men's NCAA/NAIA game, winning 12-1 for Southern California College vs. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.
View details1996
Science
First Woman Since 1828 to Receive Royal Astronomical Society Gold Medal
On February 15, 1996, Vera Rubin received the Royal Astronomical Society Gold Medal.
View details1998
Literature
Death of Martha Gellhorn
Gellhorn died by suicide at her home in London on February 15, 1998, at age 89.
View details1998
Science
Password Journal gains national visibility
Girl Tech’s Password Journal gains national attention in the toy industry.
View details2004
Literature
Lessing Prize for Criticism
Received the Lessing Prize for Criticism for her cultural critiques.
View details2011
Activism
Leads early Arab Spring demonstration in Yemen
Tawakkol Karman led a major demonstration in Sana’a against Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh during the Arab Spring.
View details2011
Science
First woman to receive the Charles Stark Draper Prize
Arnold became the first woman awarded the Charles Stark Draper Prize, a top honor in engineering.
View details2011
Science
Named to Time 100 most influential people list
Temple Grandin was named to Time's list of the 100 most influential people for 2010.
View details2014
Science
First woman to play running back in a men's professional football game
Welter became the first female non-kicker or placekick holder to play in a men's professional football game, playing running back for the Texas Revolution.
View details2014
Science
Died in Los Angeles, California
Thelma Estrin died on February 15, 2014, in Los Angeles, California, at age 89.
View details2017
Arts
First transgender actor to play a recurring transgender character on U.S. broadcast TV
Cox's CBS series 'Doubt' premieres, making her the first transgender actor to play a regular transgender character on broadcast network TV.
View details