Slideshow: Today In History, Feb. 16
Today is Monday, Feb. 16. This is Presidents Day.
Today's Highlight in History:
1862: Battle of Fort Donelson
In 1862, the Civil War Battle of Fort Donelson in Tennessee ended as some 12,000 Confederate soldiers surrendered; Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's victory earned him the nickname "Unconditional Surrender Grant."
1923: King Tutankhamen
In 1923, the burial chamber of King Tutankhamen's recently unearthed tomb was unsealed in Egypt by English archaeologist Howard Carter.
1937: Dr. Wallace H. Carothers
In 1937, Dr. Wallace H. Carothers, a research chemist for Du Pont who'd invented nylon, received a patent for the synthetic fiber.
1945: Corregidor
On Feb. 16, 1945, American troops landed on the island of Corregidor in the Philippines during World War II.
1959: Fidel Castro
In 1959, Fidel Castro became premier of Cuba a month and a-half after the overthrow of Fulgencio Batista.
1977: Janani Luwum
In 1977, Janani Luwum, the Anglican archbishop of Uganda, and two other men were killed in what Ugandan authorities said was an automobile accident.
1988: Richard Farley
In 1988, seven people were shot to death during an office rampage in Sunnyvale, California, by a man obsessed with a co-worker who was wounded in the attack. (The gunman, Richard Farley, is on death row.)
2005: NHL Lockout
Ten years ago: The NHL canceled what was left of its decimated schedule after a round of last-gasp negotiations failed to resolve differences over a salary cap - the flash-point issue that had led to a lockout.
2014: Carmelo Anthony
One year ago: Carmelo Anthony made an All-Star record eight 3-pointers and scored 30 points, and the Eastern Conference overcame 38-point efforts by Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin for a 163-155 win.
2014: John Kerry
One year ago: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, during a visit to Indonesia, called climate change perhaps the "most fearsome" destructive weapon and mocked those who denied its existence or questioned its causes, comparing them to people who insist the earth is flat.
2014: Sochi Olympics
One year ago: At the Sochi Games, Kjetil Jansrud won the fourth straight Olympic super-G gold medal for Norway; Andrew Weibrecht of the United States wound up second while American teammate Bode Miller and Jan Hudec of Canada tied for third. (Miller, at 36, became the oldest ever Olympic Alpine medalist.)
Birthday: Cathy Freeman
Olympic gold medal runner Cathy Freeman is 42.
Birthday: Chloe Wepper
Actress Chloe Wepper is 29.
Birthday: Danielle Haim
Rock musician Danielle Haim is 26.
Birthday: Elizabeth Olsen
Actress Elizabeth Olsen is 26.
Birthday: Ice-T
Actor-rapper Ice-T is 57.
Birthday: James Ingram
Rhythm-and-blues singer James Ingram is 63.
Birthday: John McEnroe
International Tennis Hall of Famer John McEnroe is 56.
Birthday: Levar Burton
Actor LeVar Burton is 58.
Birthday: Lupe Fiasco
Rapper Lupe Fiasco is 33.
Birthday: Mahershala Ali
Actor Mahershala Ali (TV: "House of Cards"; Film: "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay" films) is 41.
Birthday: Ryan Follese
Pop-rock singer Ryan Follese (Hot Chelle Rae) is 28.
Birthday: Sarah Clarke
Actress Sarah Clarke is 44.
Birthday: Taylor Hawkins
Rock musician Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters) is 43.
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