Feb 6

Feb 6 What Happened on February 6 in History?

February 6 has seen everything from the dawn of a 70-year royal reign to the birth of a reggae icon. Here’s a breakdown of the heavy hitters and quirky moments from this day in history:

👑 Royalty & Politics

Elizabeth II Becomes Queen (1952): Princess Elizabeth ascended the throne at age 25 following the death of her father, King George VI. She was famously in a treehouse in Kenya when she became monarch.
Massachusetts Ratifies the Constitution (1788): It became the sixth state to join the Union.
Franco-American Alliance (1778): France officially recognized the United States, signing a treaty of aid that was crucial to winning the Revolutionary War.
20th Amendment Adopted (1933): This "Lame Duck" amendment changed the date of presidential inaugurations from March 4 to January 20.

🎸 Culture & Innovation

The Microchip is Patented (1959): Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments filed the first patent for an integrated circuit, the foundation of modern computing.
Monopoly Goes on Sale (1935): The world’s most famous board game was first marketed by Parker Brothers.
"Of Mice and Men" Published (1937): John Steinbeck’s classic novella was first released on this day.

⚔️ Tragedy & Conflict

Turkey-Syria Earthquakes (2023): Devastating magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 earthquakes struck the border region, resulting in a death toll exceeding 50,000 people.
Munich Air Disaster (1958): A plane crash claimed 23 lives, including eight members of the Manchester United "Busby Babes" football team.
Battle of Fort Henry (1862): Ulysses S. Grant led the Union to its first major victory of the American Civil War.

🎂 Famous Birthdays

Babe Ruth (1895): The legendary "Sultan of Swat" was born in Baltimore.
Ronald Reagan (1911): The 40th U.S. President and former actor was born in Illinois.
Bob Marley (1945): The reggae pioneer was born in Jamaica; the day is now a national holiday there.
Axl Rose (1962): The Guns N' Roses frontman turns a year older on this day.

⛳ And one for the moon ...