On This Day in History

February 5

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​Historical Events​

​1576 Henry of Navarre (later Henry IV of France) abjures Catholicism at Tours

A painting in a Prague church commemorating the crucifixion of the 26 Catholic martyrs in Nagasaki

​1597 A group of early Japanese Christians, known as the 26 Martyrs, are killed by the new government of Japan for being seen as a threat to Japanese society

​1885 King Leopold II of Belgium establishes the Congo as his personal colonial possession

1885 News of the fall of Khartoum reaches London

Statue in the Philippines commemorating the return of American commander Douglas MacArthur in World War II

​1945 US troops under General Douglas MacArthur enter Manila in the Philippines after a month-long battle, ending three years of Japanese military occupation​

​1969 United States population reaches 200 million

More Historical Events

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​Famous Birthdays​

​John Witherspoon​ ​1723 - 1794

​Grażyna Bacewicz​ ​1909 - 1969

​Robert Hofstadter​ ​1915 - 1990

​Nolan Bushnell​ ​82nd Birthday

Also Cristiano Ronaldo (40) and Neymar (33)

More Famous Birthdays

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​Famous Deaths​

​Thomas Carlyle​ ​1795 - 1881

​Maharishi Mahesh Yogi​ ​1918 - 2008

More Famous Deaths

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​‘Bobbies’ Take To The Streets Of London​

Robert Peel, the man responsible for the world’s first modern police force, the UK’s ruling Conservative party – and income tax – was born on this day.

World's First Modern Police Force