On This Day in History February 23, 2020

Historical Events 303  Roman Emperor Diocletian begins his policy of persecuting Christians, razing the church at Nicomedia 1455  Johannes Gutenberg prints his first Bible (estimated date) 1540  Francisco Vázquez de Coronado's expedition sets off from Mexico in search of the 7 cities of Cibola 1836  Alamo besieged for 13 days until March 6 by Mexican army under General Santa Anna; entire garrison eventually killed 1904  United States acquires control of the Panama Canal Zone for $10 million 1945  US Marines raise American flag on top of Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima. Photo of which by Joe Rosenthall later became iconic, inspiring the Marine Corps War Memorial sculpture 1954  1st mass inoculation against polio with Salk vaccine (Pittsburgh) 1998  Osama bin Laden publishes a fatwa declaring jihad against all Jews and Crusaders More Historical Events Famous Birthdays Dakota Fanning 26th Birthday George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759) Samuel Pepys (1633 - 1703) W.E.B. Du Bois (1868 - 1963) More Famous Birthdays Famous Deaths Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777 - 1855) Stan Laurel (1890 - 1965) More Famous Deaths