ST. VALENTINE

Although a Christian bishop named Valentine was martyred on February 14 in A.D. 271, there is nothing in this legend to account for the custom of choosing a sweetheart on this day.By the early 1600s, handmade valentines were customarily sent from admirers to sweethearts. About 1800 the first commercial cards appeared. Cards were usually sent anonymously. As early as 1822, an English official reported having to hire extra postal workers on this day. In 1849, Esther Howland of Worcester, Massachusetts, started selling quality valentines so popular that she was called “Mother of the American Valentine.”

Every Year

• STS. CYRIL AND METHODIUS
• ST. VALENTINE

1770s

• 1779: CAPTAIN JAMES COOK, ENGLISH EXPLORER, WAS MURDERED BY HAWAIIAN NATIVES IN A SCUFFLE OVER A STOLEN BOAT

1840s

• 1849: JAMES POLK BECAME THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED

1850s

• BORN 1859: GEORGE W. G. FERRIS, JR. (INVENTOR OF THE FERRIS WHEEL)

1930s

• BORN 1934: FLORENCE HENDERSON (ACTRESS)

1940s

• BORN 1946: GREGORY HINES (DANCER & ACTOR)

1960s

• 1962: FIRST LADY JACKIE KENNEDY CONDUCTED A ONE HOUR TELEVISED TOUR OF THE WHITE HOUSE

1970s

• BORN 1972: ROB THOMAS (MUSICIAN)
• BORN 1972: DREW BLEDSOE (FOOTBALL PLAYER)
• 1974: FIRST DOUBLE DUTCH JUMP ROPE TOURNAMENT WAS HELD

1990s

• BORN 1992: FREDDIE HIGHMORE (ACTOR)
• DIED 1994: PIETRO BELLUSCHI (ARCHITECT)
• BORN 1994: ALLIE GRANT (ACTRESS)

2000s

• 2003: DOLLY THE CLONED SHEEP, THE WORLD’S FIRST MAMMAL CLONED FROM AN ADULT, PUT TO DEATH, DUE TO LUNG PROBLEMS
• DIED 2003: DOLLY THE SHEEP (FIRST CLONED MAMMAL)
• 2005: YOUTUBE FOUNDED
• DIED 2009: LOUIE BELLSON (BIG BAND & JAZZ DRUMMER)

2010s

• 2018: A 70-POUND METEORITE FROM BARRINGER CRATER IN ARIZONA SOLD FOR $237,500 AT AUCTION

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