http://www.reference.com/thisday/ Holidays, historical events and births and deaths of notable people that occurred on this day. en-us http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:16:32 -0800 Almanac This is the 40th day of the year, with 326 days remaining in 2012 Holidays Feast day of St. Apollonia, St. Sabinus of Canossa, St. Teilo, St. Alto, St. Ansbert, and St. Nicephorus of Antioch. Holidays Lebanon: St. Maron's Day. Events French colonists arrived in Louisiana. Events The Holy Roman Empire came to an end with the signing of the Peace of Luneville between Austria and France. Events The U.S. House of Representatives elected John Quincy Adams the 6th President after no candidate received a majority of electoral votes. He had won fewer votes than Andrew Jackson in the popular election. Events Jefferson Davis was elected president of the Confederate States of America. Events The U. S. Weather Bureau was established. Events The first college basketball game was played as Minnesota State School of Agriculture defeated the Porkers of Hamline College, 9-3. Events American collegian Dwight Filley Davis challenged British tennis players to come across the Atlantic Ocean and compete against his Harvard team, which was the beginning of the Davis Cup competition. Events The U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff held its first formal meeting to coordinate military strategy during World War II. Events The Normandie, thought by many to be the most elegant ocean liner ever built, burned and sank in New York Harbor during its conversion to an Allied trip transport ship. Events The Battle of Guadalcanal ended in the southwest Pacific Ocean as an important American victory over the Japanese in World War II. Events Joseph McCarthy, Republican senator from Wisconsin, announced during a speech that he knew of 205 communists who had infiltrated the U.S. State Department. Events The Beatles made their first live American television appearance, on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Events Nelson Mandela became the first black president of South Africa. Events An American submarine accidentally strikes and sinks a Japanese fishing vessel off the coast of Hawaii, killing nine. Births William Henry Harrison, 9th President of the United States of America (1941, shortest term -- 32 days). Births Amy Lowell, American poet. Births Carmen Miranda, Brazilian singer, actress. Births Joe Pesci, American actor. Births Travis Tritt, American country singer. Births John Walker Lindh, American-born Taliban fighter. Deaths Sophie Tucker, American singer. Deaths Bill Haley, American singer and songwriter, considered by many the "Father of Rock and Roll." Deaths The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, the younger daughter of England's George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Deaths Claude Ryan, Canadian politician and leader of the Parti libéral du Québec from 1978 to 1982. Deaths Freddie Laker, British airline entrepreneur.