Frederic Eugene Ives was born on February 17, 1856, in Litchfield, Connecticut. He developed the first successful half-tone process and invented the “Kromskop,” which projected three identical images through different colored filters to produce some of the first color photographs.
On February 16, 1862, Ulysses S. Grant scored an important and morale-boosting victory at the Battle of Fort Donelson. Grant captured more soldiers in that one battle than all American generals combined up to that time.
On February 15, 1946, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) was unveiled to the public. It’s considered the first general-purpose electronic digital computer.
On February 14, 1859, Oregon was admitted as the 33rd state in the Union.
On February 13, 1914, the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) was founded in New York City. The organization works to protect musical copyrights in various media.
William Allen White was born on February 10, 1868, in Emporia, Kansas. A newspaper editor, politician and author, he was considered “the most loved and most distinguished member” of the Kansas press.
On February 9, 1889, the US Department of Agriculture attained cabinet-level status. The change was signed into law by President Grover Cleveland.
On February 6, 1778, Delegates of King Louis XVI of France and the Second Continental Congress signed a Treaty of Alliance, promising military support to each other. French aid and manpower contributed to America’s ultimate victory in the Revolution.
Mark Hopkins was born on February 4, 1802, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. He was the youngest college president in the US and produced many influential writings on religion, education, morality, and more.