February 13 - The Day in History

February 13 : General Interest 1633: Galileo in Rome for Inquisition On this day in 1633, Italian philosopher, astronomer and mathematician Galileo Galilei arrives in Rome to face charges of heresy for advocating Copernican theory, which holds that the Earth revolves around the Sun... read more

American Revolution 1776 : Patrick Henry named colonel of First Virginia battalion http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/patrick-henry-named-colonel-of-first-virginia-battalion Automotive 2008 : Actor Mel Gibson completes DUI probation http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/actor-mel-gibson-completes-dui-probation Civil War 1831 : Unoin General John Rawlins born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-rawlins-born Cold War 1984 : Chernenko becomes general secretary http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/chernenko-becomes-general-secretary Crime 1982 : Serial killer strikes in Colorado http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/serial-killer-strikes-in-colorado Disaster 1983 : Cinema burns in Turin http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cinema-burns-in-turin General Interest 1689 : William and Mary proclaimed joint sovereigns of Britain http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/william-and-mary-proclaimed-joint-sovereigns-of-britain 1861 : First Medal of Honor action http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-medal-of-honor-action 1945 : Dresden devastated http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dresden-devastated Hollywood 2001 : Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon gets 10 Oscar nominations http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/crouching-tiger-hidden-dragon-gets-10-oscar-nominations Literary 1991 : Long-lost Twain manuscript authenticated http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/long-lost-twain-manuscript-authenticated Music 1915 : ASCAP is founded http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ascap-is-founded Old West 1822 : Ashley advertises for western fur trappers http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ashley-advertises-for-western-fur-trappers Presidential 1905 : Teddy Roosevelt discusses America's race problem http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/teddy-roosevelt-discusses-americas-race-problem Sports 1998 : Downhill skier Hermann Maier crashes in Olympics http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/downhill-skier-hermann-maier-crashes-in-olympics Vietnam War 1965 : Johnson approves Operation Rolling Thunder http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/johnson-approves-operation-rolling-thunder 1968 : Additional troops ordered to South Vietnam http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/additional-troops-ordered-to-south-vietnam World War I 1920 : League of Nations recognizes perpetual Swiss neutrality http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/league-of-nations-recognizes-perpetual-swiss-neutrality World War II 1945 : Firebombing of Dresden http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/firebombing-of-dresden

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