Every day of the year has its own history. If major disasters happen on a certain date, the associated dates usually remain fresh in the memory. Less catastrophic events also influence history. Many terrible or beautiful events are in the history books, but are no longer current. The date February 2 may not mean anything to you, but special things also happened on that day over time.
On February 2, 1709, the real Robinson Crusoe was rescued
The well-known story Robinson Crusoe is based on a real story. On February 2, 1709, one Alexander Selkrik was rescued after surviving alone on an ‘uninhabited’ island for more than 4 years. He had been thought dead. Selkirk had lived on the island for 4 years and 4 months. Writer (and captain) Woodes Defoe, who took the man off the island, later wrote the book Robinson Crusoe, which became a worldwide success and was adapted into films several times. The story was based on Selkirk’s real experiences, which he had related in detail to Captain Woodes Defoe on his journey home. What other joyful events have taken place on February 2 over the years?
What, if anything, happened on February 2 of several other years in history?
A collection of events that all took place on February 2:
- 506: King Alaric II of the Visigoths has the law book ,Breviarium Alaricianum, compiled in Toulouse.
- 1596: Birth day of architect and painter Jacob van Kampen
- 1660: Death of Govert Flinck. Painter Govert Flinck became known for his paintings, but also because he was a student of Rembrandt van Rijn.
Govert Flick, details
On January 25, 1615, Govaert Flinck (usually pronounced: Govert) was born in Kleve. His father wanted the boy to work in the silk trade, but Govert was obsessed with drawing and painting and he wanted to become a painter. Ultimately, the parents acquiesced to their son’s wishes. He had great talent and became one of Rembrandt’s most famous students. Flick painted many portraits, historical and genre paintings. His paintings can be admired in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Govert Flick died on February 2, 1660.
Other memorable events that took place on February 2
- 1852: The first public toilet appears on the streets of London. It is a toilet for men, a kind of urinal that can even be flushed. The toilet can be visited in Fleet Street and appears to literally and figuratively meet a need.
- 1878: Greece starts war with Turkey.
- 1905: Without permission from the Russian High Command, Russian troops surrender to Japanese units at Port Arthur
- 1935: German immigrant Bruno Hauptmann is on trial for kidnapping and murdering Charles Lindbergh’s 2-year-old son in America. Lindbergh was known, among other things, for being the first to cross the ocean with an airplane.
- 1947: The first ‘instant camera’ comes onto the market. It is a so-called Polaroid camera, invented by the American Edwin Land. The camera is interesting because the photos are developed immediately and are ready within a few minutes. Although the Polaroid is still useful, the advent of digital cameras, which no longer require negatives or other tangible light-sensitive material, has replaced the Polaroid camera.
- 1959: The Loenik 1 is launched by the Russians. The air vehicle weighs 360 kilos and is still floating through space
- 1969: Anniversary of death of actor Boris Karloff. Karloff was best known as an actor for his role in the Frankenstein films.
Boris Karloff, details
William Henry Pratt. Better known by his stage name Boris Karloff. The actor was born on November 23, 1887 in Camberwell, Great Britain. As an actor he was mainly known for his role Frankenstein in horror films. He had actually become an actor even though this had not been planned. He studied in London and wanted to become a diplomat. However, in 1909 he emigrated to Canada and joined a theater company there. It was a traveling theater. William Henry Pratt adopted the name Boris Karloff as his stage name. He traveled with the theater company through the US for ten years and finally arrived in Hollywood. He was offered roles in films. At that time, films had no sound and were called silent films. Karloff appeared in 80 films without sound, but he only became famous for the role in Frankenstein films. In 1931 he was cast in the role of ‘Frankenstein’s Monster.’ It was the story about a doctor who creates a new person from the limbs of deceased lunatics and murderers. He creates the monster Frankenstein. William Henry Pratt played The Monster in those feature films, namely:
- Frankenstein’s Monster
- Bride of Frankenstein
- Son of Frankenstein
William Henry Pratt alias Boris Karloff, was known as a friendly person. He died on February 2, 1969.
February 2, other known events on that date
- 1971: Idi Amin commits a military coup in Uganda and from then on leads a reign of terror. This costs the lives of 300,000 people. His nickname was the Butcher of Africa. He ruled Uganda from February 2, 1971 to 1979. Idi Amin Dada Oumee died on August 16, 2003.
- 1982: 20,000 people die in Syria, in the city of Hama. Government troops violently suppress a Muslim Brotherhood uprising.
- 1986: In Lichtenstein, women’s suffrage is granted for the first time during elections.
- 1991: Earthquakes trigger avalanches in Pakistan and Afghanistan, killing more than 1,700.
- 2000: André Hazes becomes furious with a passenger who punched his son Dre in the face at Schiphol. Hazes gets into a fight with the passenger from Norway. The man had been of the opinion that little Dre should be quiet, and when the kid didn’t listen, the Norwegian started firing. André Hazes then lost his patience and Hazes was later arrested by the Schiphol police.
- 2002: Prince Willem-Alexander marries Máxima Zorreguieta.
- 2006: 15 people die in the Bavarian Bad Reichenhall when the roof of an artificial ice rink collapses under the weight of a thick layer of snow.
- 2008: A barrel of oil is priced at $100 for the first time in history
- 2009: Death anniversary of Dutch writer Annet van Battum
Born on February 2
If you were born on February 2, your zodiac sign is Aquarius. The month of February is known for being a so-called leap month. That is why this month is also called ‘the leap month’. Another name for February is the rainy month. Which celebrities were born on February 2?
- 1596: Jacob van Campen, painter and architect
- 1700: Johann Christoph Gottsched, German author
- 1873: Leo Fall, composer from Austria
- 1882: James Joyce, Irish writer of, among others, the famous work Ullysses
- 1898: Fien de la Mar, famous Dutch actress
- 1912: André Amellér, composer and mizaktn (France)
- 1918: Hella S. Haasse, Dutch author
- 1927: Stan Getz, musician America
- 1942: Graham Nash, singer with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- 1947: Farrah Fawcett, American actress known for Charlie’s Angels.
- 1952: Erik Verpale, Flemish author
- 1977: Shakira, singer
Holidays February 2
- Imbolc: Natural religion
- Christian festival: Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas)
- World Wetlands Day