^B{^#!16!24 February^N! Feast day of St Praetextatus and Saints Montanus, Lucius, and their Companions.
^B{AD 303^B} Galerius Valerius Maximianus issued an edict demanding the persecution of Christians. ^B{1582^B} The Gregorian Calendar was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII; it replaced the Julian Calendar, but was not adopted in Britain until ^B{1752^B}. ^B{1905^B} The Simplon Tunnel through the Alps was completed. ^B{1920^B} Nancy Astor became the first woman to address the British Parliament. ^B{1932^B} Malcolm Campbell beat his own land speed record in ^I{Bluebird^I} at Daytona Beach, US; he reached a speed of 408.88 kph/253.96 mph. ^B{1938^B} Nylon toothbrush bristles were first produced in the US - the first commercial use of nylon. ^B{1946^B} Juan Per≤n was elected president of Argentina.
^B{^I{^#!14!Born ^N}Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, ^B{1500^B}; Wilhelm Grimm, German philologist and, with his brother Jakob, compiler of fairy tales, ^B{1786^B}; Arnold Dolmetsch, Swiss maker and restorer of musical instruments, ^B{1858^B}; Michel Legrand, French composer of film music, ^B{1932^B}; Alain Prost, French racing driver, ^B{1955^B}; Dennis Waterman, English actor, ^B{1948^B}.
^B{^I{^#!14!Died ^N}Henry Cavendish, English physicist, ^B{1810^B}; Thomas Bowdler, English editor who produced 'bowdlerized' versions of great literary works such as Shakespeare and the Old Testament, ^B{1825^B}; Nikolai Bulganin, Soviet prime minister, ^B{1975^B}; Memphis Slim, US blues singer, ^B{1987^B}; Bobby Moore, English footballer, ^B{1993^B}.