Significant diplomatic, political, cultural, technological and sporting developments have taken place on February 11 across centuries. The following timeline traces key events from the 16th century till 1998.
Anti-French covenant- 1543
Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and English King Henry VIII signed an anti-French covenant. This treaty was a significant diplomatic development in the Italian War of 1542–1546, aimed at merging English and Habsburg forces to invade France and topple the power of King Francis I, who was allied with the Ottoman Empire.
Steamboat Patent- 1809
American inventor Robert Fulton patented improvements to steam navigation. He also worked on early naval torpedo designs.
First British public toilet for women- 1852
The first flushable British public toilet for women opened on February 11, 1852, at 51 Bedford Street, London, near The Strand. It used English sanitary engineer and plumber George Jennings’ flushable monkey closets. It had ornate mahogany and brass designs and followed the opening on Fleet Street a few days earlier of a similar public toilet for men.
Social activist Emma Goldman arrested- 1916
Emma Goldman, a supporter of anarchist revolution and a sociopolitical activist, was arrested in the US for lecturing on birth control. She had also invited the wrath of American authorities for supporting the No Conscription League of New York during WW1.
Eisenhower handed European command- 1943
US General Eisenhower was selected to command the Allied armies in Europe. He went on to become the American President in 1952, remaining in office till 1961. He is remembered for his speech on the American military-industry complex.
Death of India’s President FA Ahmed- 1977
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, Indian leader and 5th President of India (1974-77), died of a cardiac arrest at 72.
Cellular Jail declared as a National Memorial- 1979
Cellular Jail, which housed Indian freedom fighters during the peak of the British Raj, and which was notorious for the mental and physical torture of those freedom fighters, was declared as a National Memorial. It is located on the scenic Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Release of Nelson Mandela from prison- 1990
Nelson Mandela, a key leader of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, was released from Victor Verster Prison in Cape Town after having spent nearly 27 years in it. His release symbolised the beginning of the end of apartheid in South Africa, which happened eventually in 1994, with the implementation of the first multiracial national elections in South Africa on the principle of ‘one man one vote’.
1996 Wills World Cup inaugurated- 1996
The Wills World Cup, which was jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, was inaugurated in the Indian city of Calcutta in the iconic Eden Gardens through a grand opening ceremony. The World Cup is remembered for the Australian and West Indian refusal to play against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka in the Group stage due to security fears related to the recent LTTE bombings in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka won this ICC CWC by defeating the Australians, thereby becoming the first team to win a CWC final by chasing a target down.
Assassination conspiracy unearthed in Punjab- 1998
The Punjab police unearthed a conspiracy to assassinate the then Indian Prime Minister IK Gujral and some other high-profile provincial and national politicians by a pro-Khalistan militant group.
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