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February 1

February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the , with 333 days remaining until the end of the year or 334 days in a . In the United States, it is observed as , a commemoration established by in 1949 to honor the signing by on February 1, 1865, of the joint congressional resolution proposing the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished . Significant events associated with the date include the convening of the first session of the of the on February 1, 1790, in , marking the initial operation of the judicial branch under the . On February 1, 1861, approved its by a convention vote, becoming the seventh state to declare independence from the amid escalating sectional tensions leading to the . These milestones underscore the date's recurring role in pivotal American legal, political, and constitutional developments.

Events

Pre-1600

In 1327, Edward III was crowned king of England at , aged 14, following the forced abdication of his father Edward II; effective control of the realm remained with Edward's mother, , and her ally Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, until a coup in 1330 restored the young king's personal authority. On February 1, 1587, signed the death warrant authorizing the execution of , her Catholic cousin and rival claimant to the English throne, whom English authorities had convicted of treason for involvement in the to assassinate Elizabeth and install Mary as queen; Mary was beheaded at on February 8.

1601–1900

In 1622, an alliance between the English and Safavid Persia captured the Portuguese-held island fortress of Ormuz in the , severing Portugal's monopoly on lucrative spice and silk trade routes in the and marking a key victory in European colonial rivalries. On February 1, 1709, Scottish sailor was rescued from after four years of self-imposed exile, an ordeal that provided with the primary inspiration for his 1719 novel , influencing maritime survival narratives and colonial adventure literature. February 1, 1790, marked the inaugural session of the in , with Chief Justice presiding over a brief meeting that established the judicial branch's operational framework under the recently ratified . France's declared war on and the on February 1, 1793, initiating the broader during the , as revolutionary leaders sought to export republican ideals amid internal radicalization and external monarchist threats. The secession convention adopted the on February 1, , by a vote of 166 to 8, formally dissolving the state's union with the in response to disputes over and , paving the way for Texas's joining of the weeks later.

1901–present

On February 1, 1917, Imperial proclaimed the resumption of against all merchant shipping in the Atlantic Ocean, abandoning prior restraints to maximize effectiveness amid stalemate, a decision that prompted the to sever diplomatic relations days later and declare war in April. On February 1, 1933, Chancellor requested and obtained the dissolution of the from President , paving the way for new elections amid political instability and enabling the Nazi Party's consolidation of power through subsequent violence and the . The launched , its first artificial satellite, on February 1, 1958 (UTC), from using a modified rocket; the 31-pound payload, designed by , detected the Van Allen radiation belts and marked America's entry into the four months after Sputnik 1. Four Black students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University—, , , and David Richmond—sat at a segregated Woolworth's in , on February 1, 1960, refusing service and launching nonviolent sit-ins that inspired over 50,000 participants in similar protests across the South, ultimately pressuring businesses to desegregate. On February 1, 1979, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned to from 15 years of exile in , greeted by millions amid the ; his arrival accelerated the collapse of the Pahlavi monarchy and the establishment of an under his theocratic rule. The disintegrated during atmospheric reentry over and on February 1, 2003, approximately 16 minutes before its scheduled landing, killing all seven crew members—, William McCool, Michael Anderson, David Brown, , , and —due to foam insulation damage from launch that breached the left wing's thermal protection system, as determined by the .

Births

Pre-1600

In 1327, Edward III was crowned king of England at , aged 14, following the forced abdication of his father Edward II; effective control of the realm remained with Edward's mother, Queen , and her ally Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, until a coup in 1330 restored the young king's personal authority. On February 1, 1587, signed the death warrant authorizing the execution of , her Catholic cousin and rival claimant to the English throne, whom English authorities had convicted of treason for involvement in the to assassinate Elizabeth and install Mary as queen; Mary was beheaded at on February 8.

1601–1900

In 1622, an alliance between the English and Safavid Persia captured the Portuguese-held island fortress of Ormuz in the , severing Portugal's monopoly on lucrative spice and silk trade routes in the and marking a key victory in European colonial rivalries. On February 1, 1709, Scottish sailor was rescued from after four years of self-imposed exile, an ordeal that provided with the primary inspiration for his 1719 novel , influencing maritime survival narratives and colonial adventure literature. February 1, 1790, marked the inaugural session of the in , with presiding over a brief meeting that established the judicial branch's operational framework under the recently ratified . France's declared war on and the on February 1, 1793, initiating the broader during the , as revolutionary leaders sought to export republican ideals amid internal radicalization and external monarchist threats. The secession convention adopted the on February 1, , by a vote of 166 to 8, formally dissolving the state's union with the in response to disputes over and , paving the way for Texas's joining of the weeks later.

1901–present

On February 1, 1917, Imperial proclaimed the resumption of against all merchant shipping in the Atlantic Ocean, abandoning prior restraints to maximize effectiveness amid stalemate, a decision that prompted the to sever diplomatic relations days later and declare war in April. On February 1, 1933, Chancellor requested and obtained the dissolution of the from President , paving the way for new elections amid political instability and enabling the Nazi Party's consolidation of power through subsequent violence and the . The launched , its first artificial satellite, on February 1, 1958 (UTC), from using a modified rocket; the 31-pound payload, designed by , detected the Van Allen radiation belts and marked America's entry into the four months after Sputnik 1. Four Black students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University—Ezell Blair Jr., Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, and David Richmond—sat at a segregated Woolworth's in , on February 1, 1960, refusing service and launching nonviolent sit-ins that inspired over 50,000 participants in similar protests across the South, ultimately pressuring businesses to desegregate. On February 1, 1979, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned to from 15 years of exile in , greeted by millions amid the ; his arrival accelerated the collapse of the Pahlavi monarchy and the establishment of an under his theocratic rule. The disintegrated during atmospheric reentry over and on February 1, 2003, approximately 16 minutes before its scheduled landing, killing all seven crew members—, William McCool, Michael Anderson, David Brown, , , and —due to foam insulation damage from launch that breached the left wing's thermal protection system, as determined by the .

Deaths

Pre-1600

In 1327, Edward III was crowned king of England at , aged 14, following the forced of his father Edward II; effective control of the realm remained with Edward's mother, , and her ally Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, until a coup in 1330 restored the young king's personal authority. On February 1, 1587, signed the death warrant authorizing the execution of , her Catholic cousin and rival claimant to the English throne, whom English authorities had convicted of treason for involvement in the to assassinate Elizabeth and install Mary as queen; Mary was beheaded at on February 8.

1601–1900

In 1622, an alliance between the English and Safavid Persia captured the Portuguese-held island fortress of Ormuz in the , severing Portugal's monopoly on lucrative spice and silk trade routes in the and marking a key victory in European colonial rivalries. On February 1, 1709, Scottish sailor was rescued from after four years of self-imposed exile, an ordeal that provided with the primary inspiration for his 1719 novel , influencing maritime survival narratives and colonial adventure literature. February 1, 1790, marked the inaugural session of the in , with presiding over a brief meeting that established the judicial branch's operational framework under the recently ratified . France's declared war on and the on February 1, 1793, initiating the broader during the , as revolutionary leaders sought to export republican ideals amid internal radicalization and external monarchist threats. The secession convention adopted the on February 1, , by a vote of 166 to 8, formally dissolving the state's union with the in response to disputes over and , paving the way for Texas's joining of the weeks later.

1901–present

On February 1, 1917, Imperial proclaimed the resumption of against all merchant shipping in the Atlantic Ocean, abandoning prior restraints to maximize effectiveness amid stalemate, a decision that prompted the to sever diplomatic relations days later and declare war in April. On February 1, 1933, Chancellor requested and obtained the dissolution of the from President , paving the way for new elections amid political instability and enabling the Nazi Party's consolidation of power through subsequent violence and the . The launched , its first artificial satellite, on February 1, 1958 (UTC), from using a modified rocket; the 31-pound payload, designed by , detected the Van Allen radiation belts and marked America's entry into the four months after Sputnik 1. Four Black students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University—Ezell Blair Jr., Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, and David Richmond—sat at a segregated Woolworth's in , on February 1, 1960, refusing service and launching nonviolent sit-ins that inspired over 50,000 participants in similar protests across the South, ultimately pressuring businesses to desegregate. On February 1, 1979, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned to from 15 years of exile in , greeted by millions amid the ; his arrival accelerated the collapse of the Pahlavi monarchy and the establishment of an under his theocratic rule. The disintegrated during atmospheric reentry over and on February 1, 2003, approximately 16 minutes before its scheduled landing, killing all seven crew members—, William McCool, Michael Anderson, David Brown, , , and —due to foam insulation damage from launch that breached the left wing's thermal protection system, as determined by the .

Holidays and observances

Religious observances

In the Roman Catholic Church, February 1 is the feast day of Saint Brigid of (c. 451–525), an Irish abbess, monastic founder, and one of the three patron saints of alongside Saints Patrick and . Brigid established the double monastery at , which combined religious communities for men and women under her leadership, and she is invoked as patroness of dairy maids, cattle, midwives, Irish immigrants, and sailors due to legends of her miracles involving healing, provision of food, and protection of livestock. Her veneration emphasizes her role in early Irish Christianity, blending asceticism with practical charity, and her relics were enshrined at until the . In the , February 1 commemorates Venerable Brigid (Bridget) of Ireland, aligning with the Western tradition of her monastic legacy, alongside Martyr Tryphon of Lampsacus (d. c. 250), a youth martyred under for refusing to sacrifice to idols, and other saints including Theonas with his children and Karion. Tryphon's intercession is sought against pests, particularly , based on hagiographic accounts of his post-martyr miracles. The day also marks the forefeast of the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple, anticipating the celebration. February 1 coincides with in some contemporary Pagan and Wiccan traditions, an ancient seasonal festival marking the midpoint between and , later syncretized with Saint Brigid's Day through her portrayal as a goddess-like figure in , involving rituals for purification, fire, and emerging lactation in ewes. This observance, however, predates and is not formally liturgical in major Abrahamic faiths.

National and international observances

In the United States, February 1 is designated as by federal law, commemorating President Abraham Lincoln's signing on that date in 1865 of the joint congressional resolution proposing the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished . The observance was first proclaimed by President in 1949 to honor the ongoing struggle for freedom and equality, though it does not entail a federal holiday with . Mauritius observes February 1 as Abolition of Slavery Day, a marking the colonial proclamation in 1835 that ended in the island nation, affecting over 60,000 enslaved individuals primarily of African and Malagasy descent. Commemorations often include official ceremonies at sites like , a World Heritage location associated with resistance, emphasizing historical reflection on the transition to indentured labor systems. Nicaragua marks February 1 as , a observance honoring the establishment and contributions of its , founded in the early and formalized under military traditions. While not a general public holiday, it involves military parades, tributes to personnel, and recognition of aviation history, including the force's role in defense. Internationally, the has proclaimed the first week of February, commencing February 1, as World Interfaith Harmony Week since 2010, aimed at fostering and mutual respect among adherents of different religions to promote and understanding. The initiative encourages events worldwide focused on interfaith cooperation, drawing from principles of loving and neighbor across Abrahamic faiths, though applicable to all beliefs.

Other observances

World Aspergillosis Day is observed annually on February 1 to raise awareness of , a spectrum of diseases caused by with fungi, which affects an estimated 3 million to 15 million people globally each year but remains underdiagnosed due to limited testing and knowledge among healthcare providers. The observance originated in through efforts by the Fungal Infection Trust and groups to promote education on symptoms, , and , including therapies like for invasive forms. Change Your Password Day, held on February 1, urges users to audit and strengthen online credentials amid persistent data breaches, with over 2,200 reported in the U.S. alone in exposing billions of records. Established around 2012 by cybersecurity advocates, it emphasizes creating complex, unique passphrases, though recent analyses from institutions like argue that mandatory periodic changes can encourage weaker habits and reuse, recommending instead the use of password managers and for sustained security. Additional unofficial U.S.-centric observances include National Dark Chocolate Day, which highlights the consumption of (at least 70% ) for its flavanols linked to cardiovascular benefits in moderation, as supported by meta-analyses of cohort studies showing reduced risks of heart disease. These lighter events, often promoted by commercial calendars, contrast with more substantive awareness efforts but contribute to cultural engagement on the date.

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