IT HAPPENED TODAY
Circa 270:
Saint Valentine was thought to have been martyred by Roman Emperor Claudius II.
1779:
Captain James Cook, British explorer, was murdered by natives in Hawaii.
1822:
Britain’s postal services had to employ extra sorters as the fashion of sending messages to loved ones on St Valentine’s Day continued to grow in popularity.
1895:
The Importance Of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde its premiere in London.
1929:
1946:
The Bank of England was nationalised.
1975:
1984:
2013:
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR:
DUP
had
The St Valentine’s Day Massacre took place in a Chicago warehouse. Seven members of Bugs Moran’s gang were gunned down, probably by mobsters from Al Capone’s outfit.
Sir Pelham Grenville (PG) Wodehouse, who was known affectionately as ‘Plum’ and who wrote many humorous novels, notably the Jeeves series, died in the United States, aged 93.
Torvill and Dean skated their way to a gold medal at the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, getting maximum points for artistic expression.
Olympic and Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius was arrested on suspicion of murder after his girlfriend was shot dead at his home.
leader Arlene Foster announced that there was “no prospect” of a return to devolved government in Northern Ireland, after a 13-month impasse.
Carl Bernstein, Watergate journalist, 75; Alan Parker, film director, 75; Kevin Keegan
former footballer and ex-England manager, 68; Meg Tilly, actress, 59; Simon Pegg, actor/ comedian, 49; Dean Gaffney, actor, 41; Rhydian Roberts, singer, 36; David Wheater, footballer, 32.