TODAY IN HISTORY
TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, FEB. 22, the 53rd day of 2017. There are 312 days left in the year.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT IN HISTORY: On this date in 1732, the first president of the United States, George Washington, was born in Westmoreland County in the Virginia Colony.
In 1862, Jefferson Davis, already the provisional president of the Confederacy, was inaugurated for a six-year term following his election in Nov. 1861.
In 1892, “Lady Windermere’s Fan” by Oscar Wilde was first performed at London’s St. James’ Theater.
In 1909, the Great White Fleet, a naval task force sent on a round-the-world voyage by President Theodore Roosevelt, returned after more than a year at sea.
In 1935, it became illegal for airplanes to fly over the White House.
In 1940, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was enthroned at age four in Lhasa, Tibet.
In 1959, the inaugural Daytona 500 race was held; although Johnny Beauchamp was initially declared the winner, the victory was later awarded to Lee Petty.
In 1974, Pakistan officially recognized Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan). In 1980, the “Miracle on Ice” took place in Lake Placid, N.Y., as the United States Olympic hockey team upset the Soviets, 4-3. (The U.S. team went on to win the gold medal.)
In 1987, pop artist Andy Warhol died at a New York City hospital at age 58; talk show host David Susskind was found dead in his Manhattan hotel suite (he was 66.)
In 1997, scientists in Scotland announced they had succeeded in cloning an adult mammal, producing a lamb named “Dolly.” (Dolly, however, was later put down after a short life marred by premature aging and disease.)
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Actor Paul Dooley is 89. Actor James Hong is 88. Movie director Jonathan Demme is 73. Actor John Ashton is 69. Actresses Miou-Miou and Julie Walters, and NBA Hall-of-Famer Julius Erving are 67. Actress Ellen Greene is 66. Former Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., is 65. Former White House adviser David Axelrod is 62. Actor Kyle MacLachlan is 58. Actress-comedian Rachel Dratch is 51. Actor Paul Lieberstein is 50. Actress Jeri Ryan is 49. Actress Tamara Mello is 47. International Tennis Hall-of-Famer Michael Chang is 45. Rock musician Scott Phillips is 44. Singer James Blunt is 43. Actresses Drew Barrymore and Liza Huber are 42.