On this day, Feb. 6

1778 During the American Revolutionary War, the United States won official recognition and military support from France with the signing of a Treaty of Alliance in Paris. 1890 Andrew Carnegie repeated his original library proposal first made Nov. 25, 1881, and offered to increase his gift to $1 million to include funds for a museum of natural history and art gallery and for branch libraries. Exactly one year later, he gave the promised $1 million, to be controlled by a board of trustees appointed by City Council, for a library and other buildings to be erected in Oakland.

1922 Cardinal Archille Ratti was elected pope; he took the name Pius XI.

1952 Britain’s King George VI, 56, died at Sandringham House in Norfolk, England; he was succeeded as monarch by his 25year-old elder daughter, who became Queen Elizabeth II.

1975 The Pittsburgh branch of the NAACP, the state attorney general and minority groups sued the city of Pittsburgh, charging race and sex discrimination in police hiring and promotion. Similar charges had been filed with regard to hiring in the Bureau of Fire in 1972 and subsequent year, charges which consequently were dismissed.

2002 The Jones Brewing Co. closed its brewery, built in 1907, and contracted with the Pittsburgh Brewing Co. to produce Stoney’s Beer.

Some items are from Stefan Lorant’s “Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City” (digital.library.pitt.edu/chronology).

— Compiled by Rick Nowlin Today’s birthdays: Actor Mamie Van Doren, 91. Actor Mike Farrell, 83. Former NBC News anchorman Tom Brokaw, 82. Singer Fabian, 79. Actor Gayle Hunnicutt, 79. Actor Michael Tucker, 77. Producer-director-writer Jim Sheridan, 73. Actor Jon Walmsley, 66. Actor Kathy Najimy, 65. Rock musician Simon Phillips (Toto), 65. Actor-director Robert Townsend, 65. Actor Barry Miller, 64. Actor Megan Gallagher, 62. Rock singer Axl Rose (Guns N’ Roses), 60. Country singer Richie McDonald, 60. Singer Rick Astley, 56. Rock musician Tim Brown (Boo Radleys), 53. ABC News anchor Amy Robach, 49. Actor Josh Stewart, 45. Actor Ben Lawson, 42. Actor Brandon Hammond, 38. Actor Crystal Reed, 37. Actor Alice Greczyn, 36. Actor Anna Diop, 34. R&B singer/ actor Tinashe, 29.

Thought for today: “Work is much more fun than fun.”

— Sir Noel Coward, British actor, dramatist and songwriter (1899-1973)