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.
1788 Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
1862 During the Civil War, Fort Henry in Tennessee fell to Union forces.
1899 A peace treaty between the United States and Spain was ratified by the U.S. Senate.
1911 Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, was born in Tampico, Ill.
1922 Cardinal Archille Ratti was elected pope; he took the name Pius XI.
1933 The 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the so-called “lame duck” amendment, was proclaimed in effect by Secretary of State Henry Stimson. 1952 Britain’s King George VI, 56, died at Sandringham House in Norfolk, England; he was succeeded as monarch by his 25-year-old elder daughter, who became Queen Elizabeth II.
1993 Tennis Hall of Famer and human rights advocate Arthur Ashe died in New York at age 49.
1998 President Bill Clinton signed a bill changing the name of Washington National Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
2000 First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton launched her successful candidacy for the U.S. Senate.
2008 The Bush White House defended the use of the interrogation technique known as waterboarding, saying it was legal — not torture as critics argued — and had saved American lives.
Today’s birthdays: Actor Mamie Van Doren, 92. Actor Mike Farrell, 84. Former NBC News anchorman Tom Brokaw, 83. Singer Fabian, 80. Actor Gayle Hunnicutt, 80. Actor Michael Tucker, 78. Producer-director-writer Jim Sheridan, 74. Actor Jon Walmsley, 67. Actor Kathy Najimy, 66. Rock musician Simon Phillips (Toto), 66. Actor-director Robert Townsend, 66. Actor Barry Miller, 65. Actor Megan Gallagher, 63. Rock singer Axl Rose (Guns N’ Roses), 61. Country singer Richie McDonald, 61. Singer Rick Astley, 57. Rock musician Tim Brown (Boo Radleys), 54. Former ABC News anchor Amy Robach, 50. Actor Josh Stewart, 46. Actor Ben Lawson, 43. Actor Brandon Hammond, 39. Actor Crystal Reed (TV: “Teen Wolf”), 38. Actor Alice Greczyn, 37. Actor Anna Diop, 35. R&B singer/actor Tinashe, 30.