THIS DAY IN HISTORY

2 February 1990 - The 30-year-old ban on the African National Congress (ANC) is lifted by President FW de Klerk, as he promises to remove restrictions on political opposition groups and free Nelson Mandela. Nine days later, on 11 February, Mandela walks free.

3 February 1943 - US Army transport ship the Dorchester is hit by a German torpedo and begins to sink rapidly. With not enough life jackets on board, four US Army chaplains on board remove theirs and hand them to frightened young soldiers, choosing to go down with the ship instead.

4 February 1902 - Pioneering aviator Charles Lindbergh is born in Detroit, Michigan. He made the first non-stop solo flight from New York to Paris in 1927.

11 February 1929 - Italian dictator Benito Mussolini grants political independence to Vatican City and recognises the sovereignty of the Pope over the area, measuring about 45 hectares.

12 February 1809 - Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, is born in Hardin County, Kentucky. He is credited with emancipating slaves, leading the US through its civil war and for establishing the US holiday, Thanksgiving. On the same day, naturalist and biologist Charles Darwin is born in Shrewsbury, England. He is best known for his scientific work on evolution.

14 February 1849 - Photographer Mathew Brady takes the first photograph of a US President in office, James Polk.

20 February 1962 - Astronaut John Glenn becomes the first American launched into orbit – he is the third American in space – travelling aboard the Friendship 7 spacecraft. He completes three orbits of the Earth, which last about five hours.

24 February 1582 - Pope Gregory XIII corrects mistakes on the Julian calendar by dropping 10 days and declaring that the day after 4 October 1582 would become 15 October. The Gregorian calendar is adopted by Catholic countries, followed by other nations.