On this day, February 11

1531 The Church of England grudgingly accepted King Henry VIII as its supreme head.

1947 The Veterans Administration approved plans for a 1,248-bed hospital above Pitt Stadium at a cost of $11 million.

1979 Followers of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini seized power in Iran.

1986 U.S. Steel chairman David Roderick announced the completion of a $3 billion merger agreement between U.S. Steel Corp. and the Texas Oil and Gas Co.

1990 South African black activist Nelson Mandela was freed after 27 years in captivity. 2001 Three Rivers Stadium was imploded to make room for parking at Heinz Field and PNC Park. 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 Conrad Janis,

91. Fashion designer Mary Quant, 85. Actress Tina Louise, 81. Bandleader Sergio Mendes, 78. Actor Philip Anglim, 67. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, 66. Actress Catherine Hickland, 63. Rock musician David Uosikkinen (The Hooters), 63. Actress Carey Lowell, 58. Singer Sheryl Crow, 57. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin,

55. Actress Jennifer Aniston, 50. Actor Damian Lewis, 48. Actress Marisa Petroro, 47. Singer D’Angelo, 45. Actor Brice Beckham, 43. Rock M-C/vocalist Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park), 42. Singer-actress Brandy, 40. Country musician Jon Jones (The Eli Young Band), 39. Actor Matthew Lawrence, 39. Rhythm-and-blues singer Kelly Rowland, 38. Actress Natalie Dormer, 37. Singer Aubrey O’Day, 35. Actress Q’orianka Kilcher, 29. Actor Taylor Lautner, 27. Thought for today: “Life does not count by years. Some suffer a lifetime in a day, and so grow old between the rising and the setting of the sun.”

— Augusta Jane Evans, American novelist (1835-1909).