Historical Events on February 29

Playboy Club

February 29 is a rare date, occurring only once every four years in a leap year. Here are some historical events that have taken place on February 29:

1940: "Gone with the Wind" won eight Oscars at the 12th Academy Awards, held on February 29, 1940. The film won Best Picture, Best Director for Victor Fleming, and Best Actress for Vivien Leigh.

1960: The first Playboy Club opened in Chicago by Hugh Hefner on February 29, 1960.

1972: Hank Aaron became the first baseball player to sign a contract worth $200,000 per year on February 29, 1972.

1984: Pierre Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, announced he would be stepping down after 16 years in power on February 29, 1984.

2004: The Republic of Ireland became the first country to introduce a nationwide ban on smoking in all workplaces, including bars and restaurants, on February 29, 2004.

1848: The Second French Republic was proclaimed in Paris on February 29, 1848, following the overthrow of King Louis Philippe.

1704: Queen Anne's War: French forces and Native Americans attacked the English settlement at Deerfield, Massachusetts, killing 56 villagers and taking more than 100 captive on February 29, 1704.

1504 BCE: According to some historical calculations, this was the likely date of the original biblical "day" when the Israelites left Egypt, as mentioned in Exodus 12:40-41.

Remember, due to its rarity, February 29th is a date of some significance and curiosity, often marked by special events and unusual occurrences!