February 15 in history — What Happened Today in History

Sound recordings are granted U.S. federal copyright protection for the first time.

José María Velasco Ibarra, serving as President of Ecuador for the fifth time, is overthrown by the military for the fourth time.

The decimalisation of the currencies of the United Kingdom and Ireland is completed on Decimal Day.

Dominicana de Aviación Flight 603 crashes into the Caribbean Sea after takeoff from Las Américas International Airport, killing 102, including members of the Puerto Rico women's national volleyball team and lightweight boxer Carlos Cruz.

The maple leaf is adopted as the flag of Canada, replacing the Canadian Red Ensign flag.

Sabena Flight 548 crashes in Belgium, killing 73, including the entire United States figure skating team along with several of their coaches and family members.

Canada and the United States agree to construct the Distant Early Warning Line, a system of radar stations in the far northern Arctic regions of Canada and Alaska.

King George VI of the United Kingdom is buried in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

Gerald Lankester Harding and Roland de Vaux begin excavations at Cave 1 of the Qumran Caves, where they will eventually discover the first seven Dead Sea Scrolls.

ENIAC, the first electronic general-purpose computer, is formally dedicated at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

World War II: The assault on Monte Cassino, Italy, begins.

World War II: The Narva Offensive begins.

World War II: Fall of Singapore. Following an assault by Japanese forces, the British General Arthur Percival surrenders. About 80,000 Indian, United Kingdom and Australian soldiers become prisoners of war, the largest surrender of British-led military personnel in history.

Paul Creston's Saxophone Sonata is officially premiered at the Carnegie Chamber Hall by saxophonist Cecil Leeson, who had commissioned it, and the composer.

In Miami, Giuseppe Zangara attempts to assassinate US President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt, but instead shoots Chicago mayor Anton J. Cermak, who dies of his wounds on March 6.

The 1925 serum run to Nome: The second delivery of serum arrives in Nome, Alaska.

Greece becomes the last European country to adopt the Gregorian calendar.

The Flores Theater fire in Acapulco, Mexico, kills 250.

Tsar Nicholas II of Russia issues a declaration known as the February Manifesto, which reduces the autonomy of the Grand Duchy of Finland, thus beginning the first period of oppression.

The battleship USS Maine explodes and sinks in Havana harbor in Cuba, killing about 274 of the ship's roughly 354 crew. The disaster pushes the United States to declare war on Spain.

Women's rights: US President Rutherford B. Hayes signs a bill allowing female attorneys to argue cases before the Supreme Court of the United States.

First issue of the Bulletin de la Fédération jurassienne, the first or one of the first anarchist newspapers.

Stevens Institute of Technology is founded in New Jersey, US, and offers the first Bachelor of Engineering degree in mechanical engineering.

American Civil War: Confederates commanded by Brig. Gen. John B. Floyd attack General Ulysses S. Grant's Union forces besieging Fort Donelson in Tennessee. Unable to break the fort's encirclement, the Confederates surrender the following day.

The Helsinki Cathedral (known as St. Nicholas' Church at time) is officially inaugurated in Helsinki, Finland.

Serbia's Sretenje Constitution briefly comes into effect.

The Roman Republic is proclaimed after Louis-Alexandre Berthier, a general of Napoleon, had invaded the city of Rome five days earlier.

The city of St. Louis is established in Spanish Louisiana (now in Missouri, USA).

Rich Swann, American wrestler

Callum Turner, English actor

Mark Canha, American baseball player

Papu Gómez, Argentine footballer

Jarryd Hayne, Australian rugby league player

Tim Mannah, Australian-Lebanese rugby league player

Rui Patrício, Portuguese footballer

Jarrod Sammut, Australian-Maltese rugby league player

Valeri Bojinov, Bulgarian footballer

Johnny Cueto, Dominican baseball player

Amber Riley, American actress and singer

Laura Sallés, Andorran judoka

Serkan Kırıntılı, Turkish footballer

Haron Amin, Afghan diplomat, Afghan Ambassador to Japan (born 1969)

Arnaud de Borchgrave, American journalist and author (born 1926)

Steve Montador, Canadian ice hockey player (born 1979)

Thelma Estrin, American computer scientist and engineer (born 1924)

Christopher Malcolm, Scottish-Canadian actor, director, and producer (born 1946)

Sanan Kachornprasart, Thai general and politician (born 1935)

Ahmed Rajib Haider, Bangladeshi atheist blogger

Cyril Domb, English-Israeli physicist and academic (born 1920)

Jeanne M. Holm, American general (born 1921)

Johnny Weaver, American wrestler and sportscaster (born 1935)

Walker Edmiston, American actor (born 1925)

Ray Evans, American songwriter (born 1915)

Pierre Bachelet, French singer-songwriter (born 1944)