February 25 in history — What Happened Today in History
Curious what February 25 in history holds? From 2026 back through the centuries, our timeline gathers everything that happened on February 25 — events, birthdays and deaths on one cozy page.
On this page, February 25 in history is arranged as a timeline of major events in reverse order, with birthdays and deaths in their own sections, plus a short FAQ about February 25 in history at the bottom.
Major Events on February 25 in History 28
- 2026
Four people are killed and several more are injured when Cuban Border Guard Troops confront and open fire on a US-registered speedboat violating Cuban waters.
- 2016
Three people are killed and fourteen others injured in a series of shootings in the small Kansas cities of Newton and Hesston.
- 2015
At least 310 people are killed in avalanches in northeastern Afghanistan.
- 2009
Soldiers of the Bangladesh Rifles mutiny at their headquarters in Pilkhana, Dhaka, Bangladesh, resulting in 74 deaths, including 57 army officials.
- 2009
Turkish Airlines Flight 1951 crashes during landing at the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Netherlands, primarily due to a faulty radio altimeter, resulting in the death of nine passengers and crew including all three pilots.
- 1999
Alitalia Flight 1553 crashes at Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport in Genoa, Italy, killing four.
- 1994
American-Israeli extremist Baruch Goldstein commits a mass shooting at the Cave of the Patriarchs mausoleum, leaving 29 dead and over 100 injured before he is disarmed and beaten to death by survivors.
- 1991
Disbandment of the Warsaw Pact at a meeting of its members in Budapest.
- 1986
People Power Revolution: President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos flees the nation after 20 years of rule; Corazon Aquino becomes the Philippines' first female president.
- 1980
The government of Suriname is overthrown by a military coup led by Dési Bouterse.
- 1956
In his speech On the Cult of Personality and Its Consequences, Nikita Khrushchev, leader of the Soviet Union, denounces Stalin.
- 1951
The first Pan American Games are officially opened in Buenos Aires by Argentine President Juan Perón.
All entries for February 25(+16)
- 1948
In a coup d'état led by Klement Gottwald, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia takes control of government in Prague to end the Third Czechoslovak Republic.
- 1947
The formal abolition of Prussia is proclaimed by the Allied Control Council, the Prussian government having already been abolished by the Preußenschlag of 1932.
- 1947
Soviet NKVD forces in Hungary abduct Béla Kovács—secretary-general of the majority Independent Smallholders' Party—and deport him to the USSR in defiance of Parliament. His arrest is an important turning point in the Communist takeover of Hungary.
- 1941
The outlawed Communist Party of the Netherlands organises a general strike in German-occupied Amsterdam to protest against Nazi persecution of Dutch Jews.
- 1939
As part of British air raid precautions, the first of 2.5 million Anderson shelters is constructed in a garden in Islington, north London.
- 1933
Launch of the USS Ranger at Newport News, Virginia. It is the first purpose-built aircraft carrier to be commissioned by the US Navy.
- 1932
Adolf Hitler, having been stateless for seven years, obtains German citizenship when he is appointed a Brunswick state official by Dietrich Klagges, a fellow Nazi. As a result, Hitler is able to run for Reichspräsident in the 1932 election.
- 1921
Georgian capital Tbilisi falls to the invading Russian forces after heavy fighting and the Russians declare the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic.
- 1918
World War I: German forces capture Tallinn to virtually complete the occupation of Estonia.
- 1916
World War I: In the Battle of Verdun, a German unit captures Fort Douaumont, keystone of the French defences, without a fight.
- 1912
Marie-Adélaïde, the eldest of six daughters of Guillaume IV, becomes the first reigning Grand Duchess of Luxembourg.
- 1875
Guangxu Emperor of Qing dynasty China begins his reign, under Empress Dowager Cixi's regency.
- 1870
Hiram Rhodes Revels, a Republican from Mississippi, is sworn into the United States Senate, becoming the first African American ever to sit in Congress.
- 1843
Lord George Paulet occupies the Kingdom of Hawaii in the name of Great Britain in the Paulet affair.
- 1836
Samuel Colt is granted a United States patent for his revolver firearm.
- 1705
George Frideric Handel's opera Nero premieres in Hamburg.
Famous Birthdays on February 25 in History 25
- 2005
Noah Jupe, English actor
- 2004
Tyler Sanders, American actor (died 2022)
- 2003
Brandin Podziemski, American basketball player
- 2001
Vernon Carey Jr., American basketball player
- 2000
Bo Nix, American football player
- 1999
Gianluigi Donnarumma, Italian footballer
- 1999
Matvey Safonov, Russian footballer
- 1999
Rocky, South Korean singer, dancer and songwriter
- 1997
Isabelle Fuhrman, American actress
- 1997
Thon Maker, South Sudanese-Australian basketball player
- 1997
Brock Boeser, American ice hockey player
- 1995
Mario Hezonja, Croatian basketball player
All entries for February 25(+13)
- 1995
Viktoriya Tomova, Bulgarian tennis player
- 1994
Fred VanVleet, American basketball player
- 1993
Erick Fedde, American baseball player
- 1993
Lukáš Sedlák, Czech ice hockey player
- 1992
Joakim Nordström, Swedish ice hockey player
- 1992
Jorge Soler, Cuban baseball player
- 1990
Félix Peña, Dominican baseball player
- 1989
Jimmer Fredette, American basketball player
- 1989
Kana Hanazawa, Japanese voice actress and singer
- 1989
E'Twaun Moore, American basketball player
- 1988
Tom Marshall, English photo colouriser and artist
- 1988
Gerald McCoy, American football player
- 1987
Justin Abdelkader, American ice hockey player
Notable Deaths on February 25 in History 25
- 2025
Henry Kelly, Irish radio and television broadcaster, actor and journalist (born 1947)
- 2025
Roberto Orci, Mexican-American screenwriter and producer (born 1973)
- 2025
Jane Reed, UK Magazine editor and media executive (born 1940)
- 2023
Gordon Pinsent, Canadian actor, director and screenwriter (born 1930)
- 2022
Farrah Forke, American actress (born 1968)
- 2022
Shirley Hughes, English author and illustrator (born 1927)
- 2020
Dmitry Yazov, last Marshal of the Soviet Union (born 1924)
- 2017
Bill Paxton, American actor and filmmaker (born 1955)
- 2015
Harve Bennett, American screenwriter and producer (born 1930)
- 2015
Ariel Camacho, Mexican musician and singer-songwriter; (born 1992)
- 2015
Eugenie Clark, American biologist and academic; noted ichthyologist (born 1922)
- 2012
Louisiana Red, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1932)
All entries for February 25(+13)
- 2010
Ihsan Dogramaci, Turkish pediatrician and academic (born 1915)
- 2008
Hans Raj Khanna, Indian judge and advocate; upholder of civil liberties (born 1912)
- 2005
Peter Benenson, English lawyer, founded Amnesty International (born 1921)
- 2001
A. R. Ammons, American poet and critic (born 1926)
- 2001
Don Bradman, Australian international cricketer; holder of world record batting average (born 1908)
- 1999
Glenn T. Seaborg, American chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1912)
- 1998
W. O. Mitchell, Canadian author and playwright (born 1914)
- 1997
Andrei Sinyavsky, Russian journalist and publisher (born 1925)
- 1996
Haing S. Ngor, Cambodian-American physician and author (born 1940)
- 1983
Tennessee Williams, American playwright, and poet (born 1911)
- 1980
Robert Hayden, American poet and academic (born 1913)
- 1978
Daniel James, Jr., American general and pilot (born 1920)
- 1975
Elijah Muhammad, American religious leader (born 1897)
That is the story of February 25 in history. Bookmark this page and come back next year on February 25 to relive these world-changing moments — or take a random trip through time and see what happened on another day in history.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on February 25 in history?
The biggest event on February 25 in history is: 2026 — Four people are killed and several more are injured when Cuban Border Guard Troops confront and open fire on a US-registered speedboat violating Cuban waters.. In total, 28 major events are recorded for this day.
Who was born on February 25?
25 famous people were born on February 25 in history, the best known being 2005 — Noah Jupe, English actor.
Who died on February 25?
25 notable people died on February 25 in history, including 2025 — Henry Kelly, Irish radio and television broadcaster, actor and journalist (born 1947).
Why should I read about February 25 in history?
Exploring February 25 in history helps you grasp the day's place in history in just a few minutes: events, birthdays and deaths in one read — perfect for students, teachers and curious minds.
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