Major Events of February 1928: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from February 1928 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of February 1928: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Feb 1928 Discovery of Tutankhamun's Canopic Jars: Archaeologists made a significant discovery in the 'annex' of Tutankhamun's tomb, uncovering the canopic jars that contained the pharaoh's preserved organs. These intricate vessels were crucial in ancient Egyptian burial practices, used to store and protect the internal organs of the deceased for the afterlife.
02 Feb 1928 Great Fall River Fire of 1928: On February 2, 1928, a devastating fire swept through Fall River, Massachusetts, causing extensive damage to the town's infrastructure and property. The conflagration rapidly spread through the urban landscape, consuming numerous buildings and leaving significant destruction in its wake. This catastrophic event highlighted the vulnerability of early 20th-century urban areas to fire hazards and prompted subsequent improvements in fire prevention and municipal emergency response strategies.
03 Feb 1928 Simon Commission Arrives in Bombay, Sparking Protests: The British-appointed Simon Commission, tasked with studying constitutional reforms in British India, arrived in Bombay (now Mumbai) on February 3rd, 1928. The delegation was immediately met with widespread resistance from Indian nationalists. Protesters organized a hartal (general strike) and demonstrated with black flags and banners reading 'Simon Go Back', symbolizing the growing Indian demand for self-rule and rejection of British colonial oversight.
04 Feb 1928 First Successful Rhesus Blood Group Transfusion: Karl Landsteiner and Alexander Wiener performed the first successful blood transfusion using the Rhesus (Rh) blood group system, a groundbreaking medical advancement that significantly improved understanding of blood compatibility and transfusion safety.
05 Feb 1928 Political Street Violence in Berlin: Intense street fighting erupted in Berlin between Communists and *Der Stahlhelm* (a nationalist paramilitary organization), resulting in 200 injuries and 125 arrests, highlighting the political volatility of Weimar Germany.
06 Feb 1928 Anna Anderson Arrives in United States: Anna Anderson, the controversial woman who claimed to be Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia, made her first public appearance in the United States by arriving in New York City, sparking renewed interest in the mystery of the Romanov family's fate.
07 Feb 1928 Bert Hinkler's Historic Solo England to Australia Flight: Australian aviator Bert Hinkler embarked on a groundbreaking solo flight from England to Australia, departing from Croydon Airport. This remarkable journey represented a significant milestone in early aviation history, demonstrating the expanding capabilities of aircraft and human endurance. Hinkler's flight challenged existing limitations of long-distance aerial navigation and showcased the potential of individual pilots to undertake extraordinary transcontinental journeys.
08 Feb 1928 John Logie Baird Demonstrates Color Television: Scottish inventor John Logie Baird successfully demonstrated the first color television transmission, marking a significant milestone in visual communication technology. This groundbreaking achievement represented a major leap forward in television broadcasting capabilities.
09 Feb 1928 William Edward Hickman Convicted of Gruesome Child Murder: In a landmark criminal trial, William Edward Hickman was found sane and guilty by a Los Angeles jury for the horrific murder of 12-year-old Marion Parker. The case shocked the nation due to the brutal nature of the crime, highlighting the legal system's approach to determining criminal responsibility and mental competence.
10 Feb 1928 Hollinger Gold Mine Fire Tragedy: A devastating fire erupted in the Hollinger Gold Mine located in Timmins, Ontario, Canada. The catastrophic incident resulted in the loss of 39 miners' lives, despite many workers managing to escape the inferno. The tragedy highlighted the dangerous working conditions in early 20th-century mining operations and prompted subsequent safety reforms in the mining industry.
11 Feb 1928 II Olympic Winter Games in St. Moritz: The 2nd Winter Olympic Games were held in St. Moritz, Switzerland from February 11 to February 19, 1928. This international sporting event brought together winter athletes from around the world to compete in various winter sports disciplines.
12 Feb 1928 Literary Dispute Leads to Duel Challenge: French playwright Pierre Veber challenged author Maurice Rostand to a pistol duel after Rostand wrote a negative review of Veber's latest play, *En Bordée*. Rostand ultimately declined the challenge, demonstrating the intense artistic rivalries and dramatic social customs of early 20th-century French literary circles.
13 Feb 1928 Lindbergh Concludes Goodwill Tour: Charles Lindbergh successfully completed his two-month, 15-nation goodwill tour by landing in St. Louis, marking a significant diplomatic and aviation milestone. This tour helped strengthen international relations and showcased the emerging potential of aviation diplomacy in the late 1920s.
14 Feb 1928 Death of Ernesto Schiaparelli: Ernesto Schiaparelli, a prominent Italian Egyptologist aged 71, passed away. Known for his significant archaeological discovery of Queen Nefertari's tomb in 1904, Schiaparelli made substantial contributions to understanding ancient Egyptian history and archaeology.
15 Feb 1928 Death of H. H. Asquith, British Liberal Prime Minister: Herbert Henry Asquith, a prominent British Liberal Party statesman who served as Prime Minister from 1908 to 1916, passed away at the age of 75. Asquith was a key political figure during a transformative period in British history, leading the country through the early years of World War I and implementing significant social reforms.
16 Feb 1928 Uneventful Day in 1928: While no specific major historical events were documented for February 16, 1928, this period was part of the interwar years between World War I and World War II. The late 1920s were characterized by economic recovery, cultural shifts, and emerging technological innovations across the globe.
17 Feb 1928 Virginia Senate Criminalizes Lynching: The Senate of Virginia passed legislation making lynching a state criminal offense, representing an early legal attempt to address racial violence and provide legal protections against extrajudicial killings.
18 Feb 1928 Premiere of King Vidor's Silent Film 'The Crowd': On February 18, 1928, the groundbreaking silent film 'The Crowd', directed by King Vidor, premiered at the Capitol Theatre in New York City. The film, starring Janet Gaynor and James Murray, was a significant work in the history of American cinema, known for its innovative narrative style and realistic portrayal of urban life during the late 1920s. The movie was critically acclaimed for its artistic approach to depicting the struggles of an ordinary man in a bustling, impersonal city.
19 Feb 1928 Canadian Hockey Team Achieves Historic Olympic Triumph: The Canadian national hockey team secured their third consecutive Olympic gold medal, demonstrating their dominance in international ice hockey during the late 1920s. This remarkable achievement underscored Canada's supremacy in the sport and set a precedent for future Olympic hockey competitions.
20 Feb 1928 Japanese General Election Results in Hung Parliament: The Japanese general election of February 20, 1928, resulted in a highly competitive and closely contested parliamentary outcome. The ruling Seiyūkai Party, led by Prime Minister Tanaka Giichi, narrowly secured 217 seats, just edging out the opposition Minsei Party led by Hamaguchi Osachi, which won 216 seats in the 466-member lower house of parliament. This razor-thin margin created a politically volatile situation, with neither party able to form a clear majority government.
21 Feb 1928 Teapot Dome Scandal: Sinclair Found Guilty of Jury Tampering: Industrialist Harry Ford Sinclair and three associates were convicted of criminal contempt of court for jury shadowing during the Teapot Dome scandal trial. Sinclair was sentenced to six months in prison, marking a significant moment in early 20th-century judicial accountability and political corruption investigations.
22 Feb 1928 First Solo England to Australia Flight: Australian aviator Bert Hinkler successfully completed the first solo non-stop flight from England to Australia, marking a significant milestone in early aviation history. This groundbreaking journey demonstrated the advancing capabilities of aircraft and pilot endurance during the pioneering era of long-distance flight.
23 Feb 1928 Birth of Ralph Earnhardt, NASCAR Pioneer: Ralph Earnhardt, a significant figure in early NASCAR racing history, was born in Kannapolis, North Carolina. He was a prominent stock car racing driver during the 1950s and early 1960s, who would later become the patriarch of the famous Earnhardt racing family. Ralph was known for his skill on dirt tracks and won numerous races during the formative years of stock car racing. He was the father of Dale Earnhardt Sr. and grandfather of Dale Earnhardt Jr., both legendary NASCAR drivers who would continue his racing legacy.
24 Feb 1928 Martyrdom of Saint Toribio Romo: Saint Toribio Romo, a 27-year-old Mexican Catholic priest, died during the Cristero War, a significant religious conflict in Mexico. He was later canonized as a martyr, symbolizing the religious persecution of the era.
25 Feb 1928 St. Francis Dam Disaster: The catastrophic failure of the St. Francis Dam north of Los Angeles results in a devastating flood that claims 600 lives, becoming one of the worst civil engineering disasters in California's history.
26 Feb 1928 Birth of Ariel Sharon, Israeli Political and Military Leader: Ariel Sharon was a prominent Israeli military general and politician who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Israel. Known for his controversial but influential role in Israeli politics and military strategy, he was a key figure in the nation's complex history.
27 Feb 1928 Birth of René Clemencic: René Clemencic, an Austrian composer, conductor, and musicologist, was born on February 27, 1928, in Vienna, Austria. He became known for his significant contributions to early music performance and his innovative approach to medieval and Renaissance musical interpretations.
28 Feb 1928 Discovery of the Raman Effect: Indian physicist C.V. Raman discovers the Raman effect, a groundbreaking phenomenon in spectroscopy where light changes its wavelength when passing through a transparent material. This discovery would later earn Raman the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 and significantly advance our understanding of molecular interactions.
29 Feb 1928 Tempest Storm: Iconic Burlesque Performer: Tempest Storm was a renowned burlesque performer and actress who became a prominent figure in mid-20th century entertainment. Known for her striking beauty and captivating stage presence, she was one of the most celebrated exotic dancers of her era, helping to define the burlesque art form during a transformative period in American popular culture.