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Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
February 1 Sunday, February 1, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on February 1 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
8
Holidays
US history 102 years ago
Russia-United Kingdom relations are restored, over six years after the Communist revolution.
Russia and the United Kingdom restore diplomatic relations, more than six years after the Bolshevik Revolution.
History
What happened on February 1
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1327UK history
The teenaged Edward III is crowned King of England, but the country is ruled by his mother Queen Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer.
Edward III is crowned King of England, though power remains with his mother, Queen Isabella, and her lover Roger Mortimer.
- 1411European history
The First Peace of Thorn is signed in Thorn (Toruń), Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights (Prussia).
Duke Casimir IV of Poland and Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen sign the First Peace of Thorn, ending the Thirteen Years' War.
- 1662War
The Chinese general Koxinga seizes the island of Taiwan after a nine-month siege.
Koxinga captures Taiwan following a nine-month siege, establishing a base against the Dutch East India Company.
- 1793European history
French Revolutionary Wars: France declares war on the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
France declares war on the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, expanding the French Revolutionary Wars beyond continental Europe.
- 1796Canadian history
The capital of Upper Canada is moved from Newark to York.
The capital of Upper Canada is relocated from Newark to York.
- 1861US history
American Civil War: Texas secedes from the United States and joins the Confederacy a week later.
Texas votes to secede from the United States and joins the Confederate States of America shortly after.
- 1893Technology
Thomas A. Edison finishes construction of the first motion picture studio, the Black Maria in West Orange, New Jersey.
Thomas A. Edison completes the Black Maria, the world's first motion picture studio, in West Orange, New Jersey.
- 1924US history
Russia-United Kingdom relations are restored, over six years after the Communist revolution.
Russia and the United Kingdom restore diplomatic relations, more than six years after the Bolshevik Revolution.
- 1992Disaster
The Chief Judicial Magistrate of Bhopal court declares Warren Anderson, ex-CEO of Union Carbide, a fugitive under Indian law for failing to appear in the Bhopal disaster case.
Warren Anderson is declared a fugitive by an Indian court for not appearing in the Bhopal disaster case.
- 2002Crime
Daniel Pearl, American journalist and South Asia Bureau Chief of The Wall Street Journal, kidnapped on January 23, is beheaded and mutilated by his captors.
Daniel Pearl, an American journalist for The Wall Street Journal, was killed by his captors after being abducted in Pakistan.
- 2003Technology
Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during the reentry of mission STS-107 into the Earth's atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts aboard.
The Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during reentry over Texas, killing all seven astronauts aboard.
- 2022Disaster
Five-year-old Moroccan boy Rayan Aourram falls into a 32-meter (105 feet) deep well in Ighran village in Tamorot commune, Chefchaouen Province, Morocco, but dies four days later, before rescue workers reached him.
Rayan Aourram, a five-year-old Moroccan boy, falls into a deep well and tragically passes away four days later despite rescue efforts.
Born today
Famous birthdays on February 1
7 this date All birthdays
Bradbury Robinson
American football player and physician
Bradbury Norton Robinson Jr., the American football player and physician who threw the first legal forward pass in the game's history, was born today in 1884.
Born
1884
Died
1949
Victor Herbert
Irish-American cellist, composer, and conductor
1859 – 1924
Stuart Whitman
American actor
1928 – 2020
Mike Campbell
American guitarist, songwriter, and producer
b. 1950 · 76
Luther Blissett
Jamaican-English footballer and manager
b. 1958 · 68
Meg Cabot
American author and screenwriter
b. 1967 · 59
Mark Recchi
Canadian ice hockey player and coach
b. 1968 · 58
Music
The number one songs on February 1
Across the years Full chart history
Also #1 on this day
- 2026"Raindance"— Dave and Tems
- 2025"Messy"— Lola Young
- 2024"Stick Season"— Noah Kahan
- 2023"Flowers"— Miley Cyrus
- 2022"We Don't Talk About Bruno"— Carolina Gaitán , Mauro Castillo , Adassa , Rhenzy Feliz , Diane Guerrero and Stephanie Beatriz
- 2021"Drivers License"— Olivia Rodrigo
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport February 1, 1981
The Underarm bowling incident of 1981 occurred when Trevor Chappell bowls underarm on the final delivery of a game between Australia and New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Trevor Chappell bowls underarm in the final delivery of a match against New Zealand, avoiding an inevitable loss at the MCG.
Read the story
🔬 Science February 1, 2004
Facebook launches from Mark Zuckerberg's Harvard dormitory room as TheFacebook
Initially restricted to Harvard students, the social networking site required a harvard.edu email address to join. Within 24 hours, between 1,200 and 1,500 Harvard students had registered.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Abolition of Slavery Day (Mauritius)
International
Mauritius, officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island country in the Indian Ocean, located about 1,100 nautical miles off the southeastern coast of East Africa, east of Madagascar
Air Force Day (Nicaragua)
International
Earliest day on which Constitution Day can fall, while February 7 is the latest; celebrated on the first Monday in February. (Mexico)
International
The current Constitution of Mexico, formally the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States, was drafted in Santiago de Querétaro, in the State of Querétaro, Mexico, by a constituent conventi
Federal Territory Day (Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya, Malaysia)
International
Federal Territory Day is a territorial public holiday observed annually on 1 February by the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya in Malaysia
Foundation Day (of the Ryukyu Kingdom, celebrated in Okinawa Prefecture)
International
Foundation Day is a designated date on which celebrations mark the founding of a nation, state or a creation of a military unit
Heroes Day (Rwanda)
International
This is a list of public holidays in Rwanda
❝
I wanted to change the world. But I have found that the only thing one can be sure of changing is oneself.
— Aldous Huxley · born February 1, 1894