WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2011

Today is Wednesday, February 23, the 54th day of 2011. There are 311 days left in the year.

303 ― Emperor Diocletian orders general persecution of Christians

1455 ― Johannes Gutenberg prints first book, the Bible (estimated date)

1804 ― Conspirators against Napoleon, for restoration of Louis XVIII

1861 ― President-elect Lincoln arrives secretly in Washington DC to take office

1886 ― London Times publishes world's first classified ad

1904 ― Control of Panama Canal Zone acquired by U.S. for $10 million

1917 ― February revolution begins in Russia

1919 ― Benito Mussolini founds the Facist Party of Italy

1945 ― U.S. Marines raise flag on Iwo Jima, famous photo and statue

1956 ― Russian party leader Khrushchev attacks memory of Stalin