Today is Saturday, February 21, the 52nd day of 2009. There are 313 days left in the year.
1431 _ England begins trial against Joan of Arc
1804 _ First locomotive, Richard Trevithick's, runs for first time, in Wales
1874 _ Benjamin Disraeli replaces William Gladstone as English premier
1911 _ Gustav Mahler conducts his last concerto (Berceuse Elegique)
1916 _ Battle of Verdun (WWI) begins (1 million casualties)
1922 _ Great Britain grants Egypt independence
1925 _ First issue of ``New Yorker" magazine published
1947 _ First instant developing camera demonstrated in NYC by E. .H Land
1972 _ Richard Nixon becomes first U.S. President to visit China
1977 _ 74 Unification Church couples wed in New York City