Today is Tuesday, February 21, the 52nd day of 2012. There are 314 days left in the year.
1431 ― England begins trial against Joan of Arc
1764 ― John Wilkes thrown out of English House of Commons for ``Essay on Women"
1842 ― First known sewing machine patented in U.S., John Greenough, Washington, D.C.
1911 ― Gustav Mahler conducts his last concerto
1922 ― Great Britain grants Egypt independence
1947 ― First instant developing camera demonstrated in NYC, by E. H. Land
1970 ― Jackson 5 make TV debut on ``American Bandstand"
1972 ― Richard Nixon becomes first U.S. President to visit China
1977 ― 74 Unification Church couples wed in New York City
1981 ― ``Yorkshire Ripper" Peter Sutcliffe, murderer of 13 women, captured