Today in History: YouTube is founded in 2005

The following is a list of significant events that occurred on February 14 throughout history:

1. 1014 – Coronation of Henry II as Holy Roman Emperor

Pope Benedict VIII crowned Henry II, King of Germany and Italy, as Holy Roman Emperor.

2. 1400 – Death of King Richard II of England

Deposed King Richard II died in captivity under mysterious circumstances, possibly starvation or murder, at Pontefract Castle.

3. 1779 – Death of Captain James Cook

British explorer Captain James Cook was killed by Native Hawaiians during a confrontation at Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii, during his third Pacific voyage.

4. 1859 – Oregon becomes a U.S. state

Oregon was admitted as the 33rd state of the United States.

5. 1876 – Alexander Graham Bell applies for telephone patent

Both Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray filed patents for the telephone on this day, leading to a legal battle that Bell eventually won.

6. 1929 – Saint Valentine’s Day massacre

In Chicago, seven members of George “Bugs” Moran’s gang were gunned down, an event widely attributed to Al Capone’s gang, marking a significant moment in Prohibition-era gang violence.

7. 1945 – Bombing of Dresden continues

Allied forces carried out the second wave of bombing on Dresden, Germany, during World War II, resulting in widespread destruction and significant civilian casualties.

8. 1989 – Fatwa issued against Salman Rushdie

Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for the assassination of author Salman Rushdie, whose novel “The Satanic Verses” was deemed blasphemous.

9. 2005 – YouTube is founded

The video-sharing platform YouTube was launched by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim, eventually becoming a major platform for user-generated content.

10. 2018 – Parkland school shooting

A tragic mass shooting occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, resulting in 17 fatalities and prompting nationwide discussions on gun control.