About Today in History February 11
1. On this day in 1858 in Lourdes, France, 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous, a miller's daughter, first had visions of the Virgin Mary that were authenticated by Pope Pius IX in 1862, initiating the cult of Our Lady of Lourdes.
2. American rhythm-and-blues singer Whitney Houston—who emerged as a pop superstar in the 1980s, especially known for her soaring voice—died at age 48.
3. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down after nearly 30 years in power, following mass demonstrations that were part of the pro-democracy uprisings known as the Arab Spring.
4. After serving 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela was released, and he subsequently began negotiations with President F.W. de Klerk that ended apartheid in South Africa.
5. The Reverend Barbara Harris of the Protestant Episcopal Church became the first female bishop in the Anglican Communion.
6. British politician Margaret Thatcher was elected leader of the Conservative Party, replacing Edward Heath; she became Europe's first woman prime minister in 1979.
7. American actress Jennifer Aniston, who achieved stardom on the popular television sitcom Friends (1994–2004) and launched a successful film career, was born.
8. Sarah Palin—who, as John McCain's running mate in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, was the first woman to appear on a Republican presidential ticket—was born.
9. The Yalta Conference between the Allied leaders of World War II came to a close.
10. A committee met in Paris to devise the Young Plan, a revision of the Dawes Plan of 1924, that renegotiated Germany's reparations for World War I.
11. Benito Mussolini of Italy and Pietro Gasparri of the Vatican signed the Lateran Treaty, recognizing papal sovereignty over Vatican City, an enclave in Rome.
12. American inventor Thomas Edison, who, singly or jointly, held a world record of 1,093 patents and who played a critical role in introducing the modern age of electricity, was born.
13. Pennsylvania Hospital, the first hospital in the United States, began admitting patients; it was cofounded by Benjamin Franklin.