What happened on February 29

42 documented historical events happened on February 29, from antiquity to the present day. The best known is this: Queen Anne's War: French and Native American forces raided the English settlement of Deerfield, Massachusetts, killing more than 50 colonists. On the same day, in another year: At the 12th Academy Awards, Hattie McDaniel became the first African American to be awarded an Oscar, winning Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind. On Almanaccolo every event is listed in chronological order, grouped by century, and links to the Wikipedia article it comes from, so you can always read further or check the source. Alongside the events you find who was born and who died on this date, and which observances are celebrated around the world.

132 people with a Wikipedia article were born on February 29, including Pope Paul III, Domingo Báñez, Edward Cecil, 1st Viscount Wimbledon. The list spans every era and every field — art, science, politics, sport, entertainment — ordered by year of birth, from the earliest to the most recent. The six featured people are those most has been written about: the ordering uses the length of their Wikipedia article as an indicator of prominence. For each one you find their occupation, year of birth and a link to the full biography.

64 people with a Wikipedia article died on February 29, including Oswald of Worcester, Albert III, Duke of Bavaria, Patrick Hamilton (martyr). The list is in chronological order by year of death and spans all of documented history, from antiquity to the present day. For each person you find their occupation, the year and a link to the Wikipedia biography, where the full story and its sources can be read.

4 observances are celebrated on February 29 around the world: As a Christian feast day: Saint John Cassian, As a Christian feast day: February 29 in the Orthodox church, Rare Disease Day (in leap years; usually celebrated in common years on February 28), Bachelor's Day (Ireland and United Kingdom). The list gathers national holidays, international days and religious or civil observances falling on this date in different countries, as recorded on Wikipedia. Some are fixed and recur on the same day every year; others depend on the local calendar. Each links to the article explaining its origin and meaning.