What happened on February 5

48 documented historical events happened on February 5, from antiquity to the present day. The best known is this: Pompeii was severely damaged by a strong earthquake, which may have been a precursor to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius that destroyed the town 17 years later. On the same day, in another year: As part of enforcing Toyotomi Hideyoshi's ban on Christianity in Japan, twenty-six Catholics, a mix of European missionaries and Japanese converts, were executed (depicted) near Nagasaki by crucifixion and impalement. 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.

160 people with a Wikipedia article were born on February 5, including William S. Burroughs, Robert Hofstadter, Red Buttons. 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.

87 people with a Wikipedia article died on February 5, including Avitus of Vienne, Adelaide, Abbess of Vilich, Alfred Ætheling. 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.

10 observances are celebrated on February 5 around the world: Christian feast day: Adelaide of Vilich, Christian feast day: Agatha of Sicily, Christian feast day: Avitus of Vienne, Christian feast day: Bertulf (Bertoul) of Renty, Christian feast day: Ingenuinus (Jenewein), Christian feast day: Roger Williams, Anne Hutchinson (Episcopal Church (United States)). 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.