February 1 in History

• 1587

  February 1, 1587:

  Queen Elizabeth I signs her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots’ death warrant.

• 1790

  February 1, 1790:

  The United States Supreme Court holds its first session in New York City.

• 1887

  February 1, 1887:

  Hollywood is officially registered at the recorder’s office of Los Angeles County by Harvey Wilcox.

• 1896

  February 1, 1896:

  “La Boheme” by composer Giacomo Puccini is premiered in Turin, Italy at the Teatro Regio.

• 1960

  February 1, 1960:

  Four African-Americans start a sit-in to protest a Greensboro, North Carolina Woolworth’s decision to racially segregate its lunch counter.

• 2003

  February 1, 2003:

  Upon its return from an orbital journey to Earth, the Columbia, a United States space shuttle gets destroyed and kills all seven crew members.

• 2004

  February 1, 2004:

  A Super Bowl halftime performance by Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake results in an unexpected wardrobe malfunction when the latter rips off the former’s bustier.

• 2009

  February 1, 2009:

  Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir is sworn in as Iceland’s first female Prime Minister and the first openly gay head of state.

• 2013

  February 1, 2013:

  “House of Cards” starts streaming on Netflix as the service’s first original series.