1848 - California Gold Rush: James W. Marshall finds gold at Sutter's Mill near Sacramento, California.
1918 - The Gregorian Calendar is introduced in Russia by decree of the Council of People's Commissars effective February 14 (NS).
1939 - Chillán earthquake of 1939; The deadliest earthquake in Chilean history strikes Chillán. 30,000 killed
1978 - Soviet satellite Cosmos 954, with a nuclear reactor on board, burns up in Earth's atmosphere, scattering radioactive debris over Canada's Northwest Territories (only 1% is recovered).
1986 - Voyager 2 passes within 81,500 kilometres (50,600 mi) of Uranus.
2009 - The storm Klaus makes landfall near Bordeaux, France. (It subsequently would cause 26 deaths as well as extensive disruptions to public transport and power supplies.)
