TODAY IN HISTORY

National Freedom Day is a United States observance on February 1 honoring the signing by Abraham Lincoln of a joint House and Senate resolution that later became the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

1 February 2003: TheIndian-American astronaut Kalpana Chawla passed away during her mission in space while returning to Earth from an orbital mission.

1 February 2013-The American politician Ed Koch—who had served as the mayor of New York City (1978–89), died at the age of 88. He earned good reputation for his tenacity and brashness.

1 February 1923- The private army of Blackshirts which helped Benito Mussolini come to the power in Italy, was officially transformed into a national militia named the Voluntary Fascist Militia for National Security.

1 February 1790 The first session of the Supreme Court of the United States was held, in New York City.

1 February 1884-The first of 10 volumes of the Oxford English Dictionary got published in London. The final volume got published lateron April 19, 1928.