Notable Birthdays for February 1
William Bowen Campbell (1807-1867) - Civil War Brigadier General for the Union Army.
Henry McNeal Turner (1833-1915) - The first Black Methodist Bishop in the U.S.
G. Stanley Hall (1844-1924) - First psychologist to earn a doctorate in the U.S.
Hattie Wyatt Caraway (1878-1950) -The first black woman elected to U.S. Senate.
Bradbury Robinson (1884-1949) - Football player who threw the first forward pass during a game.
James P. Johnson (1894-1955) - Pianist who is considered a pioneer in ragtime jazz.
Leila Denmark (1898-2012) - Pediatrician who practiced until her death (103 years old).
Clark Gable (1901-1960) - Actor famously known for his role as Rhett Butler in Gone With The Wind.
Gordon Hobday (1916-2015) - Co-developer of Penicillin and developer of Ibuprofen.
Garrett Morris (1937-Still Living) - The first Black cast member on Saturday Night Live.
Sherman Hemsley (1938-2012) - Actor who will always be remembered as the comedic character George Jefferson in The Jeffersons.
Jessica Savitch (1947-1983) - Pioneering female news anchor.
Rick James (1948-2004) - Singer of the hit song Super Freak.
Jani Lane (1964-2011) - Lead singer of the rock band Warrant.
Brandon Lee (1965-1993) - Actor and martial arts expert.
Meg Cabot (1967-Still Living) - Author well-known for writing The Princess Diaries.
Pauly Shore (1968-Still Living) - Actor and comedian who started in the 90s hit Encino Man.
Lisa Marie Presley (1968-2023) - Singer-songwriter and daughter of Elvis Presley.
Phil Ivey (1976-Still Living) - World poker champion.
Rachael Scdoris (1985-Still Living) - Legally blind dog musher who completed the Iditarod.
Memorable Events for February 1
1788 - Briggs & Longstreet receive the first steamboat patent in the U.S.
1790 - The U.S. Supreme Court convenes for first time.
1810 - The first insurance company (The African Insurance Company) managed by African Americans opens in PA.
1840 - Baltimore College of Dental Surgery begins.
1842 - The first adhesive postage stamps is issued in NY.
1843 - The Mutual Life Insurance Company opens in N.Y.
1865 - President Lincoln signs the Thirteenth Amendment.
1865 - JS Rock become the first Black lawyer to practice in the Supreme Court.
1871 - Jefferson Long (GA) becomes the Black to make an official speech in U.S. House of Reps.
1893 - Thomas Edison completes world's first movie studio.
1897 - The Travelers Insurance Company issues the first automobile insurance policy.
1906 - The first federal penitentiary is completed in Leavenworth (KS).
1942 - The U.S. Navy conducts Marshalls–Gilberts raids in the Pacific Theater.
1942 - The U.S. government begins broadcasting news (Voice of America).
1953 - Walter Cronkite's program You Are There premieres on CBS.
1960 - Four black students stage sit-ins at a lunch counter NC.
1964 - I Want to Hold Your Hand (Beatles) hits #1 in the U.S.
1972 - The first handheld calculator (HP-35) introduced to the public, selling for $395.
1978 - Harriet Tubman becomes the first Black women on a postage stamp.
