February 6, 1952 – At age 27, Princess Elizabeth becomes Queen of Great Britain after the death of her father, King George VI, following his long illness. Her official coronation takes place on June 2, 1953. Her reign of 70 years and 214 days made her the longest serving British monarch in history.
February 8, 1910 – The Boy Scouts of America was founded by William Boyce in Washington, D.C. modeled after the British Boy Scouts.
February 9, 1964 – With his now famous words, “Ladies and gentlemen…The Beatles”, TV host Ed Sullivan brought the British singing group to American television in a program viewed by what was then a record audience estimated at 73 million viewers.
February 11, 1929 – Italian dictator Benito Mussolini granted political independence to Vatican City and recognized the sovereignty of the Pope over the 110-acre site.