On 13 February in poetry and history
Poets born or who died on this date, plus historical events that happened on this day across history.
610 poets with calendar dates · 6,535 events with calendar dates in the catalogue
1 birthday · 2 death anniversaries · 4 world events on 13 February
Birthdays
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Ivan Krylov
13 February 1769 – 21 November 1844 (~75)
Born 13 February 1769 — would have been 257 in 2026
Death anniversaries
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Thomas Osbert Mordaunt
1730 – 13 February 1809 (~79)
Died 13 February 1809 — 217 years ago on this date
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Philip Bourke Marston
13 August 1850 – 13 February 1887 (~37)
Died 13 February 1887 — 139 years ago on this date
World events on this day
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Arrest at Island Bridge Barracks
On 13 February 1866, O'Reilly was arrested at Island Bridge Barracks in Dublin, Ireland, after British authorities discovered his Fenian activities within the Tenth Hussars. He was court-martialled on 27 June 1866, the eve of his twenty-second birthday, and sentenced to death, later commuted to twenty years' penal servitude.
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Lindbergh Kidnapping Trial and Evidence in New Jersey
The trial of Bruno Richard Hauptmann in Flemington, New Jersey, for the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh Jr., concluded in 1935 with a conviction based largely on handwriting analysis, wood grain analysis of the ransom ladder, and marked currency evidence. The case became a landmark in the use of forensic document examination and wood science as criminal evidence in American courts. It also sparked debate about the reliability of questioned document examination and expert witness testimony that continued for decades.
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Cambridge Union Society Founded
On February 13, 1815, the Cambridge Union Society was founded at the University of Cambridge in England, making it the oldest continuously running debating society in the world. The society was established as a forum for students to practice public speaking and debate, initially meeting in a room above a local shop. It soon became a vital part of Cambridge intellectual life, hosting debates on politics, philosophy, and literature. The Union's early members included many future poets, politicians, and thinkers who would shape Victorian Britain.
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Destruction of the Central Tower of Ely Cathedral
On the night of February 12 or 13, 1322, the central tower of Ely Cathedral collapsed, causing extensive damage to the crossing and nave. The collapse was a severe blow to the monastic community and necessitated a major rebuilding project. The new tower, completed in later decades, features the distinctive octagonal lantern that remains one of the cathedral's most celebrated architectural features.