What Happened on February 11?

February 11 is National Inventors' Day — chosen for Thomas Edison's birthday! It is also the day Nelson Mandela walked free after 27 years in prison.

1847 — Thomas Edison born — America's most prolific inventor

The Wizard of Menlo Park was born in Milan, Ohio, holding 1,093 U.S. patents including the practical light bulb, phonograph, and early movie cameras. Read the full story →
1970 — Japan launches its first satellite — Ohsumi

Japan became the fourth nation to launch its own satellite when Ohsumi reached orbit aboard a Lambda-4S rocket from the Kagoshima space center. Read the full story →
1990 — Nelson Mandela walks free after 27 years in prison

After 27 years behind bars for fighting South Africa's apartheid system, Nelson Mandela walked out of Victor Verster Prison hand-in-hand with his wife Winnie — and four years later he became president. Read the full story →
1990 — Buster Douglas stuns unbeaten Mike Tyson in Tokyo

A 42-to-1 underdog knocked out 'the baddest man on the planet' in the tenth round at the Tokyo Dome — still called the biggest upset in boxing history. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Sheryl Crow (1962) · Jennifer Aniston (1969)

National Inventors' Day