1644 - England grants a patent to Providence Plantations for what is now Rhode Island 1845 - -5.3°F (-20.7°C) in Groningen, Netherlands 1903 - W.B. Yeats and Lady Gregory's play "Hour-glass" premieres in Dublin 1912 - King Vittorio Emanuel III of Italy injured in an assassination attempt 1990 - Mikhail Gorbachev becomes president of the Soviet Congress 1993 - Ricky Ponting hits twin tons for Tasmania aged 18 years 84 days 1993 - 14th Big East Men's Basketball Tournament: Seton Hall beats Syracuse, 103-70 2016 - NASA releases data showing February 2016 warmest month ever recorded globally - 1.35C above the long-term average More Historical Events »