February 28

in History

Han Dynasty Founded — A rebel becomes the emperor of all China

ChinaAncient

202

Han Dynasty Founded

A rebel becomes the emperor of all China

Liu Bang, a former peasant who had risen to lead a rebel army, declared himself Emperor Gaozu of Han after overthrowing the brutal Qin dynasty. The Han dynasty he founded would endure for over four centuries, becoming one of China's golden ages and giving the Chinese people their enduring ethnic identity. From a countryside revolt to the throne of heaven, Liu Bang's story is one of history's most remarkable ascents from nothing to everything.

202 BC

Linus Pauling Was Born — The only person to win two solo Nobel Prizes

Portland, Oregon, United StatesEarly 20th Century

1901

Linus Pauling Was Born

The only person to win two solo Nobel Prizes

Linus Carl Pauling was born in Portland, Oregon, destined to become one of the twentieth century's greatest scientists and most passionate activists. His groundbreaking work on chemical bonding earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and his tireless campaigning against nuclear weapons testing won him the Nobel Peace Prize, making him the only person to receive two unshared Nobel Prizes. Pauling's dual legacy of scientific brilliance and moral courage remains unmatched.

1901 AD

Discoverer 1 — Discoverer 1, an American spy satellite that is the first object intended to achieve a polar orbit, is launched but fails to achieve orbit.

Late 20th Century

1959

Discoverer 1

Discoverer 1, an American spy satellite that is the first object intended to achieve a polar orbit, is launched but fails to achieve orbit.

1959 AD