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What happened on February 11th?
The spark that would end an era of oppression
Matthew Jones
February 11, 2025
1990 Nelson Mandela Is Released after 27 Years in Prison
On February 11, 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison after serving 27 years for his role in the fight against apartheid. His release was an important moment in South Africa's struggle for racial equality and marked the beginning of the end of apartheid. Mandela's freedom energized the anti-apartheid movement and set the stage for the negotiations that led to South Africa’s first multiracial elections in 1994.
The photo shows Nelson Mandela visiting the European Parliament in June 1990 to accept the 1988 Sakharov Prize, just four months after his release from 27 years of imprisonment.
🗞️Today’s Headlines
Everything important that’s ever happened on February 11:
2011 — Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down after nearly 30 years in power, following mass protests during the Egyptian Revolution.
1989 — The Reverend Barbara Harris became the first female bishop in the Anglican Communion, making history in the Protestant Episcopal Church.
1975 — British politician Margaret Thatcher was elected leader of the Conservative Party, beginning her rise to become the UK’s first female Prime Minister.
1945 — The Yalta Conference, where Allied leaders of World War II, including Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin met to plan postwar Europe, ended.
1929 — Benito Mussolini of Italy and Pietro Gasparri of the Vatican signed the Lateran Treaty, establishing Vatican City as an independent state.
🎂 Today’s Birthdays
On February 11, we’re singing to:
Thomas Edison (1847) — American inventor best known for his pioneering work with the electric light bulb, phonograph, and motion pictures, revolutionizing several industries.
Jennifer Aniston (1969) — American actress, famed for her portrayal of Rachel Green on the hit TV show Friends, and for her successful film career in both comedy and drama.
🪦Who Died Today?
On February 11, we’re saying goodbye to:
René Descartes (1650) — French philosopher and mathematician widely regarded as the father of modern philosophy, known for his work Meditations on First Philosophy and the phrase "Cogito, ergo sum."
Sylvia Plath (1963) — American poet and author celebrated for her powerful writing in The Bell Jar and her poetic exploration of mental illness and personal struggle.
Whitney Houston (2012) — Legendary American singer and actress known for her unparalleled vocal talent and iconic hits, such as “I Will Always Love You,” that shaped pop and R&B music throughout the late 1980s and 1990s.
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