On This Day for 2/15 - Galileo, Susan B. Anthony, and Alfred North Whitehead are born, and more

Don't miss an issue of On This Day! Simply add [customerservice@eb.com]( to your address book. On This Day February 15 Discover the Fastest Route to Britannica - [EB.com]( Born This Day [Galileo]( [Galileo]( Italian natural philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician [Galileo]( born this day in 1564, made fundamental contributions to the science of [motion]( and [astronomy]( as well as to the development of the scientific method. Who else was born today? Find out with the newest version of [our best-selling software! >>]( On This Day [The half-submerged battleship Maine in the harbour of Havana, 1900.]( 1898: USS Maine destroyed, leading to Spanish-American War On this day in 1898, an explosion in [Havana]( harbour sank the battleship [USS Maine]( killing 260 American seamen and precipitating the [Spanish-American War]( which originated in the [Cuban]( struggle for independence from Spain. Explore more key moments in history for just $39.95 [Learn more >>]( [Sign up now]( for our monthly newsletter, showcasing articles hand-picked by our editors! More Events On This Day 2008: [Steve Fossett waving after landing in Salinas, Kansas, on March 3, 2005.]( than five months after his single-engine airplane went missing in Nevada, American adventurer [Steve Fossett]( was legally declared dead; his body was recovered later in the year. 1989: Under President [Mikhail Gorbachev]( the Soviet Union withdrew its last troops from Afghanistan after occupying the country since 1979. 1978: [Leon Spinks (right) fighting at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, where he won the light heavyweight …]( Spinks]( defeated [Muhammad Ali]( to become the heavyweight boxing champion of the world. 1965: [flag of Canada]( officially adopted the [Maple Leaf Flag]( following a royal proclamation. 1954: [The Simpsons.]( cartoonist and animator [Matt Groening]( who created the comic strip Life in Hell and the television series [The Simpsons]( and Futurama, was born. 1933: [Anton J. Cermak.]( assassin's bullet meant for the U.S. president-elect, [Franklin D. Roosevelt]( wounded Mayor [Anton J. Cermak]( of Chicago, who died three weeks later. 1861: English mathematician and philosopher [Alfred North Whitehead]( who was perhaps best known for his work on Principia Mathematica, was born in Ramsgate, Isle of Thanet, Kent, England. 1820: [Susan B. Anthony]( B. Anthony]( a pioneer crusader for the [woman suffrage]( movement in the United States, was born in Adams, Massachusetts. 1764: [The first home built by Auguste Chouteau in St. Louis.]( Chouteau]( settled [St. Louis]( at the confluence of the [Mississippi]( and [Missouri]( rivers. A Great Gift Idea from The Britannica Store [1768 Encyclopaedia Britannica Replica Set]( The handsome three-volume reproduction is so beautifully executed that it's almost indistinguishable from the 1768 original, right down to the natural age spots and watermarks on the pages. A must-have for collectors of history or vintage books, the set lends an unmistakable air of prestige to any home or office. [Get yours today]( Our Best-Selling Software! the world's most trusted and authoritative information for [only $39.95](. Britannica on Facebook a fan]( on Facebook and get updated Britannica content in your news feed! Britannica on Twitter @Britannica]( and enjoy daily tweets relating to the news stories of the day! [Home]( [Advocacy for Animals]( [Newsletters]( [Feedback]( [Help]( Please note that if you do not open or click on any On This Day email during any consecutive 14-day period, we reserve the right to remove your address from the active mailing list. This policy does not apply to RSS feeds. Share: Was this message forwarded to you? [Click here]( and we'll start sending you the On This Day newsletters. This message has been sent to {EMAIL}. To unsubscribe [click here](. To unsubscribe by postal mail, send your request to: Encyclopaedia Britannica 325 N. LaSalle St. - Suite 200 Chicago, IL 60654 US ATTN: Customer Service - On This Day © 2017 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. [Privacy Policy]( — [Help](