So you want to have a drink but you aren't sure why? Here are some GREAT reasons to call your friends over and have a party.

February 11th


- Armed Forces Day (Liberia)
- Christian Feast Day
- Evelio Javier Memorial Day (Panay Island, the Philippines)
- Feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes (Roman Catholic Church)
- National Foundation Day (Japan)
- National Inventors' Day (United States)
- National Youth Day (Cameroon)

February 11th


- 1997 - Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on a mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope.
- 1990 - Nelson Mandela, a political prisoner for 27 years, is released from Victor Verster Prison outside Cape Town, South Africa.
- 1990 - James Buster Douglas, a 42 to 1 underdog, deals Mike Tyson his first professional loss with the largest upset in boxing history and becomes the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
- 1987 - Philippines constitution goes into effect.
- 1981 - 100,000 US gallons (380 m3) of radioactive coolant leak into the containment building of TVA Sequoyah 1 nuclear plant in Tennessee, contaminating 8 workers.
- 1979 - Islamic revolution of Iran establishes an Islamic theocracy under the leadership of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
- 1978 - Censorship: the People's Republic of China lifts a ban on works by Aristotle, Shakespeare and Dickens.
- 1973 - Vietnam War: First release of American prisoners of war from Vietnam takes place.
- 1971 - Eighty-seven countries, including the US, UK, and USSR, sign the Seabed Treaty outlawing nuclear weapons in international waters.
- 1968 - Israeli-Jordanian border clashes.
- 1964 - Greeks and Turks begin fighting in Limassol, Cyprus.
- 1964 - The Republic of China (Taiwan) breaks off diplomatic relations with France.
- 1953 - The Soviet Union breaks off diplomatic relations with Israel.
- 1953 - President Dwight Eisenhower refuses clemency appeal for Ethel and Julius Rosenberg.
- 1943 - World War II: General Dwight Eisenhower is selected to command the allied armies in Europe.
- 1942 - The Battle of Bukit Timah is fought in Singapore during World War II.
- 1941 - The first gold record is presented to Glenn Miller for "Chattanooga Choo Choo".
- 1939 - A Lockheed XP-38 flies from California to New York in 7 hours 2 minutes.
- 1938 - BBC Television produces the world's first ever science fiction television program, an adaptation of a section of the Karel Capek play R.U.R., which coined the term "robot".
- 1937 - A sit-down strike ends when General Motors recognizes the United Auto Workers Union.
- 1929 - Fascist Italy and the Vatican sign the Lateran Treaty.
- 1919 - Friedrich Ebert (SPD), is elected President of Germany.
- 1916 - Emma Goldman is arrested for lecturing on birth control.
- 1905 - Pope Pius X publishes the encyclical Vehementer nos.
- 1903 - Anton Bruckner's 9th Symphony receives its first performance in Vienna.
- 1889 - Meiji constitution of Japan is adopted; the first Diet of Japan convenes in 1890.
- 1873 - King Amadeus I of Spain abdicates.
- 1861 - American Civil War: United States House of Representatives unanimously passes a resolution guaranteeing noninterference with slavery in any state.
- 1855 - Kassa Hailu is crowned Tewodros II, Emperor of Ethiopia, by Abuna Salama III in a ceremony at the church of Derasge Maryam
- 1843 - Giuseppe Verdi's opera I Lombardi receives its first performance in Milan.
- 1840 - Gaetano Donizetti's opera La Fille du Régiment receives its first performance in Paris.
- 1826 - University College London is founded under the name University of London.
- 1826 - Swaminarayan wrote the Shikshapatri, an important test within the Swaminarayan faith.
- 1814 - Norway's independence is proclaimed, marking the ultimate end of the Kalmar Union.
- 1812 - Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry "gerrymanders" for the first time.
- 1809 - Robert Fulton files a patent for improvements to steamboat navigation
- 1808 - Jesse Fell burns anthracite on an open grate as an experiment in heating homes with coal.
- 1794 - First session of United States Senate open to the public.
- 1790 - Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers, petitions U.S. Congress for abolition of slavery.
- 1752 - Pennsylvania Hospital, the first hospital in the United States, is opened by Benjamin Franklin.
- 1659 - The assault on Copenhagen by Swedish forces is beaten back with heavy losses.
- 1531 - Henry VIII of England is recognized as supreme head of the Church of England.
- 660 - 660 BC – Traditional date for the foundation of Japan by Emperor Jimmu.
- 55 - Tiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus, heir to the Roman Emperorship, dies under mysterious circumstances in Rome. This clears the way for Nero to become Emperor.

February 11th


- 1994 - Dominic Janes, American actor
- 1992 - Taylor Lautner, American actor
- 1991 - Christofer Ingle, American musician (Never Shout Never)
- 1991 - Georgia May Foote, British actress
- 1990 - Princess Ayah bint Al Faisal, Jordanian royalty
- 1987 - Brian Matusz, American baseball player
- 1985 - Harris Allan, Canadian actor
- 1985 - William Beckett, American singer
- 1985 - Mike Richards, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1984 - Aubrey O'Day, American singer
- 1984 - Maxime Talbot, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1983 - Nicki Clyne, Canadian actress
- 1983 - Huang Shengyi, Chinese actress
- 1983 - Rafael Van der Vaart, Dutch footballer
- 1983 - Tihhon Šišov, Estonian footballer
- 1983 - Tony Curtis (American football), American football player
- 1982 - Natalie Dormer, English actress
- 1982 - Neil Robertson, Australian snooker player
- 1982 - Jürgen Schmid, German footballer
- 1981 - Kelly Rowland, American singer
- 1981 - Scot Thompson, American footballer
- 1980 - Marco Bresciano, Australian footballer
- 1980 - Titi Buengo, Angolan footballer
- 1980 - Matthew Lawrence, American actor
- 1980 - Cormac McAnallen, Northern Irish Gaelic footballer (d. 2004)
- 1979 - Brandy, American singer and actress
- 1977 - Mike Shinoda, American musician (Linkin Park and Fort Minor)
- 1976 - Tony Battie, American basketball player
- 1976 - Brice Beckham, American actor
- 1976 - Jorge Luís, Brazilian footballer
- 1976 - André Wickström, Finland-Swedish comedian and actor
- 1975 - Andy Lally, American racing driver
- 1975 - Jacque Vaughn, American basketball player
- 1974 - D'Angelo, American singer
- 1974 - Alex Jones, American radio host
- 1974 - Zain Verjee, American newsreporter
- 1973 - Varg Vikernes, Norwegian musician (Burzum, Mayhem)
- 1973 - Ethan Iverson, jazz pianist
- 1973 - Jeon Do-yeon, Korean actress
- 1972 - Brian Daubach, American baseball player
- 1972 - Craig Jones, American musician (Slipknot)
- 1972 - Steve McManaman, English footballer
- 1972 - Kelly Slater, American surfer
- 1971 - Evan Tanner, American mixed-martial artist (d. 2008)
- 1971 - Damian Lewis, British actor
- 1970 - Fredrik Thordendal, Swedish musician
- 1969 - Jennifer Aniston, American actress
- 1969 - Andreas Hilfiker, Swiss footballer
- 1969 - P.J. Sparxx, American pornographic actress
- 1967 - Uwe Daßler, German swimmer
- 1967 - Hank Gathers, American basketball player (d. 1990)
- 1965 - Vicki Wilson, Australian netballer
- 1964 - Sarah Palin, 11th Governor of Alaska
- 1964 - Ken Shamrock, American martial artist
- 1963 - José Mari Bakero, Spanish footballer
- 1963 - Diane Franklin, American actress
- 1962 - Tammy Baldwin, American politician
- 1962 - Sheryl Crow, American musician
- 1962 - Eric Vanderaerden, Belgian cyclist
- 1961 - Mary Docter, American speed skater
- 1961 - Carey Lowell, American actress
- 1960 - Nick Currie, Scottish musician
- 1960 - Richard Mastracchio, NASA astronaut
- 1959 - Bradley Cole, American actor
- 1959 - Roberto Moreno, Brazilian racing driver
- 1957 - Mitchell Symons, British writer
- 1956 - Catherine Hickland, American actress
- 1956 - Didier Lockwood, French violinist
- 1956 - H.R., American singer
- 1954 - Noriyuki Asakura, Japanese composer
- 1954 - Wesley Strick, American screenwriter
- 1953 - Philip Anglim, American actor
- 1953 - Jeb Bush, 43rd Governor of Florida
- 1949 - Guy Cloutier, French-Canadian music executive; father of Véronique Cloutier
- 1948 - Chris Rush, American stand-up comedian
- 1947 - Joselito, Spanish singer
- 1947 - Roy Carrier, American Zydeco musician (d. 2010)
- 1947 - Kikko Matsuoka, Japanese actress
- 1947 - Derek Shulman, English musician
- 1947 - Yukio Hatoyama, Prime Minister of Japan
- 1946 - Ian Porterfield, English footballer (d. 2007)
- 1943 - Serge Lama, French singer
- 1941 - Sergio Mendes, Brazilian musician
- 1939 - Gerry Goffin, American lyricist
- 1939 - Jane Yolen, American author
- 1938 - Bevan Congdon, New Zealand cricketer
- 1938 - Simone de Oliveira, Portuguese actress
- 1938 - Bobby "Boris" Pickett, American singer and songwriter (d. 2007)
- 1937 - Bill Lawry, Australian cricketer
- 1937 - Eddie Shack, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1936 - Burt Reynolds, American actor
- 1935 - Bent Lorentzen, Danish composer
- 1935 - Gene Vincent, American musician (d. 1971)
- 1934 - Mel Carnahan, American politician (d. 2000)
- 1934 - Tina Louise, American actress
- 1934 - Manuel Noriega, Panamanian general and dictator
- 1934 - Mary Quant, English fashion designer
- 1934 - John Surtees, MBE, English motorcycle and race car driver
- 1932 - Jerome Lowenthal, American pianist
- 1932 - Dennis Skinner, British politician
- 1931 - Larry Merchant, American sportswriter
- 1930 - Roy De Forest, American Painter (d. 2007)
- 1926 - Paul Bocuse, French chef
- 1926 - Alexander Gibson, British conductor (d. 1995)
- 1926 - Leslie Nielsen, Canadian actor
- 1925 - Kim Stanley, American actress (d. 2001)
- 1925 - Virginia E. Johnson, of Masters and Johnson renown. American psychologist.
- 1923 - Antony Flew, British philosopher (d. 2010)
- 1921 - Lloyd Bentsen, American politician (d. 2006)
- 1921 - Edward Seidensticker, American scholar (d. 2007)
- 1920 - King Farouk I of Egypt (d. 1965)
- 1920 - Daniel F. Galouye, science fiction author (d.1976)
- 1920 - Billy Halop, American actor (d. 1976)
- 1920 - Daniel "Chappie" James Jr., American general (d. 1978)
- 1919 - Eva Gabor, Hungarian-born actress (d. 1995)
- 1917 - T. Nagi Reddy, Indian revolutionary (d. 1976)
- 1917 - Sidney Sheldon, American author (d. 2007)
- 1915 - Patrick Leigh Fermor, English author
- 1914 - Matt Dennis, American singer (d. 2002)
- 1912 - Roy Fuller, English writer (d. 1991)
- 1909 - Max Baer, American boxer and actor (d. 1959)
- 1909 - Joseph L. Mankiewicz, American director (d. 1993)
- 1908 - Philip Dunne, American screenwriter, director and producer (d. 1992)
- 1908 - Vivian Ernest Fuchs, English geologist (d. 1999)
- 1904 - Sir Keith Holyoake, Prime Minister of New Zealand (d. 1983)
- 1903 - Hans Redlich, Austrian composer (d. 1968)
- 1902 - Arne Jacobsen, Danish architect (d. 1971)
- 1901 - Roddy Connolly, Irish politician, son of James Connolly (d. 1980)
- 1900 - Hans-Georg Gadamer, German philosopher (d. 2002)
- 1900 - Josei Toda, Japanese educator (d. 1958)
- 1898 - Leó Szilárd, Hungarian-born physicist (d. 1964)
- 1894 - Alfonso Leng, Chilean composer (d. 1974)
- 1891 - J.W. Hearne English cricketer (d. 1965)
- 1890 - David Drummond, Australian politician (d. 1965)
- 1887 - John van Melle, South African writer (d. 1953)
- 1874 - Elsa Beskow, Swedish author (d. 1953)
- 1874 - Fritz Hart, English-born composer (d. 1949)
- 1872 - Hannah Mitchell, English socialist and suffragette (d. 1956)
- 1869 - Helene Kroller-Muller, Dutch museum founder (d. 1939)
- 1869 - Else Lasker-Schüler, German writer (d. 1945)
- 1860 - Rachilde, French author (d. 1953)
- 1847 - Thomas Alva Edison, American inventor (d. 1931)
- 1839 - Josiah Willard Gibbs, American physicist (d. 1903)
- 1833 - Melville Weston Fuller, 8th Chief Justice of the United States (d. 1910)
- 1830 - Hans Bronsart von Schellendorff, Prussian musician (d. 1913)
- 1829 - The Rev. Samuel Lodge, English clergyman, author and headmaster (d. 1897)
- 1821 - Auguste-Édouard Mariette, French Egyptologist (d. 1881)
- 1819 - Samuel Parkman Tuckerman, American composer (d. 1890)
- 1813 - Otto Ludwig, German writer and critic (d. 1865)
- 1812 - Alexander Hamilton Stephens, American politician (d. 1883)
- 1802 - Lydia Maria Child, American abolitionist (d. 1880)
- 1800 - William Henry Fox Talbot, English photographer and inventor (d. 1877)
- 1799 - Basil Moreau, French Founder priest (d. 1873)
- 1776 - Ioannis Kapodistrias, Greek diplomat of the Russian Empire and first head of state of independent Greece (d. 1831)
- 1774 - Hans Järta, Swedish political activist (d. 1847)
- 1764 - Marie-Joseph de Chenier, French poet (d. 1811)
- 1755 - Albert Christoph Dies, German composer (d. 1822)
- 1657 - Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle, French scientist and man of letters (d. 1757)
- 1649 - William Carstares, Scottish minister (d. 1715)
- 1568 - Honoré d'Urfé, French writer (d. 1625)
- 1535 - Pope Gregory XIV (d. 1591)
- 1466 - Elizabeth of York, wife of Henry VII of England (d. 1503)
- 1380 - Gian Francesco Poggio Bracciolini, Italian humanist (d. 1459)
- 1377 - King Ladislas of Naples (d. 1414)