ANDREWS MCMEEL ALMANAC
Today is the 37th day of 2026 and the 48th day of winter.
TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1778, representatives of the United States and France signed an alliance in Paris.
In 1788, Massachusetts ratified the U.S. Constitution and became the sixth U.S. state.
In 1952, Elizabeth II became queen regnant of the United Kingdom when her father, King George VI, died of complications related to lung cancer.
In 1985, President Ronald Reagan defined the key concepts of his foreign policy, which the media dubbed "The Reagan Doctrine," during his State of the Union address.
In 1998, President Bill Clinton signed a bill changing the name of Washington National Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Aaron Burr (1756-1836), politician/U.S. vice president; Babe Ruth (1895-1948), baseball player; Ronald Reagan (1911-2004), 40th U.S. president; Zsa Zsa Gabor (1917-2016), actress; Francois Truffaut (1932-1984), filmmaker/critic; Tom Brokaw (1940- ), journalist/author; Bob Marley (1945-1981), singer-songwriter; Natalie Cole (1950-2015), singer-songwriter; Axl Rose (1962- ), singer-songwriter.
TODAY'S FACT: Massachusetts had the third-largest population of the 13 colonies in 1770, at 235,308. The state's population is currently estimated at 7 million.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1958, the Boston Red Sox signed Ted Williams for $135,000, which was then the highest salary in baseball.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "I no have education. I have inspiration. If I was educated, I would be a fool." -- Bob Marley
TODAY'S NUMBER: 1 -- player in Major League Baseball history to have both pitched a complete game shutout and recorded at least one multiple home run game in the World Series. Babe Ruth pitched a shutout for the Boston Red Sox against the Chicago Cubs in the 1918 World Series and had multiple home run games in the 1923, 1926, 1927, 1928 and 1932 World Series as a member of the New York Yankees.
TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Feb. 1) and last quarter moon (Feb. 9).