February 29 (2017)

325 years ago
1692

Born on this date
John Byrom. English poet. Mr. Byrom wrote the lyrics to the Anglican hymn Christians awake! Salute the happy morn (1745), but was perhaps more notable as the inventor of a system of shorthand that he patented in 1740, posthumously published as The Universal English Shorthand. He died on September 26, 1763 at the age of 71.

225 years ago
1792

Born on this date
Gioacchino Rossini. Italian composer. Mr. Rossini wrote 39 significant operas, as well as sacred music, songs, chamber music and piano pieces. He's perhaps best known for the overture to his opera Guillaume Tell (William Tell) (1829). Mr. Rossini died on November 13, 1868 at the age of 76.

Died on this date
Johann Andreas Stein, 63. German piano maker. Mr. Stein was primarily responsible for the design of the so-called "Viennese" fortepiano, for which the piano music of Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and the early music of Ludwig van Beethoven was written.

125 years ago
1892

Americana
St. Petersburg, Florida was incorporated as a town.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Love You Right--Euphoria (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Kanashimi hayuki no yoni--Shogo Hamada (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John (7th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Puta Madre--Terra Wan (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John (5th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John (8th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Stay--Shakespears Sister (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): To Be with You--Mr. Big

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 To Be with You--Mr. Big (2nd week at #1)
2 Remember the Time--Michael Jackson
3 I Love Your Smile--Shanice
4 I'm Too Sexy--Right Said Fred
5 Good for Me--Amy Grant
6 Missing You Now--Michael Bolton featuring Kenny G
7 I'll Get By--Eddie Money
8 Vibeology--Paula Abdul
9 The Way I Feel About You--Karyn White
10 Until Your Love Comes Back Around--RTZ

Singles entering the chart were Make it Happen by Mariah Carey (#52); Beaten Up in Love Again by the Doves (#81); We Got a Love Thang by Ce Ce Peniston (#86); Stay by Jodeci (#87); and It's Over Now by L.A. Guns (#91).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me-George Michael/Elton John (2nd week at #1)
2 I'm Too Sexy--Right Said Fred
3 No Regrets--Tom Cochrane
4 There Will Never Be Another Tonight--Bryan Adams
5 Mysterious Ways--U2
6 I Can't Dance--Genesis
7 To Be with You--Mr. Big
8 Diamonds and Pearls--Prince
9 Remember the Time--Michael Jackson
10 Good for Me--Amy Grant

Singles entering the chart were Thought I'd Died and Gone to Heaven by Bryan Adams (#52); Come as You Are by Nirvana (#65); A Fishing Tale by The Grapes of Wrath (#74); Until the End of the World by U2 (#75); Everything Changes by Kathy Troccoli (#81); Masterpiece by Atlantic Starr (#83); Empty Arms by Stevie Ray Vaughan (#84); Drawn to the Rhythm by Sarah McLachlan (#86); Power to the People by Debbie Johnson (#90); Beaten Up in Love Again by the Doves (#91); and We Got a Love Thang by Ce Ce Peniston (#93). Until the End of the World was the title song of the movie.

Politics and government
Residents of Bosnia and Herzegovina began two days of voting in a referendum on independence from Yugoslavia.