People and Events on February 29, 2004

Lydia Jacoby

20 Years Old

An Alaskan teenager who made history as the first swimmer from her state to win an Olympic gold medal, capturing the 100m breaststroke title at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The Day of Upheaval: February 29th, 2004

February 29th, 2004, is a day that will be etched in the annals of history as a day of seismic political shifts and unexpected twists. It was a day that saw the ousting of a president, a new era in technology, and a milestone in the world of arts.

A President Falls

The most significant event of the day was the ousting of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. After weeks of protests and unrest, Aristide was forced to flee the country, marking the end of his tumultuous presidency. This event sent shockwaves throughout the international community, leading to a period of uncertainty and instability in the small Caribbean nation.

Technological Advancements

In the world of technology, February 29th, 2004, marked a significant milestone. It was on this day that the Mozilla Foundation released Firefox 0.8, a major update to the popular open-source web browser. This release marked a significant shift in the browser wars, as Firefox began to gain popularity and challenge the dominance of Internet Explorer.

A Star is Born

In the world of arts, February 29th, 2004, was a day of celebration for fans of the American television series "Lost". It was on this day that the show premiered on ABC, marking the beginning of a global phenomenon. Created by J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof, "Lost" would go on to become one of the most popular and critically acclaimed television shows of all time.

A Day of Firsts

February 29th, 2004, was also a day of firsts. It was on this day that the first-ever College Goal Sunday was held, an event aimed at helping low-income and minority students navigate the college application process. This initiative was a significant step towards increasing access to higher education for underrepresented groups.

A Leap Day Like No Other

As it was a leap day, February 29th, 2004, was a day that occurred only once every four years. But it was more than just a quirky calendar anomaly – it was a day that will be remembered for years to come as a day of significant change and milestones.

Noteworthy Events on this Day:
21 years ago
President Aristide ousted in Haitian coup (Port-au-Prince, Haiti) 2004
Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Haiti's first democratically-elected president, was forced to flee the country after a violent rebellion sparked by a disputed election. As rebels closed in on the capital, Aristide's government collapsed, and US, French, and Canadian troops intervened to stabilize the island nation. With his presidency crumbling, Aristide departed Haiti, leaving a power vacuum that would plague the nation for years to come.