On this day: February 25
Samuel Colt patents his revolver, the first black U.S. senator takes his seat, Muhammad Ali wins his first heavyweight title, and Ferdinand Marcos flees the Philippines, all on this day.
1986: A nonviolent people's revolution sends Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos (center) fleeing from the nation after 20 years of rule. The leaders of the revolution installed Corazon Aquino, the widow of assassinated opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr., as the Philippines' first woman president. Marcos' administration was marred by massive corruption, political repression, and human rights violations. It was later discovered that he and his wife Imelda Marcos had moved billions of dollars of embezzled public funds to accounts and investments in the United States, Switzerland, and other countries. He would die three years later in exile in Hawaii.
