February 14 Happy Valentine’s Day! Today is St. Valentine’s Day, the feast day of two Christian martyrs named Valentine: one a priest and physician, the other the Bishop of Terni. Both are purported to have been beheaded on this day. The custom of sending handmade ‘valentines’ to one’s beloved became popular during the 17th century and was first commercialized in the United States in the 1840s. 1349 2,000 Jews are burned at the stake in Strasbourg, Germany. 1400 The deposed Richard II is murdered in Pontefract Castle in Yorkshire. 1549 Maximilian II, brother of the Emperor Charles V, is recognized as the future king of Bohemia. 1779 American Loyalists are defeated by Patriots at Kettle Creek, Ga. 1797 The Spanish fleet is destroyed by the British under Admiral Jervis (with Nelson in support) at the battle of Cape St. Vincent, off Portugal. 1848 James Polk becomes the first U.S. President to be photographed in office by Matthew Brady. 1859 Oregon is admitted as the thi