Dashed left edge = started before February 1990 ·
Dashed right edge = ongoing beyond February 1990
Events in February 1990 13
1919 – 1990Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990)Died 24 February 1990, aged 70Malcolm Forbes was an American publisher who built Forbes magazine into a leading business publication and became known for his flamboyant lifestyle. He was also an avid hot-air balloonist and motorcyclist. He died at his home in New Jersey on 24 February 1990.
1925 – 1990José Napoleón Duarte (1925-1990)Died 23 February 1990, aged 64José Napoleón Duarte was president of El Salvador from 1984 to 1989, governing during the height of the country's civil war. He sought a negotiated end to the conflict while maintaining close ties with the United States. He died of cancer in San Salvador.
1934 – 1990Del Shannon (1934-1990)Died 8 February 1990, aged 55Del Shannon was an American singer-songwriter best known for the 1961 hit "Runaway." His falsetto vocal style influenced a generation of rock musicians. He died by suicide at his home in California on 8 February 1990.
1990De Klerk unbans ANCSouth Africa lifts apartheid restrictionsSouth African President F.W. de Klerk announced on February 2, 1990 that the African National Congress and other anti-apartheid organisations would be legalised, paving the way for the end of apartheid.
1990 – presentNairo QuintanaNairomanPioneer for the new generation of Colombian climbers. Winner: Giro and Vuelta.
1990Buster Douglas beats TysonBiggest boxing upset in historyJames "Buster" Douglas pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sports history by knocking out the previously undefeated Mike Tyson in the 10th round in Tokyo on February 11, 1990.
1990Nelson Mandela freedAfter 27 years in prisonNelson Mandela walked free from Victor Verster Prison on February 11, 1990 after 27 years of imprisonment, greeted by jubilant crowds worldwide. His release marked the beginning of the end of apartheid in South Africa.
1990MC Hammer album releasedPlease Hammer Don't Hurt 'EmMC Hammer released his landmark album "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em" on February 12, 1990. It stayed on the Billboard 200 for 21 weeks and became the best-selling rap album of all time at that point.
1990Pale Blue Dot photoVoyager 1 photographs Earth from 6bn kmOn February 14, 1990, NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft turned its camera back toward the Sun and took the famous "Pale Blue Dot" photo of Earth from a distance of 6 billion kilometres, at Carl Sagan's request.
1990East Germany free electionsFirst democratic vote since 1946East Germany held its first free multi-party elections on March 18, 1990, with voters overwhelmingly supporting parties favouring rapid reunification with West Germany.
1990Nepal's pro-democracy movement restores multi-party ruleKing Birendra accepts constitutional monarchyWeeks of pro-democracy protests known as the Jana Andolan pressured Nepal's King Birendra to lift the ban on political parties. On 8 April 1990 he agreed to a new constitution establishing a multi-party constitutional monarchy. The movement ended three decades of direct royal rule.
1990Benin holds National ConferenceMarxist government cedes power peacefullyBenin's National Conference of Active Forces met in Cotonou from 19 to 28 February 1990, stripping President Mathieu Kérékou of most of his powers. The peaceful conference dismantled nearly two decades of Marxist-Leninist rule. It became a model for democratic transitions across French-speaking Africa.
1990Sandinistas lose NicaraguaVioleta Chamorro wins electionVioleta Chamorro defeated Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua's general election on February 25, 1990, ending eleven years of Sandinista rule.