Today is the 40th day of 2023 and the 51st day of winter.

T ODAY’S HISTORY: In 1825, the U.S. House of Representatives elected John Quincy Adams as president, a decision that became necessary after no candidate took a majority of the electoral votes in the election of 1824.

In 1861, Jefferson Davis was elected president of the Confederate States of America.

In 1950, during a speech in West Virginia, Sen. Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin claimed to have a list of more than 200 “known communists” serving in the State Department.

In 1964, the Beatles made their first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: William Henry Harrison (17731841), ninth U.S. president; Ronald Colman (1891-1958), actor; Carmen Miranda (19091955), dancer/singer/actress; Brendan Behan (1923-1964), playwright; Roger Mudd (1928-2021), TV journalist; Carole King (1942- ), singersongwriter; Joe Pesci (1943- ), actor; Alice Walker (1944- ), author; Mia Farrow (1945- ), actress; Charlie Day (1976- ), actor; Tom Hiddleston (1981), actor; Michael B. Jordan (1987- ), actor.

TODAY’S FACT: The game of volleyball (then called Mintonette) was created in Holyoke, Massachusetts, on this day in 1895.

TODAY’S SPORTS: In 1971, pitcher Leroy “Satchel” Paige became the first Negro League veteran to be nominated for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “Every man, through fear, mugs his aspirations a dozen times a day.” -- Brendan Behan TODAY’S NUMBER: 73 million -- viewers estimated to have tuned in to see the Beatles’ first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

TODAY’S MOON: Between full moon (Feb. 5) and last quarter moon (Feb. 13).