February 29

Born in 1572 into the Cecil family, Edward Cecil was the younger son of the 1st Earl of Exeter. He pursued a military career under Queen Elizabeth I and distinguished himself in campaigns in the Low Countries. Appointed commander in the Siege of Ostend, he earned the title Viscount Wimbledon in 1628. His leadership during the Eighty Years' War exemplified English support for the Dutch Republic. Cecil also served in the English Parliament and managed estates in Wimbledon. He died in 1638, remembered for his martial skill and noble lineage.

Jack R. Lousma (born February 29, 1936) is an American former Marine Corps colonel, NASA astronaut, and politician. He earned his naval aviator wings before being selected as part of NASA Astronaut Group 5 in 1966. Lousma served as pilot on Skylab 3 in 1973, spending 59 days in space conducting scientific experiments. He later commanded Space Shuttle mission STS-9 in 1983, contributing to Spacelab research and physics experimentation. After retiring from NASA and the military, he ran for the U.S. Senate from Michigan in 1994. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his dedication to exploration, research, and public service.