Today is Monday, Feb. 6, the 37th day of 2012. There are 329 days left in the year. On Feb. 6, 1952, Britain's King George VI died at Sandringham House in Norfolk, England; he was succeeded as monarch by his daughter, who became Queen Elizabeth II. In 1778, the United States won official recognition from France with the signing of a Treaty of Alliance in Paris. In 1788, Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. In 1862, during the Civil War, Fort Henry in Tennessee fell to Union forces. In 1899, a peace treaty between the United States and Spain was ratified by the U.S. Senate. In 1911, Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, was born in Tampico, Ill. In 1912, Adolf Hitler's longtime companion, Eva Braun, was born in Munich. In 1922, Cardinal Archille Ratti was elected pope; he took the name Pius XI. In 1933, the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, the so-called "lame duck" amendment, was proclaimed in effect by Secretary of State Henry Stimson. In 1959, the United States successfully test-fired for the first time a Titan intercontinental ballistic missile from Cape Canaveral. In 1978, Muriel Humphrey took the oath of office as a United States senator from Minnesota, filling the seat of her late husband, former Vice President Hubert Humphrey. In 1987, Wall Street Journal reporter Gerald Seib (syb) was released after being detained six days by Iran, accused of being a spy for Israel; Iran said the detention was a result of misunderstandings. In 1992, 16 people were killed when a C-130 military transport plane crashed in Evansville, Ind. Ten years ago: A federal judge in Alexandria, Va., ordered John Walker Lindh, the so-called "American Taliban," held without bail pending trial. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II reached a bittersweet milestone, somberly marking 50 years as monarch on the anniversary of the death of her father, King George VI. Five years ago: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (NOO'-ree ahl-MAHL'-ih-kee) complained that the long-awaited Baghdad security operation was off to a slow start, but he also reassured Iraqis that security forces would live up to their responsibilities. Singer Frankie Laine died in San Diego at age 93. One year ago: Egypt's vice president met with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and other opposition groups and offered sweeping concessions, including granting press freedom and rolling back police powers in the government's latest attempt to end two weeks of upheaval. The Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl XLV, defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady became the first unanimous choice for The Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player Award.