Happy Birthday February 2

Nell Gwyn was said to have born at Hereford on February 2, 1650 at Gwynne Street. (London and Oxford also claim her as their own). Described by Samuel Pepys as "pretty, witty Nell", in 1665 Nell Gwyn soon achieved prominent recognition as a comic actress, appearing as Flydana in Dryden's Indian Emperor. While walking in St James’ Park, King Charles II spotted Nell and was immediately captivated. By now a single mother, her relationship with the English king provoked juicy gossip.

Nell Gwyn by Peter Lely c 1675

The Irish author James Joyce was born on February 2, 1882 to John Stanislaus Joyce and Mary Jane "May" Murray, at 41 Brighton Square, in the Dublin suburb of Rathgar. Joyce's ineffectual father was the model for the character of Simon Dedalus in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Ulysses, as well as several characters in Dubliners.

For more February 2 anniversaries, including the  founding of Buenos Aires, the marriage of Mark Twain to Olivia "Livy" Langdon and the founding of Baseball's National League, check out OnThatDay.