CalendarZ

  1. Home
  2. On This Day
  3. February
  4. 29
  5. James B. Donovan

Births on February 29

James B. Donovan
1916Feb, 29

James B. Donovan

James B. Donovan, American lawyer (d. 1970)
James Britt Donovan (February 29, 1916 – January 19, 1970) was an American lawyer and United States Navy officer in the Office of Scientific Research and Development and the Office of Strategic Services (OSS, predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency), ultimately becoming general counsel of the OSS, and an international diplomatic negotiator.Donovan is widely known for negotiating the 1960–1962 exchange of captured American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers and American student Frederic Pryor for Soviet spy Rudolf Abel, and for negotiating the 1962 release and return of 9,703 prisoners held by Cuba after the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion. Donovan was portrayed by Tom Hanks in the 2015 feature film Bridge of Spies.

References

Choose Another Date

Events on 1916

  • 9Jan

    Gallipoli Campaign

    World War I: The Battle of Gallipoli concludes with an Ottoman Empire victory when the last Allied forces are evacuated from the peninsula.
  • 21Feb

    Battle of Verdun

    World War I: In France, the Battle of Verdun begins.
  • 25Feb

    Battle of Verdun

    World War I: The Germans capture Fort Douaumont during the Battle of Verdun.
  • 9Apr

    Battle of Verdun

    World War I: The Battle of Verdun: German forces launch their third offensive of the battle.
  • 31May

    Battle of Jutland

    World War I: Battle of Jutland: The British Grand Fleet under the command of John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe and David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty engage the Imperial German Navy under the command of Reinhard Scheer and Franz von Hipper in the largest naval battle of the war, which proves indecisive.