Today in History for 18th February 2018:
Historical Events
1688 – Quakers conduct 1st formal protest of slavery in Germantown, Pa
1967 – Bob Seagren sets pole vault record at 17’3″
1973 – 54-kg octopus measuring 7m across captured in Hood Canal, Washington
1979 – Snow falls in Sahara Desert
1991 – Edmonton Oiler goalie Grant Fuhr returns to NHL after season-long suspension for substance abuse and shuts out NJ Devils 4-0
1998 – Two white separatists are arrested in Nevada and accused of plotting a biological attack on New York City subways.
Famous Birthdays
1716 – Gaspard Fritz, Swiss composer and violinist, born in Geneva (d. 1783)
1892 – Wendell Wilkie, American Presidential candidate (R-1940)/author (One World), (d. 1944)
1931 – Swraj Paul, Indian/British industrial/multi-millionaire (Caparo)
1948 – Keith Knudsen, American drummer, vocalist and songwriter (Doobie Brothers), born in Le Mars, Iowa (d. 2005)
1949 – Gary Ridgway, American serial killer
1976 – Volker Schenk, WLAF RB (Frankfurt Galaxy)
Famous Deaths
1379 – Albert II of Mecklenburg (b. 1318)
1654 – Jean-Louis Guez de Balzac, French writer (b. 1594)
1861 – Louis C Luzac, Dutch minister of Internal affairs, dies at 74
1957 – Joseph G. Hamilton, American Physician who was a pioneer of using radioactive isotopes in disease treatment and diagnosis, dies of radiation induced leukemia at 49
1966 – Casimir von Paszthory, composer, dies at 79
1977 – Ralph Graves, American actor (Dirigible, Extra Girl, Flight, Dream Street), dies at 77