February 18 - The Day in History

February 18: General Interest 1885: Twain publishes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn On this day in 1885, Mark Twain publishes his famous--and famously controversial--novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn... read more American Revolution 1776 : Lord Dunmore dispatches note of "inexpressible mortification" http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lord-dunmore-dispatches-note-of-inexpressible-mortification Automotive 2001 : Dale Earnhardt killed in crash http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dale-earnhardt-killed-in-crash Civil War 1817 : Confederate General Lewis Armistead born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lewis-armistead-born Cold War 1964 : United States punishes nations for trading with Cuba http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-states-punishes-nations-for-trading-with-cuba Crime 2003 : Arsonist sets fire in South Korean subway http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/arsonist-sets-fire-in-south-korean-subway 2011 : Green River serial killer pleads guilty to 49th murder http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/green-river-serial-killer-pleads-guilty-to-49th-murder Disaster 1965 : Avalanche kills 26 in British Columbia http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/avalanche-kills-26-in-british-columbia General Interest 1856 : Know-Nothings convene in Philadelphia http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/know-nothings-convene-in-philadelphia 1930 : Pluto discovered http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pluto-discovered 1948 : De Valera resigns http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/de-valera-resigns 1967 : J. Robert Oppenheimer dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/j-robert-oppenheimer-dies Hollywood 1929 : First Academy Awards announced http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-academy-awards-announced Literary 1931 : Toni Morrison's birthday http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/toni-morrisons-birthday Music 1959 : Ray Charles records "What'd I Say" at Atlantic Records http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ray-charles-records-quotwhat39d-i-sayquot-at-atlantic-records Old West 1878 : Murder ignites Lincoln County War http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/murder-ignites-lincoln-county-war Presidential 1861 : Davis becomes provisional president of the Confederacy http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/davis-becomes-provisional-president-of-the-confederacy Sports 1979 : Richard Petty wins Daytona 500 after last-lap crash http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/richard-petty-wins-daytona-500-after-last-lap-crash Vietnam War 1965 : United States warns of forthcoming bombing operations http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-states-warns-of-forthcoming-bombing-operations World War I 1913 : Raymond Poincare becomes president of France http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/raymond-poincare-becomes-president-of-france World War II 1943 : Nazis arrest White Rose resistance leaders http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nazis-arrest-white-rose-resistance-leaders