February 18 - This 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