Alessandro Volta
b. 1745
Italian physicist, invented the battery
On This Day · The 49th day of the year
February 18
A look at February 18 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Alessandro Volta and Dr. Dre, and the day's notable deaths and observances.
♒ZodiacAquarius ◈BirthstoneAmethyst ❀Birth flowerViolet
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Events
10 notable moments- 2014
Revolution of Dignity
Revolution of Dignity: At least 76 people are killed and hundreds are injured in clashes between riot police and demonstrators in Kyiv, Ukraine.
2014 revolution in Ukraine - 2013
Brussels Airport diamond heist
Armed robbers steal a haul of diamonds worth $50 million during a raid at Brussels Airport in Belgium.
2013 diamond heist - 2010
WikiLeaks
WikiLeaks publishes the first of hundreds of thousands of classified documents disclosed by the soldier now known as Chelsea Manning.
News leak publishing organisation - 2001
Federal Bureau of Investigation
FBI agent Robert Hanssen is arrested for spying for the Soviet Union. He is ultimately convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
U.S. federal law enforcement - 2001
Sampit conflict
Sampit conflict: Inter-ethnic violence between Dayaks and Madurese breaks out in Sampit, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, ultimately resulting in more than 500 deaths and 100,000 Madurese displaced from their homes.
2001 inter-ethnic violence throughout - 1977
Xinjiang 61st Regiment Farm fire
The Xinjiang 61st Regiment Farm fire started during Chinese New Year when a firecracker ignited memorial wreaths of the late Mao Zedong, killing 694 personnel. It remains the deadliest fireworks accident in the world.
1977 fire in China - 1957
Kenya
Kenyan rebel leader Dedan Kimathi is executed by the British colonial government.
Country in East Africa - 1930
January
While studying photographs taken in January, Clyde Tombaugh discovers Pluto.
1st month in the - 1873
Bulgaria
Bulgarian revolutionary leader Vasil Levski is executed by hanging in Sofia by the Ottoman authorities.
Country in Southeast Europe - 1637
Eighty Years' War
Eighty Years' War: Off the coast of Cornwall, England, a Spanish fleet intercepts an important Anglo-Dutch merchant convoy of 44 vessels escorted by six warships, destroying or capturing 20 of them.
C. 1566/1568–1648 war in
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Famous birthday twins
Born on February 18Dr. Dre
b. 1965
American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur
Fabrizio De André
b. 1940
Italian singer-songwriter and guitarist
Roman Neustädter
b. 1988
German-Russian footballer
Cody Hodgson
b. 1990
Canadian ice hockey player
Miloš Forman
b. 1932
Czech-American actor, director, and screenwriter
George Henschel
b. 1850
German-English singer-songwriter, pianist, and conductor
Hedwig Courths-Mahler
b. 1867
German writer
Deaths
- 1873Vasil Levski, Bulgarian activist, founded the Internal Revolutionary Organization
- 1564Michelangelo, Italian sculptor and painter
- 1546Martin Luther, German priest and theologian, leader of the Protestant Reformation
- 1455Fra Angelico, Italian priest and painter
- 1294Kublai Khan, Mongol emperor
- 999AD 999, pope of the Catholic Church
Holidays & observances
- —Christian feast day: Bernadette Soubirous (France)
- —Christian feast day: Colmán of Lindisfarne
- —Christian feast day: Flavian of Constantinople
- —Christian feast day: Geltrude Comensoli
- —Christian feast day: Simeon of Jerusalem (Western Christianity)
- —Christian feast day: February 18 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- —Dialect Day (Amami Islands, Japan)
- —Independence Day, celebrates the independence of the Gambia from the United Kingdom in 1965
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