1856 – The “Know-Nothing Party,” convened in Philadelphia to nominate its first presidential candidate. The Know-Nothing movement began in the 1840s, when an increasing rate of immigration led to the formation of a number of groups to combat “foreign” influences in American society.
1861 – Jefferson Davis became the provisional president of the Confederate States of America. He was ‘provisional’ because he was not elected by the people, but appointed by the Confederate Congress.
1908 – The first US postage stamps in coils were available for the first time in vending machines.
1911 – The first official flight with airmail took place from Allahabad, United Provinces, British India (now India), when Henri Pequet, a 23-year-old pilot, delivered 6,500 letters to Naini, about 6 miles away.
1913 – Pedro Lascuráin becomes President of Mexico for 45 minutes, the shortest term to date of any person as president of any country.
1921 – The Colorado River was not the original name of the river that helped split the Grand Canyon. Before February 18th of this year, it was called the Grand River.
1930 – A cow named Ollie was milked over St. Louis, MO. Her milk was cartoned and parachuted down.
1930 – Ex-planet Pluto was discovered by Clyde Tombaugh.
1948 – Broadway Show – Mister Roberts (Play) February 18, 1948
1950 – #1 Hit February 18, 1950 – March 17, 1950: Red Foley – Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy
1954 – The first Church of Scientology was established in Los Angeles.
1956 – #1 Hit February 18, 1956 – February 24, 1956: Kay Starr – Rock And Roll Waltz
February 18, 1966 Birthday (fictional) Jack Bauer, 24, TV
1978 – The first Ironman Triathlon competition took place on the island of Oahu and was won by Gordon Haller.
2001 – Racecar legend Ralph Dale Earnhardt was killed in a crash in the last lap of the Daytona 500 . Michael Waltrip (who was Earnhardt’s driver) won the race.
2001 – FBI agent Robert Hanssen was arrested for spying for the Soviet Union. He is ultimately convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
2010 – WikiLeaks published the first of hundreds of thousands of classified documents disclosed by the American soldier now known as Chelsea Manning.