Today in History
1990 East Germany holds its first and only free parliamentary elections
The election took place between the peaceful revolution that led to the demise of the German Democratic Republic in 1989 and the reunification of Germany in 1990.
1971 A 100 feet (30 meter) high wave destroys a Peruvian mining camp and kills hundreds of people
A massive rock avalanche crashed into Lake Yanahuani from a height of 1300 feet, causing the tsunami (400 meters).
1965 Russian cosmonaut Aleksei Leonov becomes the first person to walk in space
During the 12-minute tethered spacewalk, Leonov ventured up to 10 metres from his spacecraft, Voskhod 2.
1962 The Évian Accords are signed, ending the Algerian War
Algeria gained its independence from France as a consequence.
1892 Lord Stanley of Preston pledges to donate a challenge cup for the best ice hockey team in Canada
Today, the Stanley Cup is the world’s most prestigious ice hockey trophy.
Births On This Day, March 18
1981 Fabian Cancellara
Swiss cyclist
1932 John Updike
American author, poet, critic
1869 Neville Chamberlain
English politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
1844 Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Russian composer
1837 Grover Cleveland
American lawyer, politician, 22nd President of the United States
Deaths On This Day, March 18
1936 Eleftherios Venizelos
Greek politician, Prime Minister of Greece
1913 George I of Greece
1745 Robert Walpole
English politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
1314 Jacques de Molay
Frankish knight
978 Edward the Martyr
English king
